General African Defense discussion

[Dodger67]

Six Su-30s with an option for another six, upgrade a small antiquated fighter force of MiG-23s and MiG-21s.

The instability and conflicts in their neighbourhood dragging on and on has prompted them to increase defence spending drastically - funded by recent oil and gas discoveries.

See http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.ph...ace&Itemid=107

[STURM]

Uganda might also be in the market for more Hinds soon as it lost 3 Hinds in a single day in Kenya due to bad weather in August. There's a pic in last months Air Forces Monthly showing the pilot of one of the Hinds resting next to his badly damaged aircraft. He was a lucky one as a few others in the other Hinds were killed.

[Dodger67]

This acquisition probably puts the Ugandan Air Force in the dominant position in East Africa at least as far as air is concerned.

[Dodger67]

Ghana in West Africa is also expanding its military capability - particularly in the maritime domain.

See http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.ph...ity&Itemid=115

It seems like the piracy problem is getting some serious attention from African countries at last - the need to protect expanded oil exploration and production is also a factor.

In the case of West Africa it seems to me the resolution of conflicts in Liberia and Sierra Leone has created a "peace dividend" which is allowing countries such as Ghana and Nigeria to expand their defence capacity and replace obsolete equipment.

[swerve]

Their economies have been doing well recently, giving them more money to spend - and more to protect.

[STURM]

Dodger,

It appears that the circular objects or 'nostrils' are actually covers. The pic on the left shows the covers removed, revealing the MAWS.

[Dodger67]

They are covers closing the holes where the MAWS would be if it was installed - but in the case of the SAAF that has not happened yet.
The first of your photos is not of a SAAF A109.

[STURM]

No it belongs to the Malaysian army. The MAWs is from Saab Avitronics. On the South African A-109, what is that object sticking out above the centre of the canopy and below the nose? From comparing the photos it appears that the South African A-109s have a few extra bits and bobs fitted.

[Dodger67]

Those are the cutters of the Wire Strike Prevention System.

This blog does a pretty good job of explaining - A career in helicopter aviation: Hazards to Helicopters

[Dodger67]

It appears that US AfriCom is one part of the US military establishment that understands the value of having a "light footprint".

http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.ph...ace&Itemid=111

I wonder if such an approach is feasible elsewhere (Far East, Oceania, Europe, Central and South America)?

[harms]

It appears that France have gone into action in Mali.

BBC News - France confirms Mali intervention

[fire50]

(I'm sure we've all seen reports in general newspapers where they referred to frigates as "battleships") or they call any armoured vehicle a "tank".

[Dodger67]

Further to my post of a few months ago, here is a recent news report confirming that "tread lightly" is official US AFRICOM policy.

DefenceWeb - US military to maintain low-key presence in Africa - official