Airforce to acquire Russian seaplanes
Date: 1 April 2014
By Dean Wingrin
The South African Air Force (SAAF) is putting the finishing touches to an urgent operational acquisition plan that will see Russian-built amphibious seaplanes used for maritime patrol.
The Airforce has not had a long-range maritime patrol and anti-submarine aircraft since the last of the Avro Shackletons were retired from service in 1984.
The maritime surveillance task was taken over by the elderly C-47 Dakota, but with a relatively short range and few sensors, the aircraft is nothing more than a token presence and is due to be retired in the next few years.
During his national budget speech last month Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan approved the acquisition of new maritime surveillance aircraft in the 2015/16 fiscal term. The acquisition will be paid for out of the Strategic Capital Acquisition Master Plan (SCAMP).
The Unofficial SAAF Website has learnt that the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has approved the acquisition of between four and six Beriev Be-200 multipurpose amphibious aircraft designed by the Beriev Aircraft Company of Russia.
This follows closely on the news that the SANDF was considering the acquisition of Ilyushin 76 (Il-76) strategic transport aircraft to supplement the ageing C-130BZ Hercules operated by 28 Squadron.
South Africa and Russia have recently increased their economic and military cooperation since South Africa joined the BRIC nations.
With a range (with fuel reserves) of 3,850 km, the Be-200 will be able to easily patrol SA’s Exclusive Economic Zone (370 km offshore) as well as having the capability to reach the Prince Edward Islands (1,769 km south-east of Port Elizabeth) and return.
The Be-200 aircraft has a fully pressurized fuselage, which allows it to fulfil a wide variety of surveillance, patrol, search and rescue (SAR) and transport missions. The aircraft will also be fitted with advanced locally-developed navigation, communication and mission equipment, allowing it to be flown in adverse weather conditions, day and night.
Major Hofnar Isidenge, spokesman for the SANDF, noted that once the new dig-out port at the old Durban Airport was completed, the SAAF would base a few of the Be-200 aircraft at the reconstituted Airforce Maritime Base (AMB) Durban.
“The SAAF used to operate Sunderland flying boats from Congella in Durban harbour many years ago, so this is not something new,” Isidenge said.
“The Beriev is perfect for patrolling our 4,000 km coastline and is able to land in the sea to rescue people in distress. Operating from the new Durban port makes sense,” he added.
The SANDF views the acquisition of a long-range maritime patrol aircraft as being of extreme importance, improving its capability to conduct anti-pirate surveillance missions, prevent the plundering of fish stocks by unauthorised foreign fishing vessels and being able to conduct search and rescue missions. South Africa’s international SAR responsibility covers an area of about 17,2 million square km and South Africa does not have the means at present to conduct search operations such as the supporting the disappearance of the Malaysian Airlines Boeing 777.
Note: This article was originally written as an April Fools prank and should not be taken seriously.
