Fewer new aircraft approved
Date: 17 September 1999
It was announced that Cabinet has decided to procure the following military equipment:
Nine British Aerospace/Saab-supplied JAS 39 dual-seat Gripens, customised to meet specific South African requirements to fulfil the role of an Advanced Light Fighter Aircraft (ALFA). The nine dual-seat plus 19 single-seat will replace the dual-seat Cheetah D and the single-seat Cheetah C fighters currently in inventory, and due to be phased out between January 2008 and December 2012. The nine dual-seat Gripens will be delivered between 2006 and 2008 and the next batch of 19 single-seat Gripens between 2009 and 2011, subject to Government exercising the option of the remaining aircraft.
12 Hawk Mk100 LIFT aircraft from British Aerospace to replace the current Impala aircraft. A further option has been taken on the balance of the 12 Hawks. All aircraft will be dual seat aircraft, and optimised for jet training as well as weapon-delivery training. Assuming a contract effective date of 01 April 2000, the first 12 Hawks will be delivered by 2005 and the next batch by 2006, if Government should exercise the second tranche option.
30 A109 light utility helicopters from the Italian helicopter manufacturer, Augusta, which will replace the Alouette III helicopters which have been in service in the air force for over 40 years. The first helicopter will be delivered in April 2003; thereafter delivery will be at an approximate rate of 10 per year. The acquisition will be for a quantity of 30 and includes support equipment. A further 10 helicopters are on option.
Four MEKO A200 Patrol Corvettes from the German Frigate Consortium (consisting of Blohm + Voss, Thyssen Rheinstahl, Howaldtswerke Deutsche Werf (HDW) and Thomson CSF, France) to replace the present ageing strike craft, which are more than 30 years old. The ships are due for delivery from Germany to South Africa from the end of 2003 and completing by mid 2005. Thereafter the combat suite element will be fitted in South Africa by the local defence industry. This will require an extra year of sea trials and in-service acceptance testing. The ships would be operationally ready by 2006.
Three Class 209 Type 1400 MOD diesel-electric submarines from the German Submarine Consortium (consisting off Thyssen Nordtsee Werke, Howaldtswerke Deutsche Werf (HDW) and Ferrostaalwhich) will replace the three ageing Daphne submarines, which have been in service in the navy for more than 30 years. The submarines will be delivered between 2005 and 2007.
No provision has been made for the four Super Lynx maritime helicopters that were shortlisted to be used on the Navy's MEKO corvettes. These may be acquired at a later stage.
The cost of the equipment package is Rb 21.3 over the next 8 years. If the option to procure additional equipment is exercised, the total equipment cost will rise by Rb 8.5 to Rb 29.9 over 12 years. The options must be exercised by not later than the year 2004.
The cost of the Rb 21.3 includes all statutory costs like VAT, custom duties, freight, export credit guarantees and programme management. This compares with the estimate last November of a cost of Rb 31, which included equipment costs of Rb 29.7, together with provisions for price escalation and the cost of financial cover required.
