DefenceTalkSouth Africa’s military on Wednesday defended its decision to host controversial naval exercises jointly staged with Russia and China and coinciding with the one-year anniversary of the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine. Originally slated to start last week, the exercise dubbed Mosi-II kicked off on Wednesday along South Africa’s eastern coast. But coming on the eve […]https://www.defencetalk.com/south-africa-army-defends-naval-drills-with-russia-79883/

DefenceTalkA crew from 99 Squadron have been assisting French troops in sub-Saharan Africa by delivering supplies to the Op Barkhane counter-insurgency efforts in Niger by C-17 Globemaster. The aircraft delivered several pallets of cargo to Niamey airport in Niger over the weekend, helping to keep the 3,000 strong French forces supplied during their on-going efforts […]https://www.defencetalk.com/raf-transports-french-army-equipment-to-mali-for-counter-insurgency-operations-69109/

DefenceTalkRussian President Vladimir Putin is to meet world leaders on Wednesday including China’s Xi Jinping and India’s Narendra Modi ahead of the start of a summit of the BRICS emerging economies. Putin is to hold bilateral talks with leaders of the other BRICS countries — China, Brazil, South Africa and India — in the city […]https://www.defencetalk.com/putin-hosts-brics-summit-amid-standoff-with-west-64852/

DefenceTalkFollowing system validation one year ago, Diehl Defence’s IRIS-T Surface Launched (IRIS-T SL) demonstrated its full performance as the most advanced Short to Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM). During this final firing campaign, concluding guided missile qualification at the Overberg Test Range in South Africa in January 2015, three guided firings were executed in different […]https://www.defencetalk.com/diehl-iris-t-sl-missile-qualifies-after-latest-firing-tests-62842/

DefenceTalkThe SA National Defence Force (SANDF) needs a bigger budget, Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula said on Wednesday. “I don’t think government has a choice at this point. We had to conduct this Defence Review in order to have an appreciation of the organisation we have, its capabilities vis-à-vis the missions assigned to it,” she said […]https://www.defencetalk.com/south-africa-needs-bigger-defense-budget-says-minister-59401/

DefenceTalkRheinmetall AG of Düsseldorf has just booked another important order in the field of military air defence. The Republic of South Africa has decided to embark on a thoroughgoing modernization of its existing air defence systems. The contract was signed several days ago. Including logistics and training services, the complete package is scheduled for completion […]https://www.defencetalk.com/rheinmetall-to-modernize-south-africas-air-defense-59165/

DefenceTalkStephan Burger, the CEO of Denel Land Systems (DLS) says the industrialisation at its facilities in Lyttelton has already started and the manufacturing will commence in early 2015. The full fleet, which will replace the Ratels that are currently used, will be delivered by end 2022. “The new Badger ICV is a combination of a […]https://www.defencetalk.com/denel-badger-combat-vehicle-ready-in-2015-49709/

DefenceTalkDenel Land Systems and Patria have signed an agreement regarding Patria AMV 8×8 armoured wheeled vehicle serial production and delivery to South Africa. The agreement includes 238 vehicles, out of which 5 pre-series vehicles have already been delivered during the development phase. The first 16 serial vehicles will be assembled by Patria in Finland, Hämeenlinna. […]https://www.defencetalk.com/denel-and-patria-sign-agreement-on-armoured-wheeled-vehicles-to-south-africa-49648/

DefenceTalkApproximately 700 U.S. and 3,000 South African Defense Force service members gathered here for the opening ceremony of Exercise Shared Accord 13, July 24. This is the second exercise of its type between these two countries and is the result of bilateral discussions that originated in 2009, and were approved in 2010. “This particular exercise […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-army-africa-south-african-partners-kick-off-exercise-shared-accord-13-48583/

DefenceTalkMike Kgobe, the CEO of Denel Aviation says the acceptance of the locally developed combat support helicopter marks the culmination of a 26 year partnership between the SAAF and Denel. “We took this proudly South African aircraft through all its stages – from design to manufacturing, upgrading and retrofitting – to the point where it […]https://www.defencetalk.com/final-rooivalk-handover-cements-relationship-between-denel-and-saaf-47154/