2 SHOW DAILY Thursday 20 September janes.com/aad Multirole transport for Africa page 4 Mbombe 8 is in IFV Fire missions for configuration maximum effect page 10 Denel Land Systems is showing its mission and redeploy before any counter muzzle brake and fume extractor. It can latest T5 155mm/52 calibre truck- battery fire can be returned, as well as carry out multiple-round simultaneous mounted gun system, which has having greater tactical and strategic impact fire missions for maximum target recently completed a highly successful mobility. effect. firing demonstration in an undisclosed Trials have shown that the system In addition to having a high level country in Asia. This is now regarded can come into action within 50 seconds, of mobility, the T5 155mm/52 cal SP Chinese unmanned as production ready and the latest fire three rounds within 15 seconds, artillery system has a high rate of fire expertise on show version incorporates a small number of and thereafter move to a new position because 155mm projectiles are lifted improvements as a result of customer within 40 seconds after the last round three at a time from the ground by an page 16 feedback. is fired. It is fitted with a computerised automated power-operated projectile- The T5 155mm/52 consists of a Tatra fire control system, which includes loading crane and then loaded into the T815 (8x8) high-mobility cross-country navigation, pointing and onboard ordnance via a magazine and push truck chassis, on the rear of which is ballistic calculation, and can receive rammer. An auxiliary power unit allows integrated the complete top carriage of target information on the move from a all functions to be carried out with the its 155mm/52 calibre G5 towed artillery battery command post or from a forward main engine switched off. system, which has already been fully observer. Denel Land Systems anticipates a qualified. Compared with a conventional The 155mm ordnance has a 23-litre contract from the South African National towed 155mm artillery system, the T5 chamber, which complies with the Defence Force for six versions of the 155mm/52 cal system can come into NATO joint ballistic memorandum of truck-mounted gun system, but fitted action much more quickly, carry out a fire understanding, and is fitted with a with the 155mm/45 calibre ordnance. Q !# (!# ## # # # # #!##!$$ # $! !!# ! ( $# #!$$ !# # $& !(!# !# '# ( #% % # ! $# !$ ! % ! !# $#$ !$#! $(( ! $ ! !$ ! #% $ ( # % &!#(# ! ! ( # %! $ !#( #%#( # # !# % # ! !# # ( # & janes.com/aad 433 Defence promotes development BY SAM J BASCH highly competitive environment as suppliers to the biggest players in In his opening address of the 10th the global aircraft industry. Africa Aerospace and Defence Defence production in South exhibition, South Africa’s President Africa does not imply multinational Cyril Ramaphosa (pictured, on interdependency. Local industry still the left) made the point that tends to own the full supply chain defence has a significant role as a necessary for conceptualising and developmental force. “South Africa manufacturing their end product. views the role of the military in the “In terms of intellectual property, modern context as a developmental South Africa is one of less than 10 force, both nationally and countries that can manufacture continentally,” he said. missiles of a certain level of According to the president, the sophistication.” South African National Defence This was prompting many Force (SANDF) ought to involve nations, from different parts of itself, with African partners, in the world, to express interest in peace missions to improve security Ramaphosa acknowledged stance favouring international joint becoming involved in joint ventures in strife-torn regions. These that the country’s economy was ventures with local industry.” with the local industry. “AAD offers a intervention capabilities can reduce under pressure and that the Highlighting the achievements massive opportunity for all present the risk of major interstate conflict means available in the fiscus were of the industry, Ramaphosa said to identify areas of synergy and and civil war. finite. However, the SANDF was South Africa’s aircraft-related convert them into joint ventures,” “From a national perspective, adapting to this economic reality by businesses were expanding in a Ramaphosa concluded. Q the development role of our defence prioritising and focusing on the core force implies involvement in border roles of the force. He added that safeguarding,” he said, adding that several ideas were being explored South Africa’s border safeguarding to modernise the funding model of operation, Corona, also focuses on defence and reduce its dependency preventing the illegal exploitation of on the fiscus. national resources. As for the South African defence The defence force must always be industry, for both security and ready to provide additional capacity developmental reasons, the to maintain order and stability within country was looking after it. “It is the relevant governance framework, a national asset that has value for he noted. “A defence force that many departments and agencies is a developmental force unlocks of government,” he said. “Our substantial peace dividends for government intends to support states and effectively reduces the the industry to become export- investment required in defence over driven on the back of international time.” investment, by having a policy 4&15 janes.com/aad 4 New tactical airlifter nears first flight Multi-role Marking the start of export although this did not materialise. marketing for the type, a model of As part of the reborn Il-112V the Ilyushin Il-112V light tactical project, Klimov was invited to transport airlifter is being displayed on provide an improved engine, the the United Aircraft Corporation 2,800shp (with higher emergency (UAC) stand at AAD (Hangar 2, rating) TV7-117S series 2, while Stand CE25), the first time the radio-electronics house KRET for Africa design has been showcased was charged with adapting its outside of Russia. President-S helicopter defensive After a long gestation, UAC is suite to the Il-112V for battlefield planning a rollout ceremony on operations. 26 October for the first of two The high-wing, T-tailed aircraft prototypes at the Voronezh Aircraft has a rear loading ramp that Production Association, where the allows access to the cabin for Il-112V is to be built. A first flight small tactical vehicles. The cabin is expected in “about six months”, can accommodate 50 soldiers, according to a UAC spokesperson, 42 paratroops, or 25 persons in who added that production could the air ambulance role, including begin “around 2021”. medical staff. Maximum payload is Designed by the JSC Ilyushin six tonnes, with which the Il-112V Aviation Complex, the Il-112 is expected to have a range of project for an An-26 and An-72/74 1,000km. Take-off run is expected BY DAVID DONALD As well as offering significant replacement was initially entrusted to be 850m, with a landing run increases in capability, reliability to the design bureau in 2003, of 550m, and unpaved runway One of three US Air Force airlifters and efficiency compared with the drawing to some extent on the operations are a requirement. that are gracing the Waterkloof ‘legacy’ Hercules, the C-130J is low-wing Il-114 regional airliner. Currently the engine is still ramp this week is a Lockheed being highlighted for its mission However, the programme was undergoing flight trials, which Martin C-130J-30 from the 86th versatility. Quite apart from its halted in 2011 due to design flaws began in September 2017 installed Airlift Wing, normally based at regular cargo and passenger and the Russian ministry of defence under the port inner engine pylon Ramstein Air Base in Germany. transport duties, the aircraft can bought a few Antonov An-140 cargo of an Il-76LL testbed. Tests are Lockheed Martin (Hangar 3, perform many secondary roles, a transports instead. expected to conclude early next Stand CW8) is promoting the total of 17 specific missions having In 2013 the project was year. The Russian MoD plans to buy C-130J as the ideal candidate been identified for the type. Those resurrected for the VKS (Russian at least 35 Il-112Vs for the VKS, for the South African Air Force’s that have particular application to aerospace forces) An-26 and the aircraft has been offered (SAAF’s) long-standing Hercules South Africa are inflight-refuelling replacement requirement. once again to India to answer that replacement requirement as tanker with wing pods to support the India was offered a part in the country’s needs for an Avro 748 the existing C-130Bs become country’s Gripen fighters, oil spill development of the aircraft, replacement. Q increasingly difficult to maintain. spraying and fire-fighting. The latter Successful mid-air refuelling On 10 September, the Light Combat Aircraft Tejas LSP8 of Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL, Hangar 1, Stand E10) successfully completed a Wet (actual) engagement by transferring 1,900kg of fuel from an IAF IL78 mid-air refuelling tanker. The refuelling was carried out at an altitude of 20,000ft, the aircraft’s speed was 270 knots and all the internal tanks and drop tanks were refuelled. Piloted by Wg Cdr Siddarth Singh of NFTC, this significant milestone was achieved with designers from HAL and ADA closely monitoring the system parameters from the ground station at Gwalior. With this achievement, India joins the elite group of countries that have developed the air-to-air refuelling (AAR) system for the military class of aircraft, said R Madhavan, chairman and managing director of HAL. A few days before, the successful dry docking took place of an aerial refuelling probe with a mother tanker. Q janes.com/aad 5 hours, and the type has been sold to 17 customers, the latest of which is France. The French air force intends to operate its four aircraft from 2021 in a pooled squadron at Evreux with the six C/KC-130Js Germany has on order.