Volume 5 Number 4 August/September 2014

Into Africa Modernisation push

ISRAEL’S UPGRADE BANG ON CHOICE OPTIONS TARGET Procurement focus Modern assault developments

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Front cover: The APC has been acquired by Kenya and Malawi. (Photo: OTT Technologies)

Editor Tim FishFish.. [email protected] Tel: Tel: +44 (0)1(0)1753 72703636

North America Editor Scott R Gourley. [email protected] Tel: Tel: +1 ((+1 707) 822 7204

European Editor Ian Kemp. [email protected] 3 EDITORIAL COMMENT Contributors Militant tendency Claire Apthorp, Gordon Arthur, Mike Bryant, Liza Helps, 4 NEWS Helmoed-Römer Heitman, Neelam Mathews, Stephen Miller, • Russia to counter sanctions with increased David Saw army spend Production Manager • Loc wins Bradley IFV mobility contract David Hurst. [email protected] • European land consolidation edges closer Tel: Tel: +44 (0)1(0)1753 72702929 • Djibouti parades new acquisitions Sub-editor • PLA displays new small arms at open dayday Adam Wakeling

Advertising Sales Executive 10 TOUGH CUSTOMERS Brian Millan. [email protected] Tel: Tel: +44 (0)1(0)1753 72700505 African armies have struggled with underfunding

Editor-in-Chief and sustained civil unrest over the years, but the Tony SkinSkinnerner requirement for modern equipment is now becoming 33

Managing Director critical, finds Helmoed-Römer Heitman. Darren Lake

Chairman 15 A BRIGHT SPOT 28 PULLING THE TRIGGER Nick Prest Operations in Afghanistan and Iraq have or traditional? Upgrade or acquisition? Subscriptions demonstrated the advantages of equipping every Tim FisFish eeh xamineines hhs ow milmilitaitaries around the worldld CDS Global, Tower House, Lathkill St, soldier with optical sights to improve situation are approaching their current and future inventory Sovereign Park, Market Harborough, Leics LE16 9EF, UK awareness and lethality. Ian Kemp explores the of assault rifles, and what new trends are emerging. Paid subscription contacts: evolution of this technology. Tel: Tel: +44 1858 43887979 33 BODY OF WORK Fax: +44 1858 461739 19 BANG ON TARGET Soldier modernisation efforts around the world areare Email: [email protected] Technologies are now available to greatly increase resulting in some exciting developments in body Land Warfare International is published six times per year – in February/March, April/May, the accuracy of indirect fires. David Saw details the armour, with unprecedented levels of protection, June/July, August/September, October/ decades-long quest for precision and examines the mobility and functionality being promised. November and December/January – by The Shephard Press Ltd, 268 Bath Road, SlouSlough,gh, guided munition options currently on the market. Adam Wakeling reviews recent developments. Berks, SL1 4DX, UK. Subscription rates start at £65. Subscription records are maintained at CDS Global, Tower House, Lathkill Street, 24 HARD CHOICES PARTING SHOT Sovereign Park, Market Harborough, Combat operations in Gaza have shown that thethe 36 ACCESSING AFRICA Leicestershire, LE16 9EF, UK. Air Business Ltd is acting as mailing agent. Articles and combined arms team remains at the heart of Israel’s Stephan Burger, CEO of Land Systems, information contained in this publication are ground forces. Ian Kemp reports on army talks to Helmoed-Römer Heitman about the African the copyright of the Shephard Press Ltd and may not be reproduced in any form without modernisation efforts in the face of competing marketplace and how the company will position the written permission of the publishers. No budget pressures. itself for exports. responsibility can be accepted for loss of or damage to uncommissioned photographs or manuscripts.

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EDITORIAL COMMENT

the development of sovereign capabilities for support and modernisation of equipment, MILITANT including sustained manufacturing of munitions and spares, plus systems integration. The SASADR alsalso cco allalls for equipment designigneded for operating in African conditions including TENDENCY tactical vehicles, artillery and medical capabilities. ss Land Warfare International goes to press regional cooperation stretching from the ASomalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Atlantic coast and across the Sahel. A force of NATIONAL PRIORITY Mohamud announced a push by African about 3,000 troops will be commanded from Companies will have to be more than half Union and government forces to remove the N’Djamena, the capital of Chad, and it will owned and run by South Africans to qualify to al-Shabaab militant group from its remaining include about 20 helicopters, 200 armoured compete for high-end sovereign projects. strongholds in the country. Despite continuing vehicles – likely to be VBCIs, VABs and ERC 90s, Th Those thathat aat re more tte hahan a qqa uauarterter oor wnwned and attacks in Mogadishu it is thought that this ten transport aircraft, six Mirage or Rafale run can qualify for lower-level projects and latest effort – Operation Indian Ocean – will fighter jets and three Harfang UAS. will be considered after South African allow the government to increase its control Using other bases across the region, companies. over the country. Operation Barkhane is expected to include the Foreign companies based in Over the past few months, as fighting in participation of forces from Burkina Faso, Chad, can only compete for large projects if they can Ukraine and Gaza adds to the conflicts already Mali, Mauritania and Niger. offer uninterrupted through-life support. Local raging across the Middle East, events in Africa France sees security in the Sahel as directly subsidiaries of foreign companies can go for have been somewhat overshadowed. linked to its own, feelings shared by the US standard projects as long as they can show a Russia is already facing Western sanctions which, under AFRICOM, has been running the long-term commitment to South Africa, whilst on armaments and the result is increased Trans-Saharan Counterterrorism Partnershipip joi joint venturtures can go for anany ppy rojroject as lonlong aag ss defence spending to make up the difference for some years that includes military-to-military the intellectual property is secure. (see p4). Meanwhile, talks about sanctions on cooperation with Sahel states as well as As the main state-owned company, Denel is Israel may affect some of the procurement targeted diplomatic efforts. looking ahead to what it can do in this plans of the IDF (see p24) but it is unlikely that For industry, attention is focused on the landscape (see p36) and is likely to take on thethe these will be implemented if the current Gaza Africa Aerospace and Defence exhibition in most sensitive projects. However it is also able ceasefire holds and the situation is defused. Pretoria. As one of the continent’s most to partner and sub-contract to private industry In Libya, levels of fighting have increased in modern military powers, South Africa has and this is where the opportunities lie for other recent weeks resulting in the evacuation of some serious decisions to take about what role local or international industrial players. foreign nationals, while in northern Mali it wants to play in contributing to security in South Africa is keen to engage experienced insurgents are stubbornly resisting UN and Africa, and if it will pay for it. international defence firms, but it will have to French efforts to remove them. France and the Procurement across Africa reflects outline what capability packages it will fund UN are also struggling to contain ethnic immediate security concerns typical to each properly to give industry confidence to invest violence in the Central African Republic where area, but there is recognition among in the future. the president and cabinet have just left office. governments that insurgent groups aiming to Tim Fish, Editor de-stabilise various states are much better IN THE NEXT ISSUE ON A MISSION armed than in years past, requiring a more In July France initiated a new counter-terror formidable and better equipped national army l AFV innovation mission – Operation Barkhane – to test its to oppose them (see p10). l US Army programmes capabilities in the region on the back of its Following the release of the South African deployment to Mali under Operation Serval .. Defence Review (SADR) in March 2014, there will l Night vision Barkhane will include some force elements be a focus on long-term equipment plans and l from Serval as part of an effort to bolster building a stronger relationship with industry, and www.landwarfareintl.com Volume 5 Number 4 | August/September 2014 | LAND WARFARE INTERNATIONAL 3 NEWS

RUSSIA TO COUNTER SANCTIONS WITH INCREASED ARMY SPEND

According to an MoD spokesperson, a The Astais-VBL effort is not the only significant part of the funds will be allocated to programme to suffer from sanctions. Earlier this replace the Astais-VBL programme that involved year, Renault Trucks Defense was reported to developing a 4x4 ATV jointly by Russia’s Astais have frozen development of the Atom IFV, and Renault Trucks Defense of France. first presented last year and developed in It is planned that Astais-VBL will be replaced cooperation with Burevestnik – a subsidiary of by Ansyr, a new Russian armoured vehicle UralVagonZavod. developed Bauman Moscow State Technical Furthermore, German manufacturer University that weighs 4t and is designed Rheinmetall suspended its cooperation with for special military operations, patrolling and the Russian MoD to build a military training escorting. centre for ground troops near Nizhny-

Photo: Russian MoD The three-seat vehicle will be fitted with a Novgorod. The construction work was 180hp engine and can achieve a top speed scheduled to be completed at the end of The Russian government plaplans to increasease of up to 125km/h. It is equipped with 2014 at an estimated cost of €100 million defence spending to one quarter of the federal independent suspension and an amphibious ($134.2 million). budget by 2017. capability, allowing it to stay in the water for atat The sanctions have already resulted in thee This is due to sanctions imposed on thethe least an hour and move in waves of up to 30cm. revision of projects for the production of country, which has resulted in the suspension It is planned that production of the first set of new small arms by Russian company of imports of many military products and vehicles will start in early 2015, although final Promtechnologii. The barrels for its technologies from abroad. The majority of numbers have not been decided. were supplied from the US. funds will be allocated for the purchase of new Under the earlier Astais-VBL project, there Until recently, Ukraine supplied the weapons for the Russian Army. were plans to produce a pilot batch of five toto majority of components from outside The country is looking at ways to replace ten units this year followed by serial production Russia, with about 4.4% of Russian products supplies of non-Russian equipment and in 2015. According to sources close to the containing Ukrainian parts, particularly in the imported components that have been programme, the initial investment is thought to intercontinental ballistic missile sector. suspended. have been in the range of $50-70 million. By Eugene Gerden, St Petersburg

LOC WINS BRADLEY IFV CONTRACT

Loc Performance Products will perform work track kits, shock absorber kits, vehicle of contract is normally sole-sourced to the to enhance the mobility of the US Army’s suspension support system kits, and original prime contractor, which typically Bradley IFV under a $161 million contract heavyweight torsion bar kits, all of which will does not result in best value for the army. announced on 30 July. improve the Bradley’s mobility. Because this was a full and open competition, The firm fixed-price, indefinite-delivery, As well as performing the work, Loc will the army saves taxpayers millions of indefinite-quantity contract was awarded by provide logistics support, including vehicle dollars, and demonstrates a new model for US Army TACOM Life Cycle Management inspections, new equipment training and cost-effective procurement. Command. a 10km road test for each upgraded vehicle.e. ‘We look forward to restoring lost mobility The contract will sesel e vehicle modificationss Company president Lou Burr said: ‘This to the Bradley IFV, and providing this superior carried out as part of Engineering Change award represents a watershed moment in equipment to our warfighters.’ Proposal (ECP-1) upgrades. Loc will install procurement history for the US Army. This type By Claire Apthorp, London

4 LAND WARFARE INTERNATIONAL | August/September 2014 | Volume 5 Number 4 www.landwarfareintl.com NEWS

EUROPEAN LAND NEWS ON THE WEB

CONSOLIDATION Excalibur Ib cleared for full-rate production EDGES CLOSER 1 August 2014

Logos wins hostile fire detection and location work 31 July 2014

Javelin’s vehicle-launch capability demonstrated 30 July 2014

Successful GMLRS Alternate Warhead flight tests complete 29 July 2014 The KMW MBT (left) and Nexter VBCI (right). (Photos: author) MEADS system demo success French military vehicles manufacturer Nexter and Th The compapany is alalso ininvolvolveved in ththe prprododucuctiotionn 28 July 2014 German armaments producer KMW have signed of wheeled armoured vehicles. an agreement to create a joint holding company. Nexter is mainly known for the production General Dynamics wins Peruvian The two indindustustriarial giagiants sigsigned thethe of the Leclerc MBT and its range of wheeled Marine LAV contract agreement on 1 July, and the result will be the armoured vehicles, such as the VBCI IFV and the 25 July 2014 creation of a Franco-German technology group Caesar 155mm truck-mounted artillery gun. with an annual turnover of more than €2 billion Although some of its products areas will Cubic receives I-MILES TVS ($2.68 billion). The alliance project is expected to complement each other, there are some that will training contract start in 2015 following regulatory approval. not. There may be a clash in the field of wheeled 24 July 2014 In a statement, the companies said that they armoured vehicles, as KMW is in the ARTEC Interest grows in APKWS viewed this step as ‘decisive for the consolidation Consortium with Rheinmetall building the 8x8 of the defence technology industry in Europe’ Boxer IFV, which is a direct competitor to the 8x8 17 July 2014 and that the alliance ‘creates a group with Nexter VBCI for the Danish APC competition. Saab looks to fulfil Philippine air the momentum and innovative force required However, as domestic markets dry up in defence requirements to succeed and prosper in international Europe with continuing cuts to defence 17 July 2014 competition’. expenditure, it has become ever more important It added: ‘In addition, it offers to its European in the past few years to secure exports. The new Microdata highlights crisis and NATO customers the opportunity of alliance will establish a formidable group to response capabilities increased standardisation and interoperability for compete against on the international stage. 17 July 2014 their defence equipment, with a dependable It has been a long time coming, as the land industrial base.’ sector usually lags behind aerospace, where Th The two sole owners will each have a 50% European-level consolidation has advanced share in the joint holding company, which will more rapidly, with the formation of Airbus Group become the sole shareholder in KMW and Nexter. and systems houses like Thales and MBDA. Th The twtwo cco ompananies complplemement eaeach otherer Th This is an alalteternrnatativive to coconsnsololididatatioion bebetwtweeeenn in many ways. KMW is well known for producing companies within France or Germany, and could All these stories can be found tracked vehicles such as the Leopard 2 prove to be a trigger for others to follow suit. atatwww.landwarfareintl.com MBT, Puma IFV and PzH 2000 self-propelled gun. By Tim Fish, London www.landwarfareintl.com Volume 5 Number 4 | August/September 2014 | LAND WARFARE INTERNATIONAL 5 NEWS

DJIBOUTI PARADES NEW VEHICLES

The Djibouti Army used the occasion of thethe There were no on parade and most armoured vehicles and a number of HMMWVs, country’s independence day celebration on sources do not list Djibouti as operating such apparently mounting a light rocket launcher. 27 June to show off several new armoured platforms, but there have been reports of thethe Th The DjDjibibououti ArArmy alalso opopereratates PaPanhnharard VBVBLL vehicle types that have been taken into service. country acquiring 42 T-72s from Yemen. The scout cars, mine-protected APCs and These incincludluded: BTR-80 APCs; 12 ForForcece M109Ls, for their part, are a major boost in HMMWVs armed with Chinese or Russian heavy Protection Cougar mine-protected APCs; and six firepower, as the army’s artillery was previously machine guns (HMGs), as well as number of Puma 4x4 light APCs acquired from Italy and limited to just six towed 122mm D-30 guns and ‘technicals’ – mainly 4x4 pick-ups with 12.7mm or re-armed with a Chinese 12.7mm W85 heavy eight BM-21 rocket launchers.. 14.6mm HMGs. There are also some heavier , part of a batch transferred in 2013. In January, the Djibouti Army also received a technicals that use a 6x6 truck as the platform. The vehicles were paraded together with donation of 26 Toyota Land Cruisers funded by The Djibouti Army has shown itself to bebe M109 artillery guns, suggesting that they the US through its Foreign Military Assistance quite creative in developing solutions to are being used as command or scout vehicles programme as a quid pro quo for Djibouti’s meet its requirements. One example was the for the artillery. Some eight M109L self- deployment of some 1,000 soldiers in Somalia integration of turrets from AML-90 light propelled guns were reportedly acquired from to fight al-Shabaab. armoured cars on BTR-60 APCs, providing a Italy in mid-2013, which replaced its M109s Also on parade were a number of ex-South useful combination of firepower and mobility. with the PzH 2000. African Army Ratel IFVs, Panhard AML light By Helmoed-Römer Heitman, South Africa

PLA DISPLAYS NEW SMALL ARMS AT OPEN DAY

On the 17th anniversary of the return of Hong designed to fit the latest Type 95-1 . This 1kg Kong to China, the PLA held open days at several launcher measures 230mm in length, and is military bases and demonstrated four weapons capable of firing ten grenades per minute. that will be used by the Hong Kong garrison. The final weapon featured by the Hong Th The TTe ype 11 (QSZ11) pispistol is a compact ggt unun Kong Garrison was the Type 10 (QBU10) chambered for 5.8x21mm rounds, and has an 12.7mm anti-materiel rifle that weighs 13.3kg. eight-round . It is intended for senior For the QBU10, the PLA cites ranges of 1,000m commanders, personal protection details and for human targets and 1,500m for materiel aviators, but is not intended as a replacement targets. An IR sight/ballistic rangefinder was for the incumbent QSZ92 . But the use of shown fitted on the 1.38m-long rifle to give it a 5.8mm provides uniformity, since night-fighting capacity. the PLA’s standard weapon is the 5.8mm Type The PLA conductucted counter-terterrorism dridrillslls 95 (QBZ-95) . on two of its open days to demonstrate one of Th The sesecocond weweapapon nenew to ththe gagarrrrisison is ththee its core competencies to Hong Kong citizens. Type 06 (QSW06) suppresressed semi-ai-automaticic The demonstrations by speciacial fofol rces showed pistol. Based on the QSZ92, it features a standard that the newer Type 95-1 (QBZ95-1) assault rifle 20-round cartridge and is designed for special is now in widespread use with Hong Kong-

Photo: author forces. The silencer is detachable, and the based soldiers. QSW06 replaces the Type 67 silenced pistol. The drillills are significificantant, as tensions in the The Chinese People’le’s LibLiberaeration Army (PL(PLA)A) A third small arm was the QLG10A 35mm territory are mounting because of a powerful displayed its new and recently acquired small underbarrel launcher mounted on pro-democracy lobby and popular discontent arms during the Hong Kong handover a Type 95B-1 . The updated grenade with the Beijing-appointed leadership. celebrations on 1 July. launcher is based on the existing QLG10, but is By Gordon Arthur, Hong Kong

6 LAND WARFARE INTERNATIONAL | August/September 2014 | Volume 5 Number 4 www.landwarfareintl.com NAVY ARMY AIRFO RCE PUBLIC CORPORATE SECURITY SECURITY

Association Support Official Publication Media Partner Associated with Organised by NEWS

Photo: Japan Ground Self-Defense Force

TOKYO OUTLINES JGSDF CHANGES

Japan has outlined a number of wide-ranging Army. In addition, howitzers deployed in basic next generation of surface-to-air guided missiles changes to its Ground Self-Defense Force operational units stationed in locations other and a new air defence radar. (JGSDF) that will allow the organisation to than Hokkaido will be concentrated into field improve its ability to rapidly respond to security artillery units to be newly organised under SHOWING OFF crises, following the release of the country’s the direct command of the respective regional Japan has already made initial efforts to enter latest defence white paper in August. armies.’ the export market. At Eurosatory in June, a The National Defense Program Guideldelineines,s, To support a raprapid reareaction capabiabilitlity inin Japanese stand highlighted a range of mainly published in December 2013, had previously Japan’s outer areas, amphibious vehicles and non-combat technologies along with a model highlighted an ‘increasingly severe’ security tiltrotor aircraft will be procured to allow an of a new 8x8 wheeled combat vehicle from situation and a desire to improve joint advance deployment by the amphibious Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) based on operations. brigade, backed by heavier units in ships and its MCV, available in APC, C2 and medical Following these principles, the JGSDF’s transport aircraft. evacuation variants. Central Readiness Force is being replaced by Th The fourth prototyotype MCV (illulustrstratateded) was three rapid deployment divisions and four rapid MIDDLE GROUND rolled out by the Technical Research and deployment brigades. 1 Armoured Division Under the New Mid-Term Defense Program, Development Institute in October 2013. It is a will be retained and operate alongside an the JGSDF plans to procure: 99 Maneuver 105mm-armed 8x8 and has been developed to airborne brigade, an amphibious rapid Combat Vehicles (MCVs); 24 armoured vehicles, meet a JGSDF requirement for a vehicle with deployment brigade and a helicopter brigade. 53 amphibious vehicles; 17 tiltrotor aircraft; six significant levels of firepower that can be easily Th The JGJGSDSDF’F’s reregigiononal dedeplployoymement ununitits wiwill bebe CH-47JA transport helicopters; nine companies deployed by air, land or sea, unlike a heavier MBT. cut from eight divisions and six brigades down of ship-to-ship guided missiles; five companies of Testinting is beibeing undertertaken thrthroughoutt to five divisions and two brigades. The surface- mid-range surface-to-air guided missiles; 44 2014-2015 and the platform will be built by MHI to-ship guided missile units are to be kept at five tanks; and 31 howitzers. with entry into service expected in 2016. The regiments, although the surface-to-air guided As a result, the budget for new contracts MCV can be carried by Japan’s Kawasaki C-2 missile units will be reduced by one to seven from FY2014 is expected to increase by 17.8% to tactical transport. anti-aircraft artillery regiments. a quoted figure of ¥19,465 billion. Th The model of ththe nenew 8x8x8 wawas fitfitteted wiwith babarr In terms of procurement, Japan has plans to armour and a remote weapon station with .50cal NUMBER CRUNCHING develop a strategy that takes into account the gun. It has similar dimensions to the MCV and a Troop numberbers are expectected to remain atat future manufacturing and technology base ‘as a full-size vehicle would be about 8m long and existing levels of 151,000 active duty personnel whole’. This involves promoting international 2.98m wide with a height of about 2.8m and a and 8,000 reserve-ready personnel, while joi joint development and adaptinting equipmentent GVW of 28t. The vehicle has a quoted empty retaining about 400 tanks and 400 main artillery for joint military and civil use. The method of weight of 18t so it offers a 10t payload capacity. guns, although these will now be distributed procurement will also be reformed. The engine is an MHI 4VA four-ur-strstroke, four-r- differently throughout the five regional armies ‘A project manager system will be cylinder diesel that can offer 536shp of power. (Northern, Northeastern, Eastern, Middle and introduced so as to enhance consistent project Th The 8x8x8 is alall-l-whwheel drdrivive anand hahas inindedepependndenent,t, Western). management throughout the life cycle from double wishbone or hydro-pneumatic The white paper explaineined thathat to enablee equipment design to disposal,’ the white paper suspension. The vehicle is fitted with 395/85R20 swift and flexible operations, the JGSDF ‘will stated. ‘In addition, while utilising the private summer/winter tyres. It can achieve a maximum deploy mobile combat vehicles and remove sector’s knowledge, the MoD will actively train speed of more than 100km/h and has space for tanks deployed in basic operational units and appoint personnel to positions that require 11 personnel (three crew and eight troops). stationed in locations other than Hokkaido specialised knowledge, skills and experience in The medicaical eel vavacuatiotion vvn ariarianant wwt ill be fitfittedted and Kyushu’. the acquisition of equipment.’ with a compartment for injured troops and the It continued: ‘It will also concentrate tanks Under research and development, the white C2 variant will have an additional C4I system, located in Kyushu into newly organised paper said that technological efforts in the land firing C2 system and a manoeuvre C2 system. units under the direct command of the Western sector will focus on air defence, looking at the By Tim Fish, London

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African armies have struggled with underfunding and sustained civil unrest over the years, but the requirement for modern equipment is now becoming critical, finds Helmoed-Römer Heitman.

frica’s armies have long been neglected, DOWN UNDER money for upgrades and replacement projects, Amaking do with old equipment and In the south, the situation is also different. or even to maintain munitions stocks. vehicles discarded by other modern land forces There is curcurrenrently no claclaritrity rry egardirding Angolaola’s’s Th Therere is some hope in the service that the or, at best, procuring small numbers of new intentions to re-equip itself, and the jury is out on positive reception of the recently completed items. This has primarily been due to financial whether South Africa’s government will provide defence review may translate into funding, constraints as well as governments not needing the funding needed to arrest the decline of its particularly as the cabinet expects more expensive, hi-tech equipment to maintain army before it implodes. deployments. Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa- control or face adversaries. The continues to look Nqakula has stated that the cabinet understands However, this has changed. Low-level bandits well-equipped and organised on paper, but is there is a choice between further decline or are now armed with machine guns capable a shadow of its former self. Most of its heavy rebuilding, and that ‘the government will not of destroying a light armoured vehicle or APC, equipment is parked up because the service allow further decline of the defence force’. and their leaders possess extensive practical lacks funds even for maintenance. Apart from He added: ‘The cabinet is of the clear view that experience of operations. The days of sending the delayed order for Badger IFVs (reduced from South Africa’s defence responsibilities cannot out a few jeeps with machine guns are over. 264 vehicles to 238) placed this year, all major be scaled down. Consequently, the resources The re-re-equippipping of lanland forces is taktakinging acquisition projects have stalled. allocated to defence must be commensurate with quite different forms in West and East Africa, While under-funding is a critical issue, when South Africa’s defence responsibilities and tasks.’ determined by the nature of current conflicts combined with over-extension it becomes fatal. and threats. In the former region and parts of the Th The ararmymy’s concecept in 191998 wawas for a mamaximumum DWINDLING RESOURCES Sahel and surrounding areas, the focus is on light of one battalion deployed externally for one For now, however, the situation remains dire. but heavily armed forces; whereas in the latter year: today there are two; for a decade there The mechaniseised force has four regular units,ts, there is a preference for tanks due to the history were three; and briefly there were four. This with some level of operational capability, of urban conflict in Mogadishu, Somalia. disrupted training and maintenance and left no and two mechanised infantry battalions fully HOT CLIMATE

10 LAND WARFARE INTERNATIONAL | August/September 2014 | Volume 5 Number 4 www.landwarfareintl.com REGIONAL FOCUS

Three Casspir armoured and mine-protected have been delivered toto The Olifant MBT has been upgraded by BAE Systems to the UN for the African Union mission in Somalia. (Photo: ) Mk II standard. (Photo: South African Army) equipped with refurbished Ratel IFVs. There fleet of Samil trucks, which are all over 30 years it may now go ahead. The turret has been man- is one armoured vehicle battalion, with two old. Replacement of the Ratel IFVs, which qualified and there seems to be revived US companies of upgraded Rooikats, some Ratel are the same age as the Samils, has begun, interest. The towed version stalled at about ZT3 missile vehicles and a tank battalion with with sufficient Badgers ordered to fully equip the same time as when the South African Army two companies of tanks – although the Olifant two mechanised battalion groups and leave a stopped funding the project, but the gun and its Mk 2s are more a case of capability retention training and attrition reserve. More will be ammunition family are perhaps two years from than a true operational asset. ordered as and when funding allows. production status if funded. The situatiation for the field and air defencece Other key projects such as Vistula (Samil The artartillillery is alsalso examining a new artillery (ADA) and the field engineers is replacement) and Sapula (Casspir/Mamba 120mm system for deployment with similar – one partly equipped composite unit replacement) remain stalled. The former should airborne forces. each, with the difference that the ADA has a have gone ahead some years ago, but became Th The ffe ollollowow-on GBADS 2 pp2 rojroject to acquiruire anan battery of new VSHORAD systems. mired in claims of irregularities after a preferred FCS for the twin 35mm cannon and a SHORAD The motorised infinfantantry force iie s a litlittle betterter bidder was identified. The Mercedes Actros won system (’ Umkhonto SAM and off, but most of the Casspir and Mamba APCs the original evaluation, meeting the requirement Reutech Radar Systems’ DBRXL radar) has also are parked, with only a small number and being the cheapest of the three that made it stalled due to lack of funding. operational. The same problem applies to the to a physical evaluation at Gerotek – the others Perhaps the most urgent need is for air- being Iveco and MAN trucks. transportable armour, which could have made Th The clclaiaims prprovoved ununfofounundeded, bubut ththe tetendnderer a major difference to the fighting in Bangui in was cancelled and, despite the urgency, has not March 2013, but that is not even a requirement been reissued. The army then concentrated its yet. The only project is for a ‘light armoured serviceable Samils for operational use, buying reconnaissance capability’, together with a new commercial trucks for general use – hardly a tank and a replacement. cost-effective use of limited funds, but the only The onlonly bribright arearea is in liglight weapons,s, viable option. The decision on Sapula depends where the Milan ER has replaced the older on the Vistula selection, as it is to use the same variant, problems with the 40mm AGL appear to driveline components. have been resolved, and an upgrade of the R4 rifle is being developed by Denel – although ADDRESSING PROBLEMS many in the infantry would rather replace it. Th The aae rtrtillillery hahas bbs een ununabable to obtain funfundindingg to upgrade its G5 and G6 guns – particularly SOUTHERN SPENDING with the L52 barrel, which would offer better Th The sisitutuatatioion of ototheher ararmimies in sosoututhehern AfAfriricacann range – nor has it addressed the problem that is mixed. Although most governments allocate the ammunition for its Bateleur 127mm rocket a substantially higher proportion of GDP to launcher is no longer available. It has also defence than South Africa’s 1.1%, there are few not completed development of Denel Land visible changes. Systems’ Light Experimental Ordnance (LEO) In Angola, there are reports of a purchase long-range (30km) 105mm gun that will provide of T-84 tanks and BTR-80s, and the Angolan A Ratel IFV of the South African Army 30km range with base-bleed. Army has acquired 45 Casspir 2000 mine- test-firing a ZT3 Ingwe anti-tank guided Th This ststalalleled ththreree yeyearars agago whwhen ththe US ArArmymy protected APCs from Denel Land Systems for missile with a range of 5,000m. selected a self-propelled 155mm gun instead of future peace operations. Meanwhile, Namibia (Photo: South African Army) a turreted 105mm fitted to the LAV platform, but has begun large-scale refurbishment of army  www.landwarfareintl.com Volume 5 Number 4 | August/September 2014 | LAND WARFARE INTERNATIONAL 11 REGIONAL FOCUS

facilities, which some see as an indicator of force The Badger 8x8 APC’s turret has been sold overseas to Malaysia, showing that African-built expansion. It has received a number of MAN products can compete internationally. (Photo: Denel Land Systems) trucks and a deployable field hospital from Germany. Botswana is believed to have during 2013, as well as six Marauders from Angola’s part. Just to the north, and also begun upgrading its Kürrassier anti-tank vehicles Paramount Group. is understood bordering Cabinda, the Republic of Congo and has acquired new 155mm artillery and to have received some trucks and related acquired 16 Maverick mine-protected APCs from substantial numbers of MAN trucks. Both equipment in grant, and is evaluating a small Paramount Group during 2013. countries are believed to be considering offers of batch of MAN trucks. Tanzania has been a major purchaser ofof ex-German Army Leopard 2s. DRC Army equipment programmes are land forces equipment, including 30 T-59Gs (also The National Army is known to unknown, but it has a number of T-72s in reported as T-96s) between 2011 and 2013, have received equipment from China, mainly service – up to 100 according to some sources. and unspecified numbers of Type 63A 8x8 for internal security roles, with most heavy These have not been seen in the east of the 105mm armed fire support vehicles. It has also equipment neglected. Zambia also does not country where the security problems lie, but acquired: Type 07PA self-propelled 120mm appear to have any major projects pending. seem to be concentrated in the western pan- mortar systems; 300mm A100 MRLs; and FB6A Malawi purchased 18 Puma mine-protected handle adjacent to Angola’s Cabinda enclave, VSHORAD systems. Earlier acquisitions included APCs from OTT Technologies in South Africa which may account for recent nervousness on at least ten WZ551 APCs in 2011-2012 and

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ii l i ii 12 LAND WARFARE INTERNATIONAL | August/September 2014 | Volume 5 Number 4 www.landwarfareintl.com REGIONAL FOCUS

‘There has been little land equipment acquisition in West Africa recently, as funds are devoted towards maritime security.’

five from South Africa in the Given the nature of the threat, the focus willwill 155mm guns and Tiger attack helicopters after same period. be on equipment suited to counter-insurgency initial clashes revealed that the rebels were There has been litlittle lanland equipmentnt (COIN). Protected mobility will be a key factor, better led, trained and armed than expected. acquisition in West Africa recently, as funds are particularly for the Nigerian Army, which was Th Therere wawas eveven a sqsquauadrdron of tatanknks on ststanandbdbyy devoted towards maritime security in the face of embarrassed in Mali when its contingent was if needed. Among the weapons later destroyed piracy and protection for offshore oil and gas tasked with rear-area security for lack of suitable or captured from the rebels were BTR-60s and resources. However, this is likely to change protected vehicles. BRDM-2s, BM-21s and D-30 guns. following: rebel successes in Mali and the Central A key issue in this respect is that rebel groups African Republic (CAR); the escalation of are more experienced and better armed and SELEKA’S STRENGTH Boko Haram attacks in Nigeria (now moving in led. Lightly armoured COIN vehicles no longer In December 2012, Seleka rebels in the CAR had groups of several hundred in 4x4 vehicles suffice. Rebels and insurgents can mount been assessed by several intelligence services to and attacking military bases) and northern 14.5mm HMGs and 23mm cannon on be about 1,200-strong, but poorly trained and Cameroon; and the continued instability in Libya ‘technicals’ – dealing with them requires a armed. By March 2013, Seleka had grown to to the north. All of the Sahel countries are going combination of agility, firepower and protection, 8,000 and some elements had: new technicals, to have to take the threat of guerrillas, terrorists not just some bullet-proofing. The French all in standard camouflage armed with single and bandits-cum-drug smugglers seriously. learned this quickly in Mali, bringing in 8x8 ICVs, and twin 14.5mm machine guns; recoilless 

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www.landwarfareintl.com Volume 5 Number 4 | August/September 2014 | LAND WARFARE INTERNATIONAL 13 REGIONAL FOCUS

guns; and 30mm AGLs. It is not clear where The South African Army has two companies with upgraded Rooikats. (Photo: South African Army) this equipment – or the sudden proliferation of radios and satellite telephones – came from, but into its civil war. This could lead to the latter capable close-air support capability to engage it shows how quickly the picture can change, intervening with its modern tanks. South bunkers in close proximity to friendly forces. and planners must take that into account. Sudan’s acquisition of 110 T-72s (before it had Kenya has also acquired large numbers of Nigeria recently acquired 47 BTR-3s for its much else in terms of weaponry) was a strategic MAN trucks in various configurations and is army, and since 2006 has acquired 44 gamble that paid off. The army was in no considering additional vehicles. The country has Springbuck Mk VI mine-protected patrol vehicles position to conduct armoured operations, but also reportedly bought as many as 44,500 new from DCD Protected Mobility in South Africa for the presence of large numbers of tanks, even assault rifles, 550 light machine guns and 650 the police, and intends to take the latter into in static defensive roles, made any coup by anti-tank rocket launchers. local production. Khartoum to undo independence impractical – Ghana acquired nine Maverick mine- it denied the chance of a ‘quick and clean’ UP NORTH protected APCs from Paramount Group during reoccupation. Those T-72s later clashed with In North Africa, Morocco and Algeria have been 2013 as well as 12 Hunter special forces patrol/ Sudanese T-96s around Heglig when the two modernising their ground forces with some raiding vehicles from OTT Technologies. The sides by then were equally matched in skill if not vigour. The former country has added 200 M1 latter is based on the Samil 20 truck, fitted with numbers of tanks. Abrams, 150 Chinese Type 90-2 and 148 Russian multiple machine gun mountings and ample T-72s to its tantank force. Meanwhileile, AlAl, gergeria hasas space for ammunition, stores and water. BALANCED APPROACH added 170 T-90s from Russia and is preparing for Other buyers include: Benin (ten Casspir 2000s); South Sudan is also building a more balanced the local manufacture of some 1,200 German Equatorial Guinea (12 Reva mine-protected army, adding artillery to its light mobile Fuchs 6x6 APCs after acquiring 54 examples patrol vehicles); and (four Mamba infantry and tanks. Key acquisitions include: from Rheinmetall. It has also purchased: a mine-protected APCs and one mine-protected towed 130mm M-46 guns; 24 self-propelled substantial number of ATVs from Germany; armoured from South Africa). 122mm 2S1s; 12 self-propelled 152mm 2S3 light armoured patrol vehicles from NIMR in guns; and some BM-21s. The Sudan Army, the UAE (also to be built in Algeria); three S300 AREA meanwhile, has acquired some BTR-3Us from SAM systems; and some 38 Pantsyr-S mobile The centratral aal nd easeastertern rrn egiegions have sse een thethe Russia in addition to its new tanks. air-defence systems from Russia. highest levels of conflict and procurement Chad has acquired BTR-3s from Ukraine Libya remains a concern to Algeria and others. activity, with a ‘tank race’ at the centre. Sudan and Bastion internal security vehicles from While the government is unable to control has acquired 200 T-96As from China and 160 France, the former giving a real edge over rebel events, it has continued to acquire weapons T-72s from Ukrairaine; South Sudan bought 1100 technicals. Further acquisitions seem likely given for its nascent armed forces. Among the T-72s frofrom Ukrainaine in 2007-27-2009; EthEthiopiaa that the country is surrounded by conflict (Boko acquisitions over the past two years have been: purchased 250 T-72Bs from Ukraine in 2011 and Haram in north-eastern Nigeria and northern 300 BRDMs from Serbia; 49 NIMR armoured there are rumours of 100 T-90s being bought. Cameroon), failed states (Libya and the CAR) and patrol vehicles (via ); ten Khrizantema-S Uganda is buying 44 T-90Ss from Russia, with a hostile neighbour (Sudan). tank destroyers from Russia; 20 Puma APCs from reports of up to 131 ordered in total, and even Uganda has not just focused on vehicles, as Italy; and 24 HMMWVs from the US.US. Djibouti has a reported acquisition of 42 T-72s it has also acquired new infantry weapons, The acquisuisitiitions of the past few yearsrs from Yemen. including Chinese 30mm grenade launchers that have probably set the trend for the next decade While this may surprise at first glance, it was are used in handheld and vehicle-mounted forms. or two. The one open question is whether the fighting in Mogadishu and other towns in Kenya, heavily engaged in Somalia, has South Africa will focus on its regional security Somalia that once again showed the importance acquired BRDM-3s from Russia (eight delivered responsibilities or not. If it does, then it will of tanks in urban combat. Uganda, and out of a requirement for 96), Type 92 APCs not just re-equip mechanised and motorised apparently Burundi, acquired upgraded and from China and Lazar IFVs and self-propelled forces from local sources, but develop a light, up-armoured T-55s for use in Somalia, and both 155mm/52cal Nora systems from Serbia, as deployable capability that will require vehicles Uganda and Rwanda had small numbers of old well as some BM-21s. There are also rumours of and weapons suited to neutralising technicals T- T-5555s ththat plplayayed a kekey papart in ththeieir opopereratatioions inin an Mi-28 attack helicopter acquisition. and bunkers without being too large for airlift Zaire (later the DRC). Meanwhile, Uganda Although unconfirmed, fighting in Somalia into smallish airfields. That would present a supports South Sudan and might be dragged has shown an urgent requirement for a night- real challenge. LWI

14 LAND WARFARE INTERNATIONAL | August/September 2014 | Volume 5 Number 4 www.landwarfareintl.com OPTICS

Trijicon’s Continuously Computed Aiming Solution combines a 6x ACOG sight with an LRF and ballistic computer.(Photo: )

or more than a century following their Fintroduction in the American Civil War, telescopic sights mounted on rifles were regarded as a specialist tool for snipers. When the deployed troops on internal A BRIGHT security duties in Northern Ireland in 1969, they were armed with the 7.62mm L1A1 Self-Loading Rifle (SLR) fitted with simple . The SLR, like other assault rifles designed during the early decades of the Cold War, such as the SPOT Soviet AK-47 and the US M14, was intended to deliver a high volume of fire at comparatively Operations in Afghanistan and Iraq have demonstrated the short ranges. advantages of equipping every soldier with optical sights to It quickly became apparent in Northern improve situation awareness and lethality. Ian Kemp explores Ireland that soldiers had to be able to distinguish the evolution of such technology. terrorists from civilians and then engage targets without causing collateral damage. This was especially challenging in an urban environment. sights, but other accessories such as lights, laser Reflex is a battery-free, illuminated sight In 1973, the L2A1 Sight Unit, Infantry, Trilux pointers and forward grips on the sides and designed for close-quarter battle (CQB) use. (SUIT), which provided 4x magnification and beneath weapons. Following the invasion of Afghanistan, the had an 8° field of view (FoV), was introduced for The new STANAG 4694 NATO Accessory USMC, which has always prided itself on its mounting on SLRs used in Northern Ireland. Its Rail (NAR) is based on the marksmanship, conducted trials of the ACOG purpose was threefold: to enhance situational and is backwards-compatible with it, but that demonstrated a remarkable improvement awareness; enable rapid target acquisition; and manufactured to higher tolerances, thus in accuracy at ranges out to 600m. Marine Corps aid precision engagement. ensuring a more robust attachment and a Systems Command bought an initial quantity of In 1978 the Austrian Army fielded the first tighter zero. 6,000 TA31F 4x ACOGs, which were issued to the assault rifle designed with an optical sight It was US Special Operations Command 1st Marine Division for the 2003 invasion of Iraq. as a standard feature – the Steyr 5.56mm (USSOCOM) which introduced optical sights Initially, the ACOG was fitted on the Squad AUG bullpup. The Photonic 1.5x sight was into US military service through the Special Advanced Marksman Rifle, an M16A4 with integrated into a carrying handle. A simple Operations Peculiar Modification (SOPMOD) match-grade barrel and bipod. Maj Gen James black ring was optimised to allow rapid kit for the 5.56mm M4A1 carbine. In 1995, the Mattis, the division’s commanding general acquisition of man-sized targets out to ranges command selected the Trijicon 4x32 Advanced during the invasion, noted: ‘The ACOG mounted of 300m. Combat Optical Gunsight (ACOG) for SOPMOD on the M16 has proven to be the and the following year added the same biggest improvement in lethality for the marine ACCESSORY ESSENTIALS company’s Reflex sight. infantryman since the introduction of the M1 The majority of assault rifles developed since The ACOG uses Trijicon’s ‘bindon aiming Garand in World War II.’ 1980 were designed with either integral optical concept’, which permits a both-eyes-open sights or a flat-top rail system, such as the shooting method and enables accurate DUAL ROLES MIL-STD-1913 Picatinny rail, to accommodate engagements of targets at ranges out to 800m. For the improved SOPMOD II kit, USSOCOM both day and night sights. The US DoD A fibre-optic system collects ambient light to selected the Raytheon Elcan Optical approved the standard for the MIL-STD-1913 ensure a bright reticle in daytime and low light, Technologies Specter Dual Role (DR) – in February 1995, and its use quickly became while at night the reticle is illuminated by tritium. designated SU-230/PVS in US service – for the widespread, not only for attaching day and night The scope also requires no batteries. Trijicon’s day optic to provide both a long-range 

www.landwarfareintl.com Volume 5 Number 4 | August/September 2014 | LAND WARFARE INTERNATIONAL 15 OPTICS

‘Instead of merely making improvements to an existing product, we started with a completely new design.’

deliberate aiming capability, and a short-range precision close-quarter, mid-range and long- five-year firm fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/ positive rapid aiming capability for CQB. range engagement capability. indefinite-quantity contract, potentially worth In CQB situations, the sight can be used with The 1x FoV providvides a 16° viewing anglele $42.8 million, to Leupold & Stevens. Another, both eyes open in 1x red-dot mode (26º FoV) and a fast, both-eyes-open target acquisition worth up to $8.6 million, was awarded to and switched to a 4x mode with reticle capability enhanced by a red dot and at least teammate Aimpoint for the Enhanced Combat (6.5º FoV) to engage targets at longer ranges. 70mm eye relief. The second FoV provides a Optical Sight-Optimized (ECOS-O) project. The The SpecterDR has an integrated backup iron 3x magnified sight with a 6° FoV and range Dual Aperture Gunsight Riflescope (DAGR) sight that is boresighted to the scope, and compensating reticle. At 9x, a 2° viewing offered by the two companies for ECOS-O weighs 700g with mount and is 182mm angle provides long-range target detection, integrates Leupold’s Mk 6 3-18x44mm riflescope in length. identification and engagement capability. with Aimpoint’s Micro T-1 CQB sight. At the January 2014 SHOT Show, Elcan There are five illuminatnation levels for all threeree unveiled the SpecterTR 1-3-9x Tri-FOV magnifications. The SpecterTR measures MEETING REQUIREMENTS Military Combat Weapon Sight, which it 126.4mm in length and weighs 829g. The DAGR meeteets UUs SSOCOM’s reqrequiruirement forfor describes as the world’s first three-FoV optical In March 2013 following a competitive a hardened sighting system that offers weapon sight. The design is intended to evaluation, the US Naval Surface Warfare unmagnified targeting from 0-300m and maximise combat effectiveness by providing Center (NSWC) Crane Division awarded a magnified targeting from 300-1,000m. The

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16 LAND WARFARE INTERNATIONAL | August/September 2014 | Volume 5 Number 4 www.landwarfareintl.com OPTICS

In January 2014, Raytheon Elcan unveiled the SpecterTR 1-3-9x Tri-FOV Military Combat Weapon Sight. (Photo: Raytheon)

system comes in two configurations, with a numerous other suppliers. Such technology streamlined profile. CompM4-series sights non-illuminated and illuminated reticle in the allows the shooter to rapidly acquire and engage feature advanced circuit efficiency technology Mk 6 scope, and the sight will accommodate targets while keeping both eyes open, thus which provides up to eight years of continuous future reticle designs. maximising situation awareness, especially in use from a single AA battery. Once turned on, The two sigsights are suppliplied by thethe close-combat situations. Aimpoint sights stay on, so the optic is ready manufacturers to NSWC Crane, where they are Aimpoint has sold its red-dot sights to more whenever the shooter needs to use it, and the integrated by armourers into a single unit. The than 60 military customers. Since 1996, it has range is compatible with all generations of night ECOS-O is primarily intended for use with the supplied more than a million battery-powered vision devices. M4/M4A1 carbine and the 7.62mm MK17 SCAR, non-magnifying red-dot reflex sights, beginning although it can also serve on the M14, M16, with the CompM2, progressing through the STARTING FRESH MK11 or MK12 rifles, as well as the new MK20 CompM3 and CompM4 to the latest CompM4s, Alongside the Micro T-1, which was introduced Sniper Support Rifle variant of the SCAR. to the US DoD, which designates them as the in 2007, Aimpoint has now begun producing Sweden’s Aimpoint originally developed the M68 Close Combat Optic. its new Micro T-2 sight. It incorporates a number red-dot sight concept for the civilian hunting The CompM4 has a top-mounted batbatterteryy of product enhancements that had been market, although the company was quick to compartment, whereas the CompM4s sports a requested by both military and law enforcement appreciate the military potential – as have low battery compartment that offers a more users. ‘Instead of merely making 

www.landwarfareintl.com Volume 5 Number 4 | August/September 2014 | LAND WARFARE INTERNATIONAL 17 OPTICS

Meprolight’s Mepro Meslas, mounted here on the new IWI DAN .338cal , has recently entered service with the IDF. (Photo: Meprolight)

During IDF trials, snipers working alone were able to locate and accurately engage targets in about 20 seconds, whereas sniper and spotter pairs, using in-service equipment, were taking 90 seconds to engage targets, according to Meprolight. The Meslas has been fielded by the IDF and some unidentified European customers. The new IWI DAN .338cal bolt-action sniper rifle launched at Eurosatory 2014 was fitted with the Meslas fire control scope.

COMPUTER-CONTROLLED improvements to an existing product, we started Th The MARS family combinbines a hha ighigh-pr-preciecisiosionn Tri Trijicjicon’s Continuously Computed Aiminging with a completely new design,’ explained 1x reflex sight with a single or dual-wavelength Solution (CCAS), introduced at the January Lennart Ljungfelt, president of the company. laser pointer, either visible red and/or IR. The 2013 SHOT exhibition, is designed for use ‘As a result, the Micro T-2 takes the level of reflex dot and laser pointer are collimated at the with sniper rifles and machine guns, including performance available from a compact sight to factory. Meanwhile, the Trisight is a compact, vehicle-mounted weapons. According to an entirely new level. It also provides features lightweight 3x day sight that is available with a Tri Trijicjicon, the CCCCAS ‘re‘replaplaces the necessessityity and performance formerly available only in reticle pattern for standalone use and in non- for advanced marksmanship skills such as much larger optics.’ reticle configuration for use with reflex sights range estimation, windage adjustment and A newly designed front lens also provides an such as ITL’s MARS and Raptor. angle-of-fire adjustment’. increase in clarity and performance properties. The CCAS essententialially combinbines a 6x ACOGG Other improvements include: a new sight COMPLETE APPROACH with an LRF and ballistic computer. Users select housing allowing the addition of front and Some manufacturers now have integrated their weapon and ammunition type from an rear protective flip covers and anti-reflective ballistic computers with optical sights to extensive list of common combinations in US devices; additional physical protection for offer snipers a complete aiming solution. and NATO service and zero the system. Power is the sight’s adjustment turrets; and increased Meprolight’s Mepro Meslas 10x40 fire control supplied by four CR123 batteries. ruggedness for the sight’s internal electronic riflescope features a built-in laser rangefinder The system has ranranginging capabiabilitlity out toto components. The Micro T-2 can operate for (LRF) to provide snipers with an independent 2,000m and gathers environmental and weather up to five years of constant ‘on’ use with capability to measure a target’s range, thus data, including temperature and atmospheric one CR-2032 battery, and is waterproof to reducing the spotter’s workload and spotter- pressure. The CCAS calculates for pressure, 25m depth. sniper communication. angle, range and movement of the target, One of the latest assault rifles to enter A press on the LRF’s remote-control cable automatically adjusting for changes in relation to production, following a December 2013 contract results in an instant vertical repositioning of the the zeroing set-up to provide updated aiming for an initial 20,000 weapons, is the 5.56mm IA2 illuminated aiming dot, based on the applicable solutions. Within half a second of activation, (IMBEL A2) designed by Brazilian state-owned pre-selected ballistic table containing weapon the onboard computer generates a firing IMBEL to replace various 5.56mm and 7.62mm and ammunition data and the measured target’s solution and displays an aiming point on the weapons now in Brazilian service. The IA2 range. Before shooting, the sniper will need green reticle. features a full-length MIL-STD-1913 Picatinny to factor in atmospheric conditions, and in the Systems such as the Mepro Meslas and the top rail. case of moving targets, target speed offset. The CCAS are initially likely to be limited to use by To eqequiuip ththe nenew ririflfleses, ththe BrBrazazililiaian ArArmy hahass levelling indicator available in the scope’s FoV snipers, special forces and support weapon selected two sights: the Trisight; and the Multi- enables the sniper to engage the target while gunners, but the rapid pace of technological purpose Aiming Reflex Sight (MARS), developed the weapon is vertical, thus ensuring ballistic development suggests that less expensive by Elbit Systems ITL, which will be produced trajectory is not affected by an accidental follow-on versions of such equipment will be locally by the company’s Ares Aeroespacial e weapon tilt. The system, complete with batteries, available for more widespread use within Defesa subsidiary. weighs 2kg. infantry platoons. LWI

18 LAND WARFARE INTERNATIONAL | August/September 2014 | Volume 5 Number 4 www.landwarfareintl.com ARTILLERY

Technologies are now available to greatly increase the accuracy of indirect fires. David Saw details the decades-long quest for precision and examines the guided munition options currently on the market.

rtillery has long been of decisive achieved. Similar performance was achieved by offering a 30km range. During the Vietnam era Aimportance on the battlefield, becoming the M109 self-propelled gun, while after 1973 the 155mm M449 Improved Conventional one of the most devastating weapons of the the M109A1 variant with 39cal M185 ordnance Munition (ICM), with its payload of 60 sub- 20th century. could achieve a range of 18km. munitions, improved the effect against troops in What artillery operators were looking for in the open. the post-1945 era was increased mobility, longer EQUAL FIGHTS Th Thesese susub-b-mumuninitiotions alallolowewed a lalargrger ararea toto ranges, increased rates of fire, higher precision While these were effective artillery, better systems be covered and provided higher lethality. US and improved lethality – the same things gun were being fielded by armies that they could end analysis of combat operations in Vietnam crews ask for today. up confronting. A case in point was the Soviet showed that an M107 HE nature with a TNT World War II saw arrival of self-propelled M46 130mm field gun that entered service in the filling provided a casualty percentage of 4.9%. artillery, but in many respects not that mid-1950s. This weapon could achieve a range of With a Composition B filling this rose to 7.9% – much changed in terms of the underlying 27km and caused US forces great discomfort by comparison the M449 ICM had a casualty technology. In the US military, the M107 during the Vietnam conflict. All of this led percentage of 31.9%. Other data showed that to 155mm HE round came into service in 1959. An to programmes to develop new artillery inflict one enemy casualty took 13.6 M107 HE nature with TNT or Composition B filling, it ammunition and improve ordnance. rounds but only 1.7 ICM rounds. provided blast and fragmentation effects (1,950 One result of this activity was the arrival of the Elsewhere, work carried out by Dr Gerald Bull steel fragments). rocket-assisted projectile (RAP) to increase range. and the Space Research Corporation would lead When used from a standard towed M114 The US Army intintroduced the 155mm M549 to the development of extended-range artillery 155mm howitzer, with its 24.5cal barrel, a HE-RAP during the 1970s and the improved in the form of the GC-45, a 45cal 155mm system, maximum range of some 14.5km could be M549A1 HE-RAP at the end of the decade, and new ammunition in the form of  BANG ON TARGET

An M109A6 self-propelled gun participates in a live fire exercise in Kuwait in February 2012 using the XM1156 PGK and M982 precision-guided rounds. (Photo: US DoD)

www.landwarfareintl.com Volume 5 Number 4 | August/September 2014 | LAND WARFARE INTERNATIONAL 19 ARTILLERY

A US Army artillery crew installs an ATK XM1156 Precision Guidance Kit onto a 155mm artillery round at Fort Bliss. (Photo: ATK)

extended-range full bore (ERFB) and base bleed (BB) natures. Bull’s work provided the basis for the Denel G5 artillery system that entered service in 1983. Since then, South Africa has developed the Velocity Enhanced Long Range Artillery Projectile (V-LAP) that has achieved ranges of 67km from a 52cal 155mm system. On the ICM front, the US developed the Dual- Purpose Improved Conventional Munition (DPICM) in the form of the M483 155mm round with a payload of 88 sub-munitions that arrived in the 1970s, being superseded in 1975 by the If a DPICM nature is used to address a target, limited operational utility and range constraints. M483A1. At the end of the 1980s, the M864 then the sub-munitions go some way to The reqrequiruirement remainained for a tta rue prepreciscisionion DPICM round entered service. It only had 72 sub- compensating for inaccuracy, but as seen engagement capability and, arguably, it is the munitions, but this allowed an increase in range above the BB variant of the M864 is hardly the US that has led the way in putting this into to 29km. most accurate of rounds. In the contemporary operational service, although it is not alone in environment, the use of sub-munitions has having the ability to do so. ERROR MESSAGE negative connotations and the risk of collaterall The arrarrivaival of 39cal, thethen 45cal and thethe damage from DPICM natures fired by artillery is DOUBLING UP 52cal ordnance used today, along with considered to be too high. Th The twtwo US cocontntenendeders in ththis ararenena arare ththe ATATKK ammunition developments, has seen incredible XM1156 Precision Guidance Kit (PGK) and the improvements in range. But the downside is COPPERHEAD ROAD Raytheon Excalibur. The former is added to that dispersion at extended firing distances The solsolutiution was thetherefrefore to intintroduce existing artillery rounds to increase their significantly reduces accuracy. precision-guided ammunition for artillery. Such accuracy and effectiveness, while the latter is a According to findings from the Picatinny rounds had been developed in the past and dedicated precision-guided projectile. Arsenal facility of the US Army’s Research, employed with various degrees of success. The Speaking to Land Warfare International atat Development and Engineering Command, US Army used the M712 Copperhead laser- Eurosatory 2014, spokespeople from both ‘delivery error increases with range’. This is guided artillery round, developed in the 1980s, ATK and Raytheon agreed that there is space in backed up with some interesting statistics as against hardened targets during both Operation the marketplace for both systems. The PGK regards 155mm rounds. The M795 HE (successor Desert Storm in 1991 and Iraqi Freedom in 2003, enhances the accuracy of existing ammunition to the M107 in US service) has a circular error but it had limited range (16km maximum), and in a cost-effective way, but if very high levels of probable (CEP), a measure of accuracy, of 119m the need to illuminate the target to action the accuracy are required Excalibur is a better option, at a range of 20km. The M864 DPICM has a CEP engagement was not without risk. although this increased precision inevitably of 96m at 20km, while the BB version of the Russia has its equivalent of Copperhead in comes with a higher price tag. ATK and M864 has a 186m CEP at 28km. The M549 RAP, the form of the Krasnopol system manufacturedred Raytheon therefore see PGK and Excalibur as by comparison, has a CEP of 267m at 30km. by the KBP Instrument Design Bureau in Tula. complementary capabilities. The highigher the CEP, the more inainaccuratratee This syssystem is laslaser-er-guiguided and availablable for The roots of the PGK system can be foundd the round. In the past, this could both 152mm and 155mm ordnance, with a in a demonstrator programme covering the be compensated for by firing more rounds, maximum range of 20km. Both China and India development of a 120mm Precision Guided but this is no longer a logical course of action. are believed to have acquired Krasnopol, and its Mortar Munition for the US Army. This Firing more implies spending a longer time technology is thought to have provided the effort did not lead anywhere, but it gave in a single position, and therefore increases basis for a number of Chinese laser-guided ATK the experience to win a US Army vulnerability to counter-battery fire. In addition, artillery round developments. technology demonstration contract in 2006, this ‘solution’ is likely to lead to collateral Although the guidance method employed by later followed by a system development and damage, something to be avoided in today’s Copperhead and Krasnopol does provide a demonstration contract resulting in the asymmetric warfare conditions. precision engagement capability, it suffers from Increment 1 XM1156 PGK. 

20 LAND WARFARE INTERNATIONAL | August/September 2014 | Volume 5 Number 4 www.landwarfareintl.com BOOST YOUR OPERATIONAL FIREPOWER

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‘The target for Excalibur was a CEP of less than 10m, but this has long since been superseded.’

Th The PGK is a GPS guidadance kit with fusfusiningg capability in this calibre and the USMC turning German PzH2000 self-propelled gun, with functions that is screwed into the fuse well of away from 105mm in favour of 120mm rifled 52cal 155mm ordnance, fired a total of ten M107 HE, M795 HE and M549A1 HE-RAP natures. mortars, Pentagon interest has fallen off. But ATK Excalibur munitions at ranges from 9-48km, Th The ininititiaial gogoal wawas a 5050m CECEP, wiwith ththe obobjejectctivivee told LWLWI I that it still sees other possibilities for a with each round impacting within three metres set at 30m. According to US Army data, at 30km 105mm PGK, noting that the UK is interested in of the target. an M549A1 HE-RAP round fitted with PGK would such an option. Raytheon told LWI that since its entry into have a 50m CEP, in contrast to a standard M549A1 service Excalibur has been incrementally HE-RAP with a 267m CEP. Accuracy has been SWORD OF DESTINY improved, with current rounds showing further improved, with the PGK now having a The M982 Excaliblibur is a joijoint US/Swedisdishh higher accuracy and reliability at a reduced 30m CEP. ATK states that the addition of the PGK programme with Raytheon and BAE Systems procurement cost. The company sees Excalibur means that 75% fewer rounds are required to Bofors as contractors. It is a complete fin- as having immense development potential via successfully engage a target. stabilised projectile featuring GPS guidance the integration of new guidance modes and The company received its firsfirst production and was first fielded in 2007, following a payloads such as sub-munitions and dedicated contracts for the US Army and USMC in 2012, development programme that began in the anti-tank natures. and the system was used successfully in early 1990s. Initial XM982 rounds were fired in Apart from the US and Sweden, Excalibur has Afghanistan in 2013, fired from M777 howitzers. combat in Iraq from May 2007, with the system reportedly been acquired by Australia and In August the same year, the XM1156 received subsequently being used in Afghanistan. Canada, among others. Raytheon says that other its first export contract from Australia for 4,002 Raytheon told LWI that 750 rounds have been export sales are likely in the Middle East and kits. Other sales opportunities exist, with the expended in combat thus far, and in June 2012 Asia, with strong interest in Europe from the system having been demonstrated to Sweden, USMC artillery in Afghanistan successfully Germany, the Netherlands, Spain and the UK. and both Japan and showing interest. engaged a target at a range of 36km with The potentential German reqrequiuirement wilwill invinvolvolvee Initially, the US had intended to develop a PGK Excalibur fired from an M777. competition from OTO Melara and its Vulcano variant for 105mm ordnance such as the Initially, the target for Excalibur was a CEP of 155mm Guided Long Range system. The Italian M119A3 howitzer, but with the army deciding less than 10m, but this has long since been company entered into a strategic alliance with that it does not want a precision engagement superseded. In tests at Yuma Proving Ground, a Diehl Defence in 2012 for the development of Vulcano for both land and naval applications. Other options are also emerging. At Eurosatory, the Rokar subsidiary of BAE Systems unveiled the Silver Bullet, a precision guidance kit that can be screwed into the fuse well of 155mm rounds and features a CEP of less than 20m. The development programme started in 2007, and 120 test rounds have been fired since 2009. In France, Nexter Munitions, Junghans T2M and Zodiac Data Systems are in the final phases of a system qualification contract awarded by the DGA procurement agency for the SPACIDO trajectory correction system. Once this system is qualified, expected this year, it will be acquired by the French Army. Guided artillery projectiles offer increased accuracy and minimised collateral damage, with fewer rounds required to create desired on-target effects. The key determinant though is German Army interest in precision-guided artillery has how much an operator is prepared to pay for seen both the OTO Melara Vulcano and Raytheon Excalibur accuracy – the smaller the CEP, the higher rounds tested from the PzH2000. (Photo: KMW) the cost. LWI

22 LAND WARFARE INTERNATIONAL | August/September 2014 | Volume 5 Number 4 www.landwarfareintl.com

FORCE MODERNISATION

‘The budget demands of 2013-2014 are forcing the IDF to take steps.’

n December 2013, Israel’s Begin-Sadat Center its strategic threats, specifically the rocket- the army had to concede that it offered the Ifor Strategic Studies (BESA Center) held a launching capabilities of Hamas and Hezbollah.’ prospect of significant savings by reducing the conference to discuss controversial cuts to the The defeefence budget of NIS65 billillion ($16.16.99 ground arm. country’s ground forces. ‘Neglect of the IDF’s billion) for 2012 was reduced to NIS58.4 billion in ground forces poses a risk to Israel’s security. 2013 and was originally set at NIS57.7 billion for FORCE REDUCTION There are reareal batbattletles ahead againsinst well-l- this year. These cuts forced the IDF to choose In July 2013, Defence Minister Moshe Ya’alon, a entrenched Hamas and Hezbollah armies,’ between two options – either strengthening its former army officer who served as IDF Chief of warned the BESA Center’s Dr Eitan Shamir. relative weaknesses (manoeuvre-oriented Staff in 2002-05, approved the IDF’s plan to A paper released at the conference stated: ground forces) or fortifying its relative strengths disband six reserve armour brigades, thus ‘Dramatic cuts to the IDF budget have forced the (stand-off fire, intelligence, cyber warfare and allowing the Merkava Mk 1 and the Magach 7 (a army to reduce its ground forces capabilities. special forces). The air force, the IDF’s weapon locally upgraded version of the US-supplied This is a mistastake, as the IDF stiltill must rrst ely on a of choice for developing precision attacks, M60) tank fleets to be retired. Other cuts include capable and credible ground force to deal with favoured the second option, and many within the axing of up 5,000 regular personnel, a reduction in training for both active and reserve components, and the restructuring or elimination of several procurement projects. ‘The budget demands of 2013-2014 are forcing the IDF to take steps, such as reducing training and operational work for the reserves,’ HARD said Ya’alon, ‘but our intent is not to hinder the growth of the IDF’s capabilities over the long term, even as we take risks in the short term.’ ‘We will continue to invest in the basic CHOICES building blocks of this vision: precise ordnance, Combat operations in Gaza have shown that the combined arms team remains at the heart of Israel’s ground forces. Ian Kemp reports on army modernisation efforts in the face of competing budget pressures.

The IDF will replace its M109s with a 155mm/52cal self-propelled howitzer toto provide an extended-range precision fire capability.(All photos: IDF)

24 LAND WARFARE INTERNATIONAL | August/September 2014 | Volume 5 Number 4 www.landwarfareintl.com FORCE MODERNISATION

A second armoured brigade is now being equipped with the indigenously designed Merkava Mk 4 tank.

intelligence, electronics, active defence and cyber defence, with the understanding that the contemporary and future battlefield will be utterly different from what we have known in the past,’ he explained. ‘The foreseeable future is liable to see us in conflicts that will be decided by the IDF’s technological superiority, in the air, on land and at sea, with fewer heavy weapons systems and a growing use of smart, unmanned systems.’ Th This vvis isision began to unfolfold in October 201313 when Brig Gen Shmuel Olansky, the IDF’s Chief Armor Officer, announced the future organisation engine is mounted at the front, allowing the tanks. Local press reports said that Trophy had of armoured battalions. Each will consist of two turret to be located towards the back of the successfully defeated five attacks on armoured instead of three active duty tank companies, with vehicle, creating additional stowage space at thethe vehicles in the first few days of Operation the third tank company manned by reservists rear, which is accessed via clamshell-style doors. Protective Edge in Gaza. equipped with the same type of platform. The tank is armed with the localcally develvelopedd Th The bbe atattaltalion wilwill rereceiceive an infinfanantry susupppportort 120mm MG253 smoothbore gun that is able to TOO FEW NAMERS company composed of a reconnaissance launch the IAI LAHAT missile. Seven soldiers of the 1st Golani Infantry Brigade platoon, an observation platoon and a self- Th The 40401s1st ArArmomorered BrBrigigadade wawas ththe fifirsrst of ththee were killed on 20 July when their M113 was propelled mortar platoon equipped with the four active-duty brigades to be equipped with struck by an unspecified anti-tank missile, Keshet, an M113-based carrier equipped with the Mk 4, while the 7th Armored Brigade is provoking criticism in the Israeli media about the the Elbit Soltam Cardom 120mm mortar. Each currently converting from the Mk 2 to the Mk 4. IDF’s continued reliance on the 50-year old APC brigade will also include a reconnaissance It is estimated that more than 350 Mk 4s had after it had announced its intention to field the company and combat engineer battalion. The been built by early 2014, with the Armored locally designed Namer in the IDF’s mechanised first battalions are being restructured this year. Corps seeking another 300 or so. Protracted infantry battalions. ‘The Armored Corps is embarking on a new wrangling over the budget resulted in no Mk 4s The Namer meets the army’s desire for an jo joururneney anand trtraiainining itits sosoldldieiers fofor a nenew kikind ofof being ordered in 2012. APC with identical mobility and comparable battlefield,’ said Olansky. ‘We are building our ‘I have decided that the Merkava production protection to the Merkava. It is gradually battalions with a lot of firepower, as well as line will not be stopped despite the budget replacing the Achzarit, a heavily modified intelligence-gathering capabilities and the ability limitations,’ Ya’alon told journalists on 13 August T-55 chassissis operatrated by a thrthree-ee-man crecreww to overcome many obstacles.’ 2013. ‘I don’t see the tank programme just from and able to dismount seven infantrymen. the defence point of view, but also from Despite the installation of a more powerful MORE MERKAVAS economic, social and national points of view. I engine, the Achzarit cannot match the mobility Central to the army’s combined arms teams are understand the need for jobs here. of the Merkava and its protection levels are the tank battalions equipped with the Merkava ‘The IDF’s tank fleet needs to be renewed considered inadequate. MBT. Since the days of the 2006 Lebanon War, and we are decommissioning old tanks and After the Second Lebanon War, the IDF which was characterised by poor coordination renewing the fleet with the advanced model of decided to launch production of the Namer. between the ground combat arms, the army the Merkava. We must not lose our technological With a crew of three, it can carry a full eight-man has worked hard to improve combined arms capabilities, and we will continue to procure infantry , although a further four training through the cycle from individual- to Merkava tanks every year.’ personnel can be squeezed in when necessary, brigade-level. Since late 2010, every Mk 4 that leaves the and a stretcher can be suspended between the Introduced into service in 2002, the Merkava IDF’s tank plant in Tel HaShomer has been two banks of seating. The Namer’s armour is Mk 4 builds on the experience of the Merkava equipped with the Rafael Trophy active thought to offer protection exceeding NATO Ta Tank OfOffifice in dedevevelolopiping ththe Mk 1, 2 anand 3, anandd protection system, and in mid-2013 the IDF STANAG 4569 Level 4a and b, and the occupants as with the earlier models, affords a high priority Army HQ announced that it had completed are seated in wall-mounted blast attenuation to survivability. Unlike most tanks, the Merkava’s installation of Trophy on the 401st Brigade’s seats over a ‘floating floor’. 

www.landwarfareintl.com Volume 5 Number 4 | August/September 2014 | LAND WARFARE INTERNATIONAL 25 FORCE MODERNISATION

Since the 2006 Lebanon War, the army has worked hard to improve its combined arms training.

The acquisuisitioition will be partiallally funded by the $3 billion in military aid which the US government donates to Israel each year, so at least some of the work will be done in the US. At least four teams are expected to bid for the project. BAE Systems, through its Israeli Rokar subsidiary, will offer a solution based on the M109A7 upgrade that it is now producing for the US Army. Elbit Systems, which acquired artillery manufacturer Soltam Systems in 2010, will be able to offer an indigenously designed solution with work in the US coordinated through Elbit Systems of America. IAI has Th The NaNamemer is eqequiuipppped wiwith a RaRafafael SaSamsmsonon fighting in Gaza,’ an MoD spokesperson told the teamed with Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) RCWS mounting either an FN Herstal 7.62mm Israeli business daily Globes. and Lockheed Martin to offer a solution based MAG 58 medium machine gun or more usually ‘Despite the defence ministry’s demand over on KMW’s Donar Artillery Gun Module mounted a .50cal M2HB . The army has the years for continued procurement of the on Lockheed’s MLRS chassis. IMI is teamed with been considering arming some Namers with a Namer, a measure made necessary by the Rheinmetall to offer an M109 upgrade using 30mm RCWS, with competing systems being threats on various fronts, questionable criticism the 155mm/52cal barrel which the German offered by Rafael and Elbit, but no vehicles was levelled against the need for such a project. company supplied for KMW’s PzH 2000 SPH. have been fitted out other than for evaluation. The deep and continued cut in the defence The Namer iier s pps owered by a 11a ,200hp Teleeledynee budget in recent years led to a substantial PRECISION FIRE Continental engine, which it shares with the scaling back of the project, which prevented Two IIo srasraeleli ffi irmirms aas re competing for the 155mm Merkava Mk 3. further procurement of this equipment.’ precision guidance requirement. BAE Systems The firsfirst ppt roduction Namer wwr as unveileiled inin Rokar is offering its Silver Bullet GPS-based 2008, and some estimates suggest that as NEW HOWITZERS guidance kit. According to a company official, many as 200 have been built locally. In 2011, Within the army’s modernisation plans, the during firing trials in November 2013 four out of General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) Artillery Corps will be much more capable of four rounds landed within 5m of the target, and received an Israeli MoD contract, potentially delivering precision fire support. Acquisition in February 2014 five out of six rounds achieved worth $800 million, to produce an initial priorities include: a replacement for the 50-year- a circular error probable (CEP) of 10m. IAI’s 110 Namers with a firm price option for a old M109 155mm self-propelled howitzer (SPH); GPS-guided Top Gun precision guidance kit further 276. precision guidance kits for 155mm ammunition; has demonstrated a CEP better than 10m at Production would be carried out at the US a GPS-guided unitary warhead for use from the any range. government-owned, GDLS-operated Joint M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS); a In mid-2011 the IDF revealed that the Tamuz, Systems Manufacturing Center in Lima, Ohio, vehicle-mounted radar to locate targets for a 25km range version of the Rafael Spike NLOS and continue through 2019 with a full-rate Keshet mortar platoons; and additional Elbit missile mounted on an M113 launcher vehicle, production of 60 Namers per year. However, as a Skylark I tactical UAVs. had been in service since the 1980s and was first result of budget pressures the MoD decided to To replace a portion of its 500 M109s, the used during the 2006 Lebanon War. Officials cut procurement from 386 to 170 vehicles and IDF plans to acquire a new 155mm/52cal have said more no missiles will be bought when end production in 2017. GDLS delivered the first SPH equipped with an automatic loader which existing stocks are exhausted. batch of seven Namer hulls at the end of 2013 will reduce crew size and provide a multiple- Th The ArArtitillllerery CoCorprps hahas rerececentntly forformemed itits fifirsrstt for integration in Israel. round simultaneous-impact capability. With the battalion equipped with the IMI Accular, a ‘During Operation Protective Edge, the IDF is introduction of a more capable gun, the army 160mm GPS-guided surface-to-surface rocket using all the armoured equipment at its disposal. plans to reduce the size of its artillery battalions which can achieve a CEP of 10m at ranges Unfortunately, the small number of Namers is from 18 to 12 guns, organised into three between 14-40km. IMI’s 300mm EXTRA, which not enough for all the infantry brigades now batteries of four. has a range of 150km, is expected to follow. LWI

26 LAND WARFARE INTERNATIONAL | August/September 2014 | Volume 5 Number 4 www.landwarfareintl.com

ASSAULT RIFLES

The SCAR rifle is a development of the M16. It was selected by USSOCOM and has been popular with other special forces units. (Photo: FN Herstal)

Modern assault rifles are changing Bullpup or shape, with designs being altered traditional? ergonomically to reflect wider usage and Upgrade or the need for reduced maintenance. The main requirement, however, is for these weapons to acquisition? be able to mount a selection of accessories, from Tim Fish optics to additional armaments. examines how New offerings often come as extensions to militaries around existing weapons families, which provide higher the world are levels of parts commonality, as well as with MIL- approaching their STD-1913 Picatinny rails on every available surface to ensure compatibility with the latest accessories. current and future Gil Wainman, marketing director at Israel inventories of Weapon Industries (IWI), told Land Warfare assault rifles and International that the company’s latest offerings what new trends include two assault rifle families – Tavor and are emerging. ACE – to meet the respective market demands for bullpup and traditional configurations.

TAKING STOCK ‘With bullpup rifles, the firing mechanism is in the stock so that the centre of gravity is at the back – this is very helpful for soldiers with heavy kit as it places the weight of the rifle in the shoulder and not on the arm, plus it is very accurate,’ he explained. PULLING One feature of the Tavor that is becoming more common across all rifle designs is greater symmetry to make it ambidextrous. Only the bolt more logistics savings. An army like France has The X95 was also designed with reduced life- moves from left to right, and this allows left- and the FAMAS and MP5 separate, but with X95 you cycle costs in mind, and the barrel has a lifespan right-handed soldiers to use the rifle in their have the same rifle and the only difference is the of around 25,000 rounds. According to natural posture. calibre – so there is reduced training time as well.’ Wainman, the average soldier uses 1,000 rounds The configuration of the rifle can be changed, per year, so this equates to a 25-year life cycle – and it has semi- and fully automatic firing CONVERSION KITS the bolt can reach 50,000 rounds. ‘The capabilities, with a Picatinny rail along the top for To convert the X95 to 9mm requires replacing replacement of parts is minimised and therefore additional items. IWI found that a bullpup rifle the barrel, firing mechanism and breech. A maintenance is minimised,’ he noted. with an integrated sight ‘was the most suitable for closed bolt is possible for the sub-machine gun IWI has kept a second production line for the development when the IDF selected its new rifle and there is a adapter for a 32-round more traditional ACE family. The ACE N 22 fires ten years ago’. 9mm magazine. 5.56mm ammunition and is based on the Galil, Tavor has been the standard IDF rifle since ‘To enable this, there is reduced friction in the which used to be the IDF’s standard rifle. 2005, but IWI has since added the X95 model bolt and moving parts, and they are made to be Wainman said that IWI used the basic Galil which is designed to operate in all climates. interchangeable,’ Wainman said. ‘The lock of the design for ACE because it was robust, although Wainman said that it can also be changed to a bolt is against the barrel and there is reduced it changed the ergonomics to make it easier to 9mm sub-machine gun. sensitivity to dirt, sand and soot. There is a large use. It added a telescopic stock, Picatinny rails ‘This means there is less budget required to buy piston so there is a reduced need to clean, and and when firing 5.56mm the gun is available in a new rifle and conversion kit,’ he noted. There is only small amounts of lubricant are needed to three models – long barrel, short barrel and with 60% commonality and this means less spares and keep the action operating smoothly.’ the NATO magazine.

28 LAND WARFARE INTERNATIONAL | August/September 2014 | Volume 5 Number 4 www.landwarfareintl.com ASSAULT RIFLES

THE TRIGGER

The ACE 22 was selected by Chile in late switch on each side. The CMCR has a high level Other BMCR changes highlighted by STK 2013. Natan Hendler, VP of marketing for Latin of modularity to increase its flexibility, and is include an ergonomically improved cheek America at IWI, told LWI : ‘IWI will build the rifle available in standard machine gun mode or as a rest, and when cocking the rifle there is a large in cooperation with the Chilean armaments marksman’s rifle. chamber to view so that more can be seen and manufacturer FAMAE [Fábricas y Maestranzas The BMCR has a forward ejection system for stoppages easily rectified during drills. del Ejército],’ he said. ‘Most of the main parts of spent rounds, so there is no issue for left-handed ‘The bullpup rifle is marketed to bullpup the rifle will be made in Chile.’ users, and it is easy to fire from both shoulders by countries, CMCR is for the rest,’ the spokesperson The number of rifles, delivery schedule and all riflemen. There is a dual magazine release with said. ‘It is like the M16 design, but has other value of the contract could be disclosed, butLWI catches behind the magazine and above the grip. design features. The multimodal buttstock is not understands it is in the region of $30 million. A spokesperson at STK told LWI that ‘work on a traditional design – there is no buffer fibre and the rifles started late in 2013 and the BMCR is it has other functions. It can be extended and EASTERN PROMISE expected to go into production soon after some you can adjust the height for the chest, so it can Singapore Technologies Kinetics (STK) has a prototypes are tested to NATO standards by STK. be tilted to a better degree for firing underslung similar development pattern and has produced The CMCR development will be out soon.’ grenade launchers. the Conventional Multi-role Combat Rifle (CMCR) A model of the CMCR was released at the ‘Other stocks fold to the side, but this is too and the Bullpup Multi-role Combat Rifle (BMCR) to Singapore Airshow this year along with the bulky – this one folds underneath, downwards, cater for both customer preferences in the market. BMCR, which is claimed to be the shortest and can make a shorter weapon as a result. The The rifles can be operated by both left- and bullpup rifle design in the world, with a barrel cheek rest also becomes additional support on right-handed soldiers by moving the bolt with a 14.5in long. the body.’ 

www.landwarfareintl.com Volume 5 Number 4 | August/September 2014 | LAND WARFARE INTERNATIONAL 29 ASSAULT RIFLES The NZDF has decided to replace the ageing Steyr AUG F88 assault rifle under a new acquisition programme instead of upgrading the weapon. (Photo: New Zealand Defence Force)

ANNIVERSARY REPLACEMENT STK is looking ahead to the expected replacement of the SAR 21 bullpup in service with the . France is expected to replace its FAMAS bullpup as well, although that is some way off. The spokesperserson said that the SAR 21 hass DOWN UNDER ‘Importantly, all weight reduction was from been in service for 15 years and the Singapore In Australia, under the Land 125 Phase 3C forward of the centre of gravity [CG], so moving Army may look for a new rifle at the 20-year programme, Thales Australia is providing the the CG rearward closer to the firer’s shoulder,’ mark. ‘If we see the need to change the rifle, STK F90 assault rifle upgrade. The F90 is a bullpup explained Evenden. ‘Bullpup rifles are already will bid for the tender,’ he said. ‘It is best to get design based on the F88 Austeyr rifle and better in this area than conventional designs, but the Singapore Army under contract before includes an integrated side-loading 40mm this change means that very little weight is on top exporting the BMCR/CMCR rifle, so [we] can . of the leading hand. This enables faster target show it works. A FAMAS bid would come after.’ Graham Evenden, director of integrated acquisition times and increased probability of FN Herstal is also going to compete for the soldier systems at Thales Australia, told LWI the first-round hit in CQB environments.’ French FAMAS replacement. The company has rifle and SL40 grenade launcher have finished seen recent success with its SCAR family of qualification testing and achieved provisional DESIGN DEBATES assault rifles, with a spokesperson telling LWLWI I that design acceptance from the army. Second pass The bullpllpup versus tradiaditiotional rifle argumentnt it has been adopted by special forces (SF) units approval is scheduled for June 2015. continues. Evenden explained that there is ‘on all continents’. He said that the F90 offers significant a lobby that does not like the bullpup, USSOCOM selected the SCAR in 2008 as a advantages over the earlier F88 rifle, with highlighting all the new ‘fads and modifications’ replacement for the M16 and M4, and the enhanced reliability in all climates, especially being applied to traditional rifles as a reason why Belgian Army selected the SCAR-L and SCAR-H hot and sandy conditions. Furthermore, there are inferior. rifles for its SF units. The SCAR family is an has been the ‘introduction of new materials Th The ffe adads he dedescrscribeibes aas re ththose prproposesed byby M16 clone, but it has been redesigned with that are lightweight and stronger than OEMs in recent years that are ‘trying to tweak Picatinny rails and a handguard across the top aluminium, to ensure longer life while enduring traditional rifle designs’ like the M16/M4 family and weighs just 3.1kg. rough handling’. to create a ‘point of distance’. He said: ‘Only after Th The rereprpresesenentatatitive adaddeded ththat FN hahas fofocucusesedd The F90 weighs 3.23.25kg, aa, nd savsavingings iis nclnclude OEMs took these features to market was an on developing a reliable magazine from metal: a 400g reduction in the rifle, with about argument developed that this was necessary to ‘Most failures are in the magazine, so we make a 1.63kg in the grenade launcher. The design also cater for different levels of load carriage and fully guided magazine from sheet steel and includes a folding cocking handle that avoids body armour systems that the soldier may wear, aluminium. We don’t want to reduce weight damage during transit and rough handling, and may also have an impact on eye relief.’ here, it is not necessary.’ and a tri-rail system that enables the addition of Ultimately, when these modifications are larger optronic devices. compared to the ability to adopt a steady fire position using cover, judge distance, control breathing and apply marksmanship principles to shoot straight in high-stress battle situations, they ‘pale into insignificance’, said Evenden.

NEW WAVES The CMCR from One other key trend is the return of the 7.62mm STK is a traditional calibre weapon into infantry sections. There is a rifle design with additional Picatinny perception, or in some cases fact, that 5.56mm rails at the 12, 6, 3 does not achieve target incapacitation in close and 9 o’clock combat. Evenden said that heavier ammunition positions. like 7.62mm may achieve this, but there will be aa (Photo: ST Kinetics) weight penalty as the round is double the 

30 LAND WARFARE INTERNATIONAL | August/September 2014 | Volume 5 Number 4 www.landwarfareintl.com

ASSAULT RIFLES

weight and the weapons to fire them are usually about 1kg heavier than most 5.56mm rifles. He added that the ability to shoot 7.62mm weapons well also requires greater skill across all platforms than 5.56mm, creating an additional The next bullpup rifle to enter service training burden. will be the Thales F90 upgrade of thethe ‘Bullpup weapons are easier to fire whatever Australian Austeyr F88. This is the F90(G) the calibre. Some countries have tried to avoid variant that features an underslung side- loading grenade launcher. (Photo: Thales) this 7.62mm weight and training burden by introducing the term “dedicated marksman”, and of course they are equipped with a Defence Force (NZDF), with its Individual Weapon dedicated marksman rifle [DMR],’ he said. ‘While Replacement Programme (IWRP). I support the concept of a DMR to shoot longer This effeffort was iniinitiatiated in March 20144 ranges from within the section, it does not fully following the cancellation of the Individual tackle the shortcomings of the 5.56mm round.’ Weapon Steyr programme because the and Ruane said that the technology had As a solution, Thales is developing 5.56mm F9 tendered responses were out of the scope of the ‘advanced considerably’ since the NZDF Enhanced Lethality Small Arms Ammunition planned upgrade project. Instead, a new rifle will purchased the weapon in 1987. that is intended to provide consistent be procured and introduced into service by the He added that apart from its age, the main rapid incapacitation effect in a 5.56mm weight end of 2016 and allocated to the three services issue with the rifle was its closed architecture package. receiving them. design. ‘This precluded the use of in-line night Overall, countries prefer to upgrade existing Th The IWIWRP wiwill dedelilivever a nenew ininveventntorory of up toto sights or more powerful day optics and the rifles, as most of the costs are in the support of 8,800 rifles and accessories. The approximate fitting of other accessories/ancillaries to the the weapons rather than the acquisition itself. breakdown is New Zealand Army – 4,000, Royal standard weapon, allowing it to be configured/ For example, the UK has stuck with its SA80, New Zealand Navy – 700 and Royal New tailored to suit the mission profile,’ he explained. heavily modifying it to A2 standard under a Zealand Air Force – 1,000, with the remainder One of the main requirements for the new contract with Heckler & Koch, including a large divided across reserve stocks. rifle is for an improved detect, recognise and weight increase forward of the CG. identify capability at longer ranges than is OFF THE SHELF possible using the existing 1.5x Steyr scope. WIDER EFFORTS Maj Shane Ruane, programme manager of There are alsalso ppo lanlans ffs or difdifferferent barbarrel lenlengthss Furthermore, Colt Canada is upgrading the the In Service Weapons Replacement/Upgrade to improve range, as the rifle must be capable Canadian C7 and C8 weapons, and the US Programme, told LWI that the new rifle of effectively engaging a static adversary at cancelled its replacement M4 programme (the must be: military off-the-shelf; chambered distances from close quarters out to at least Individual Carbine) in 2013 and is instead for 5.56x45mm NATO rounds; open architecture 600m by day and 300m by night. continuing with an upgrade to the 500,000 in design, with top, side and bottom rail Th The rereququesest fofor tetendnder fofor ththe cocompetetititioion wiwillll M4/M4A1 rifles in its inventory after complaints configurations to accept a variety of mission- be released at the end of August and closed about reliability. specific accessories/ancillaries; and the IW must in October. The NZDF will then evaluate the Colt completed about 10,000 modified rifle be able to fit an underbarrel, detachable 40mm responses, and a downselection will take place deliveries in 2013, but in February the US Army low-velocity grenade launcher and associated for a physical evaluation in Q1 2015. ordered a further 60,000 conversions from rival FN sighting system. ‘Once the new rifle has been identified, the Herstal. In June 2014, FN completed the delivery ‘We are [at this stage] only looking at one MoD will commence contract negotiation with of a first batch of 9,547 M4A1s – converted from standard rifle that, as a result of its open the selected manufacturer, which should M4s by the service under modification work architecture design, can be configured to suit be announced in the second half of 2015,’ orders (MWOs) using kits manufactured at various mission and trade profiles by changing Ruane added, noting that 14 companies had Anniston Army Depot. The next planned MWO the accessories and ancillaries fitted on the rifle,’ responded to an earlier RfI, and the NZDF has conversion will run from July to September. he said. conducted an analysis of similar requirements in Th The ononly exexamamplple of an upupcocomiming nenew asassasaulultt The reason for the replaclacement is that thee Australia, Canada and the US, as well as from the rifle programme comes from the New Zealand Steyr has been in service for more than 20 years, earlier acquisition of the Steyr. LWI

32 LAND WARFARE INTERNATIONAL | August/September 2014 | Volume 5 Number 4 www.landwarfareintl.com Over 275,000 Osprey body INFANTRY EQUIPMENT armour vests have been delivered to the British Army to date. (Photo: Crown Copyright)

BODY OF WORK Soldier modernisation efforts around the world are resulting in some exciting developments in body armour, with unprecedented levels of protection, mobility and functionality being promised. Adam Wakeling reviews recent progress.

n what could be a defining moment in the said: ‘We don’t know what this system is going to This programme is part of a wider trend in Ibody armour market, US Special Operations look like. It’s not going to look like an Iron Man recent years to modernise the soldier, providing Command (USSOCOM) began reviewing suit – it’s going to look like the most functional better protection, situation awareness and the first unpowered prototypes of the Tactical system it can be… It has been a long time since information dissemination capabilities. Assault Light Operator Suit (TALOS) in June. people fought in suits of armour.’ A number of countries have invested in With mainstream media likening earlier similar, although arguably less ambitious,  concept drawings to the futuristic ‘Iron Man’ suit TAKING THE LOAD from the comics and films, the full-body ‘suit of Revision Military is one of the companies Morgan’s ceramic armour’ could be the design catalyst that leads involved in developing prototypes for TALOS, plates form part of other militaries to consider personal protection leveraging its helmet technology and Prowler the British Army’s beyond traditional front, back and side plates. load-carriage system – a near-skin worn, lower- Osprey vest. TALOS is structured under a five-year body augmentation suit claimed to reduce (Photo: Morgan Advanced development programme that aims to have full applied stress to the knee by one third under Materials) operational capability in place by August 2018, combat load conditions, something essential in including C4I, power, protection, mobility, agility a system that will include numerous sensors and and survivability subsystems. The helmet will full-body protection. provide protection against 7.62mm ammunition Earlier in 2014, Revision acquired power and include an active air bladder system management technology company Panacis, to reduce blunt trauma injuries, while an which develops Lithium-ion energy storage exoskeleton spine will ensure the weight burden systems – a move that could be linked to TALOS. on the user’s head is significantly reduced. This may put the company in a strong position Initial designs are claimed to provide up to 44% on the programme, adding battery solutions to additional protection than armour currently its expertise in materials and load carriage. in use. At the time of going to press, Revision Speaking to Land Warfare International was unable to reveal any details of the TALOS before the unveiling on 19 June, Mike Fieldson, unveiling to LWI due to its classified nature, USSOCOM programme manager for TALOS, noting only that the event went well. www.landwarfareintl.com Volume 5 Number 4 | August/September 2014 | LAND WARFARE INTERNATIONAL 33 INFANTRY EQUIPMENT

efforts, including: Australia with Project Land 125; the British Army’s Future Integrated Soldier Technology (FIST); France’s Fantassin à Équipement et Liaisons Intégrés (FÉLIN); Germany’s Infanterist der Zukunft (IdZ); Italy’s Soldato Futuro; Russia’s Ratnik (‘Warrior’); and Sweden’s MARKUS. Due to the slow progress of many, however, only minor improvements have been seen by soldiers. Female-specific body armour has only recently come to the fore in the US, solving the issues of wearer discomfort and FÉLIN GOOD movement restrictions. (Photo: US Army) The most mature project is the Sagem-developeded FÉLIN, an integrated system with personal division, with possible implications for the for concealable body armour and vests in protection and C4ISR subsystems like TALOS, but Ratnik effort. May last year, reportedly the largest in some with less overall ballistic protection (Level 4) . It There are also media reports that the country time for the company and a breakthrough in has been deployed since 2009-2010 and a total of has developed a new generation of body terms of reaching its domestic market – Europe 14 infantry regiments have been fully equipped, armour, identified during the conflict in Ukraine, had previously constituted the firm’s main equating to over 10,000 soldiers. Plans are to outfit potentially capable of deflecting NATO’s basic customer base. over 20,000 troops. 5.56mm rifle round. In May 2014, Morgan Advanced Materials The system has been used in Afghanistan by announced the award of two new Canadian two French Army battalions, which conducted STAYING STRONG body armour development contracts for around 130 major operations between them. Outside modernisation programmes, the Level 3 and Level 4 protection. This follows The 6th Mechanised Infantry Battalion was market for traditional body armour remains the publication of Canada’s ‘Soldier System also training with FÉLIN in early 2014 before healthy despite reductions in operational tempo Technology Roadmap’, which focused on high deploying to the Central African Republic as part following the US surge in Afghanistan and threat levels and multi-hit requirements. Both of Operation Sangaris. Plans for 2016 include widespread defence cuts. contracts will run until March 2016, with options design revisions to further reduce loads and Revision Military was awarded a $9.5 million for production extending until March 2021. optimise the weight transfer between body contract by the Canadian Armed Forces in and waist. November 2013 for its lightweight Batlskin WEIGHT CONCERNS Russia is also aiming to keep up with the Bullet Resistant Plates. Deliveries were due Morgan’s ceramic inserts also form part of CQC’s modernisation efforts of its Western counter- to commence in April, and the contract Osprey body armour, which is in its Mk 4A parts, and Ratnik has been undergoing trials over includes five option years. The company iteration and in service with the British Army. the past two years. Comprising around 40-50 previously supplied Canada with ballistic With over 275,000 delivered to date, the kit components and weighing 20kg (circa 4kg less eyewear and helmets. has been a commercial success, although it has than FÉLIN, although this total might not include Ceradyne received a $151.2 million second faced some criticism from users for its overall weaponry), the ‘breathable’ armour is designed option order for its Enhanced Small Arms bulkiness and operational inflexibility – as is for 48-hour continuous use, with polymeric Protective Insert (ESAPI) in March 2013 from the indeed the case for a number of other standard- compound fabrics, ceramic plates and Kevlar US government, which follows a $2.37 billion issue body armour systems deployed around providing high ballistic and minor fragmentation indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract the world. protection levels. originally issued in 2008. Meanwhile, BAE Morgan told LWI it is demonstrating its new The helmet will be able to repel a bullet (of an Systems continues to fulfil its own $10.2 million Lightweight Armour Soldier Architecture (LASA) as yet unspecified calibre) fired at close range ESAPI contract, and won a further $89.5 million to a number of countries, including Canada, with (5-10m). Moscow is due to make a purchase modification at the end of June, exercising the the hope of securing its first order. decision in 2014. second option year. Deliveries will be completed The company displayed the system at Russia is also investing in nano-technology through 1 July 2015. Defence Services Asia 2014 in Kuala Lumpur R&D for body armour applications through the New Hampshire-based Warwick Mills also in April, and at CANSEC in Ottawa in May, NEVZ-Soyuz company, likely under its ceramics won a $94.3 million contract from the US Army highlighting its 25% weight reduction compared

34 LAND WARFARE INTERNATIONAL | August/September 2014 | Volume 5 Number 4 www.landwarfareintl .com INFANTRY EQUIPMENT

something female-specific,’ commented Bray. ‘It‘It is somewhat politically driven, and I think as it is accepted in the US and we start gearing up production, it will spread to Canada and the UK, because there tends to be a lot of interest in treating everyone the same. DARPA’s Warrior Web, ‘The US has a much bigger army, so due to the although not directly economies of scale, it is probably the easiest part of TALOS, is helping place to do it. But I think there would be just as drive innovation in soldier load carriage efforts. much driving force in Canada and the UK to at (Photo: DARPA) least consider it… the next time they go through an upgrade of their armour systems.’ to previous systems, improved mobility and property and ballistic properties – it is still reduction in wearer fatigue. something that eludes the industry. We started EMERGING MARKETS The full outfit includes: a vest/load carriage hybrid carbon boride development around Although high-value body armour contracts element with NIJ 3+, 3++ or 4+ plates; side two years ago, and now that is in production in tend to derive from ‘the big three’ – Canada, the plates; head protection at a claimed 30% weight the US, going into some higher-level, lower- UK and the US – industry is active in trying to reduction over in-service products; soft armour weight plates.’ identify potentially lucrative emerging markets. pelvic protection; knee pads; and a range ‘The US is still the biggest market,’ of accessories from NVGs to brassard and WOMAN’S REALM acknowledged Bray. ‘There is a new five-year collar armour. Personal protection systems have traditionally IDIQ contract coming out for the special forces catered only for men. Often, female soldiers have estimated to be 30,000 plates a year, which is the REGIONAL DIFFERENCES had to cope with ergonomic compromises, equivalent to what the whole of the UK MoD Don Bray, business director for armour at resulting in potential discomfort and a negative would buy each year, so US special forces is still a Morgan Composites and Defence Systems, told effect on operational performance. However, pretty good target – they will also upgrade more LWI : ‘Morgan is working under contract with things have begun to change. often than the big armies will. several governments [including Canada and Following Gen II Improved Outer Tactical Vest ‘[However], we just completed a global the US] right now developing next-generationn (IOTV) fit and manoeuvrability issues reported by market study on body armour in 70 countries, body armour. female soldiers in the US in 2009, a collaborative and there are a number of emerging markets – ‘The specs are somewhat different between effort between the Natick Soldier Research, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, South Korea, [the countries] and they each have their own Development and Engineering Center and among others. There is probably a bigger threat and weight targets, but basically we are Program Executive Office Soldier in 2011 market outside [of Canada, the UK and the trying to take the weight of the highest-level resulted in an IOTV designed for females serving US] than inside them over the next five or plates – whether it be ESAPI [in the US] or in the army. ten years.’ plates in Canada – and taking 10 to 15, even Revisions to the design included narrower The worldwide body armour market was 20% weight out of them at the same level of shoulders, greater chest space and smaller plates estimated to be worth $2.4 billion in 2013 and protection. That’s the real goal.’ inserted at slightly different locations, and the reach $3.7 billion by 2023, according to a He added that in the past, developers used new armour was operationally tested by the Strategic Defense Intelligence study. With the silicon carbide and boron carbide, or both, 101st Airborne Division’s 1st Brigade, with wider soft armour segment predicted to account for but Morgan has developed new hybrid fielding beginning in the second half of 2012. 30.5% and hard armour 29.7%, as well as reports carbide materials. IOTV Gen III is produced by a number of predicting that weight reduction efforts will ‘This involves optimising the microstructure companies, including BAE Systems, Creative remain the primary development driver, the for hardness and toughness as well as Apparel Associates, KDH Defense Systems, proliferation of traditional ‘front and back’ the various ceramic properties for ballistic Point Blank Body Armor, Protective Products protection is unlikely to change any time soon. performance, which is still a little bit more of an Enterprises and UNICOR. Whether TALOS leads other nations down a fully art than a science. There is not really a direct ‘With the move to flexible and multi-plate protected and integrated route remains to correlation between a fundamental material armour, it becomes even more possible to do be seen.LWI www.landwarfareintl.com Volume 5 Number 4 | August/September 2014 | LAND WARFARE INTERNATIONAL 35 PARTING SHOT

Stephan Burger, CEO of Denel Land Systems, talks to Helmoed-Römer Heitman about the African marketplace and how the company will position itself for exports. ACCESSING AFRICA enel Land Systems, incorporating the notes that as the closest company of its kind to DMechem business unit, first made its sub-Saharan Africa, Denel Land Systems is well name internationally with long-range artillery, positioned in purely business terms. but is today perhaps best known in Africa for ‘Africa, I think, is different to many of our other its mine clearance work. clients in the rest of the world. Most have very CEO Stephan Burger explained that formal RfP processes, clear requirements and de-mining is the company’s ‘first focus’, and this well-developed tender evaluation systems, but requirement is increasing. ‘The sad truth is that it Africa is a little different. There is less focus on is likely to continue increasing for some time,’ formal processes and more on finding a solution countries. It is our workhorse – not fancy, but gives he acknowledged. ‘We are currently clearing to a given problem, which very seldom relates effective protection. It is reliable, cost-effective and explosive remnants of war in several African to a single product offering and more often than well suited to an army that must operate far from countries, mostly for the UN, for whom we have not requires a basket of things, sometimes bases and over poor roads, or even cross-country.’ just cct ompletleted contratracts in LibLibya and Westerternn unrelated to each other except in regard to Infantry weapons also produce a steady flow Sahara, and have teams working in the DRC, that problem. of revenue, albeit mainly in small batches. Some, Senegal, South Sudan and Somalia. ‘Because of this, Africa has in the past been like the long-range 60mm mortar (6,000m), ‘Other teams are working in Angola and exploited, being supplied with sub-standard are also well suited to the African battlespace, Mozambique, contracted by energy companies products and more often than not without particularly in palletised form designed for light who need to clear areas in which they must proper product support. [As] suppliers have in vehicles and integrated with a fire control work. We believe we are the biggest in Africa in the past often just offered solutions that they system. Light turrets are also of interest and this role, with some 500 people deployed today, had available, often with no long-term support, artillery remains a major focus area. including a substantial number recruited in the there is a perception that we are very expensive Burger said that discussions are in hand with countries concerned.’ when we propose a proper package.’ ‘at least three countries’ interested in the However, Burger offered some worlds of 155mm G6 howitzer and truck-mounted T6, PROTECTING PEOPLE caution. ‘Africa is not a region in which it is easy while the company’s long-range 105mm gun is Mechem has also begun establishing and to do business. If one does not approach at the awaiting a launch customer. He hopes that the operating bases for itself in Somalia and political level, things can fail or take a very long South African Army could fill this role once its Mozambique, and for the UN in Somalia. Burger time – proposals must be based on providing funding improves. said this could become a growing business. ‘It is a total solution, not simply delivering some ‘I see Denel Land Systems as a prime not without risk, and we will have to put in place products, and financing or barter will often have contractor and provider of system solutions to all measures to protect our people, who are our to be part of the solution.’ clients,’ Burger noted, adding that this means priority,’ he acknowledged. coordinating an industry-wide solution rather Denel remains a major actor in several areas of VEHICLE OF CHOICE than providing everything itself, achieving this the defence industry, and Africa is a strategic Denel has exported its new Casspir NG 2000 into goal through long-term partnerships. ‘This is market for the company, particularly in land Africa, and has reported serious interest in a new not making a quick buck, selling something and systems. Burger explained that this is so for family of trucks with protected cabs that it is running away.’ two reasons: ‘While we are a business and must offering in conjunction with Powerstar. Burger concluded by saying that the generate revenue and profit, that is not the reason ‘The Casspir remains the vehicle of choice for company is aligned with the South African for our existence – that is to support the strategic the UN, which has bought several, and we have government’s strategic aims, and the export initiatives of the South African government.’ sold the Casspir NG 2000 to Angola and Benin, business will focus on government-to- Th Thesese arare ststrorongngly fofocucusesed on AfAfriricaca, anand BuBurgrgerer with growing interest from several other government-led long-term solutions. LWI

36 LAND WARFARE INTERNATIONAL | August/September 2014 | Volume 5 Number 4 www.landwarfareintl.com Photo by: Sgt. Eric S. Wilterdink

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