Denel Delivers First SA Components for Airbus A400M NTW-20 Anti
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ROOIKAT UPGRADE FINLAND SIGNS FOR FIRST HAWK NTW-20 GERMAN ARTILLERY ARTILLERY LAND SYSTEMS & SAPS HELI FOR THE SA ARMY UMKHONTO IR TRAINERS TO AMR TRIALS IN SA RECORD SOUTH AMERICA UPGRADES MAKHADO UPGRADE BROKEN & MORE Denel Delivers First SA Components for Airbus A400M The Airbus Military A400M is a 21st century The first set of South African- heavylifter designed to replace the C-130 Hercules, C-160 Transall and former Soviet-era manufactured aircraft parts for the Antonov and Illyushin transports. Seven Euro- Airbus A400M military transport pean nations collaborated to design and build aircraft were delivered to Germany the aircraft, with South Africa coming on-board as the first non-European nation. The first air- recently for incorporation into the craft is scheduled to fly in 2008. fuselage of the first aircraft. Denel Aviation of Kempton Park, Johannesburg, recently com- pleted the first set of fuselage top-shells (roof sections) for the Airbus A400M. Denel is a major industrial partner in the multi-national A400M programme, which South Africa joined last year. The 15-year top-shell manufacturing contract is worth 20 An artists impression of the Airbus million euros (about R160 million) and currently accounts for Military A400M transport. The between 80,000 and 90,000 man-hours annually. It follows actual aircraft is currently being an earlier contract for the design of the top-shells. Each of assembled in Europe. the 6sq/m top-shells weighs about 100kg and is made from advanced aluminium alloy formed using special 5- and 3-axis Through its stake in the aircraft programme, South Africa’s As an Airbus Military A400M partner, South Africa has se- above and below: A400M top-shells under machines. As part of the infrastructure for the A400M work industry will participate in the design, engineering, industriali- cured a vital and sustainable role for its industry over the construction at Denel Aerostructures in Denel has invested in new long-bed machines and a special sation, manufacture and in-service support of the A400M – next 30 – 50 years as a provider of engineering and manufac- Kempton Park. treatment facility. The top-shells are a vital part of the “roof” the world’s most modern military transport aircraft. “The turing services as well as customer support for aircraft in of the aircraft, in front and behind the area where the wing is delivery of the first top-shells, on time and to specification, service. South Africa will also acquire eight A400Ms from joined to the fuselage. confirms the confidence we place in South Africa and our 2010, bolstering its strategic airlift capabilities and enabling Denel is also responsible for the design engineering and manu- industrial partners, Denel and Aerosud,” affirmed Francisco it to support national, regional and multi-national peace and facture of several other elements of the aircraft, the largest Fernández-Sáinz, Managing Director of Airbus Military. humanitarian missions. of which is the carbon composite wing-fuselage fairing. “To- Denel and Aerosud’s participation in the A400M underpins The A400M order book currently stands at 192 firm commit- day is a proud moment for Denel and South Africa,” said the South African Government’s new aerospace strategy ments, including the seven European NATO launch customer Shaun Liebenberg, CEO, Denel. “Delivery of this first South which is characterised by a move away from prime contract- nations, South Africa and Malaysia. The aircraft will first fly African-produced element of the A400M marks the opening ing and a focus on niche engineering, design, manufacturing in 2008 with deliveries beginning in 2009. The new airlifter of an entirely new and exciting chapter in the evolution of and development services for aerostructures and aircraft sys- will enable air forces around the world to upgrade their airlift Denel Aviation and which positions South Africa’s aerospace tems. It also confirms the objective of gaining access to the capability for both humanitarian and peace-keeping activities. industry on a clear, sustainable growth path,” he added. global supply chain. Bitter-Sweet NTW-20 Anti-materiél Rifle Upgrade Success! Denel Land Systems’ successful NTW-20 The 20x110 HS round pos- zle velocity of 820 m/sec, as round of ammunition, which Anti Materiél Rifle has received a sesses excellent characteris- well as PRAC (practice) and is used as a tool for remov- tics in terms of muzzle veloc- PRACT (practice tracer) ing the barrel. reconfiguration to handle most ity and explosive payload. rounds. The NTW-20 AMR, variants of 20x110 HS ammunition. The NTW-20 can be mounted This ensures an improvement weighing 31.5 kg unloaded, on Denel’s new purpose-built, in the maximum operational is a two-man weapon which Originally designed for buffered and damped vehicle range (up to 1500m) and ter- is normally fired in the prone mount. This mount has been 20x82mm ammunition minal effect. This round is position, ensuring maximum (with a quick-change func- designed and manufactured also available from numerous stability for long-range shoot- tion to fire 14.5x114mm to suit the needs of long- sources internationally in ing. It has an 8 x 56 power rounds), the NTW-20 in range accurate single shot new generation configura- telescope with parallax ad- the 20x110HS configura- fire from weapons such as tion now affords clients a tions. justment, fitted to a quick- the NTW-20 AMR. significantly wider ben- release mounting with inte- Changes to the weapon in- Dampers in the mount con- efit. clude upgrades to the recoil gral bullet-drop compensa- tion. The sight is mounted to trol the free movement of the This spectacular photograph records a bitter sweet mo- and feed system, trigger box weapon during aim. These and an accurately calibrated give 250mm eye relief, thus ment. It shows the destruction of one of our own by one providing the optimum com- can be quickly regulated to of our own - a Denel Skua target drone by a live Um- bullet-drop compensator allow rapid slewing of the (BDC) suitable to this round. bination of situational aware- khonto surface to air missile launched from the SAS ness, target acquisition and weapon. Spioenkop (more on page 2). The test took place at The 20x110mm ammunition accurate aiming. The combination of the NTW- Denel’s Overberg Test Range in less than favourable con- range comprises HEI (high-ex- ditions (significant wind and wave action) and at an in- The weapon is bolt action, 20 AMR and the vehicle plosive incendiary), HEIT tercept range exceeding the design requirement by 15%. with a three round magazine mount provides the user with (high-explosive incendiary a highly versatile and power- The two Denel teams worked very hard to prepare the tracer), SAPHEI (semi-ar- or by manual feeding through the ejection port. It can be ful payload rifle which, due missile and target drone for the test. Although the Skua mour piercing, high-explosive to its mobility, can be de- came off second best - success was the ultimate out- incendiary), and AP (armour completely field stripped with no tools other than a ployed in any number of sce- come. The South African Navy will carry this excellent piercing) rounds with a muz- narios. missile system on all four of its Corvettes. News in and around Denel Rooikat Turret Police Air Wing Gets Denel Denel Land Systems is gearing up for major activity as a result of a Upgrade Rooikat turret upgrade contract “Eyes in the Sky” Denel Land Systems re- ceived an order from Arm- The South African scor during February Police Services 2006 to the total value of (SAPS) Air Wing R51.5 million, to upgrade a total of 76 Rooikat tur- Unit has awarded rets. The planned comple- Denel Optronics a tion date for this upgrade contract for the project is May 2008. supply of the The Rooikat is the prime ar- Goshawk 350 moured fighting vehicle of the SANDF. As an 8 X 8 multi-sensor wheeled platform, it provides electro-optic and the system with excellent infrared system mobility on tarred roads as well as cross-country terrain. for SAPS helicopters. This mobility has been envied The Rooikat 8x8 armoured by defence forces and vehi- fighting vehicle. cle manufacturers all over The scope of this contract the world. The Rooikat tur- includes a full turnkey so- ret, sporting a 76 mm main weapon and modern fire-control The main focus of the development was on the improvement lution for the supply, in- system, provides the system with lethal fire-power and accu- of the gun-control and fire-control systems. As the supplier stallation and certifica- racy on the battlefield. of the Integrated Fire Control System (IFCS) for the Rooikat, tion of four Goshawk 350 As with other RDL was contracted by Denel Land Systems to complete this systems. Development of the Rooikat system started in the 1980s. variants of Denel’s renowned development. The prime contractor was BAE Systems-OMC (then known family of gyro-stabilized air- An SAPS helicopter fitted with the as OMC), who also developed the vehicle platform. The tur- To achieve the more stringent stabilization requirements, new borne surveillance systems, Denel Goshawk 350 system. ret was developed by Denel Land Systems (then known as Fibre Optic Gyros (FOG) were developed to replace the exist- the Goshawk 350 is fitted LIW). Turret production commenced in 1992 and was com- ing mechanical gyros. It was also decided to supplement the with Denel’s Kenis continu- tender and hardware evalu- worldwide and has recently and crisp images, despite the pleted in March 2000. A total of 244 systems were manu- weapon gyro with an additional Feed Forward Gyro.