General African Defense discussion

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STURM

Well-Known Member
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.
 
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Dodger67

Member
This acquisition probably puts the Ugandan Air Force in the dominant position in East Africa at least as far as air is concerned.
 
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Dodger67

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

See http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.p...s-ships&catid=49:National Security&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.
 
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swerve

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

STURM

Well-Known Member
Dodger,

It appears that the circular objects or 'nostrils' are actually covers. The pic on the left shows the covers removed, revealing the MAWS.
 
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Dodger67

Member
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.
 
S

STURM

Well-Known Member
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.
 
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fire50

Banned Member
(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".
 
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Volkodav

The Bunker Group
Verified Defense Pro
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Eeshaan

New Member
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #76
Volkodav said:
Although aren't many MEUs now rated as SOF capable?
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I was always under the impression that the USMC's Special Forces units, the newly formed MARSOC conducted mostly reconnaissance operations, something like the Marine Recon units, along with limited capability for other kinds of non-conventional warfare. I don't think the regular Marine units get that sort of training.

The article hasn't clearly mentioned wither this unit going to Africa is part of MARSOC or not, though. Does anyone know if the Marine Corps' 1st Reconnaisance Battalion is now part of MARSOC ?

Edit : USA has maintained a very limited presence in, and done training in Djibouti and Chad along with the local militaries, but never heard of the marines being involved in an anti-poaching operation.
 
Feanor

Feanor

Super Moderator
Staff member
Eeshaan said:
US Marines Headed To Chad Park To Fight Poaching | Defense News | defensenews.com News|p

Around 15 US Marines are headed to Chad to provide training to park rangers in small-unit tactics, patrolling, tracking etc. to help fight poaching.

It's interesting as this sort of role is usually carried out by the US Special Forces, not the Marine Corps.
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Chances are they'll be trained on basics with regards to patrolling, small unit tactics, etc. There's a good chance they could be reservists. Detachments like this consist of a few NCOs. Our unit has sent detachments to Georgia, for example, on training missions. It doesn't take an expensive and valuable MARSOC marine to teach park rangers how to move in a tactical column, and maintain dispersion, or how to read a map or a GPS.
 
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Dodger67

Member
South African Defence Review reaches parliament at last!

The Defence Review, in making since 2012, has been accepted by cabinet and was recently referred to parliament after a long time in limbo. However the imminent general election has inevitably caused a further delay in parliamentary processes.

The edition sent to parliament is available at - defence review publications
The "Research Papers" are also well worth reading.

The SA National Defence Force is widely characterised as being in a state of decline - crumbling infrastructure, loss of skilled personnel, inadequate logistic capability, decaying equipment (particularly in the Army) - while at the same time being stretched to the verge of breaking point performing external peacekeeping and enforcement operations in various countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. Chronic underfunding and political apathy is widely blamed for the situation.

This Review is aimed squarely at remedying the situation and turning around the SANDF into an effective and efficient military force commensurate with the country's status as the regional "superpower". The Review doesn't pull any punches and contains many harsh truths that legislators have been ignoring for too long.
 
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