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South Africa’s High Commissioner called on Pakistan’s Minister of Defence Production
South Africa’s High Commissioner to Pakistan Mr. Mpendulo Jele Kumalo called on Minister of Defence Production Rana Tanveer Hussain on Friday last week.
According to a press release by the Ministry of Defence Production (MoDP), Mr. Kumalo and Mr. Hussain had discussed matters of mutual interest, such as the desire to enhance defence production ties between the two countries. In fact, Mr. Hussain had even expressed hope that South Africa and Pakistan would begin engaging in joint ventures in defence.
Notes & Comments:
During the Africa Aerospace and Defence (AAD) exhibition, South Africa’s Minister of Defence Ms. Mapisa-Nqakula had committed to assigning a Defence Attaché to Islamabad by the end of this year.
Open and increasingly frequent interactions between Pakistani and South African officials and defence industry representatives indicate a mutual desire to revitalize defence ties, which had dampened towards the end of the 2000s.
There is a wide range of opportunities for both sides, Pakistan, in particular, may be interested in South Africa’s munitions and light armoured vehicle technology. Moreover, the South African defence industry’s general willingness to engage in co-production partnerships and offer commercial offsets to the buyer could position Denel Group and Paramount Group quite favourably in the Pakistani market.
6 Comments
by augustine
The South Africans are notorious for trying to make other countries a dumping ground for Denel made defence products. The private arms manufacturers like Paramount, ICP, Reutech, Mekahog etc are more reasonable in sharing technology if the deal is a big sale or the customer is willing to pay for TOT.
Pakistan does not have much to gain from South Africa that it cannot get from China. However, diversification of sources and making new allies is good. Be careful with South Africa, they can turn their back on anybody anytime, they blocked Nigerian arms import with flimsy excuses during the hottest period of Boko Haram war, thousands of innocent Nigerians were dying but the Southies did not care.
Chinese missile tech is ahead of that of RSA, the Southies cannot produce AShM or ICMB, neither can they make AESA radars, MBT or Submarines. Nevertheless, as I said, diversification of sources and allies is good and wise.
Maybe Pakistan can get MRAP technology from ICP or Mekahog, IFV tech from Paramount like it’s Mbombe 57mm cannon ‘terrorist killer’….you have that kinda IFV and insurgents with ZU-23-2 on Toyotas will be running away like chicken from your mechanized infantry or else they get chewed like chainsaw on softwood. Reutech’s experience with TDL is also something to gain from, though just about 75% successful in operation, their tactical data link achievement is likely a small step ahead of China. Also, I would rather get TOT on Denel Bateluer UAV with satellite datalink super long range and Seeker 400 armed UAV than keep importing unarmed drones from Europe.
The interesting thing is that Chinese weapons are cheaper than South African stuff.
Anything you want from South Africa, ask for 100% technology transfer or else, avoid it.
by Shershahsuri
Pakistan is interested in A-Darter and Umkhanto. This comes with ToT it is not known at the movement.
by MT
Why do you forget the Denel dymamics provided H-2,H-4 & Raad cruise missiles
by MT
TOT for SAM/AAM missile technology are in range of 4-5 bill$. IT also depends on your needs and your capabilities.
But there are other types of partial tot which is very likely.
A-Darter & Umkhanto are not just missiles but they are effort of 30yrs R&D costing more than few billions
by Matthys Jacobs
Denel and South Africa to a larger extent are looking for a development partner to possibly build a Rooivalk 2 and perhaps additional platforms.
It would however take Pakistan to approach the South African Government and Denel and specifically make it known they wish to be a development partner with Denel on a Rooivalk 2 programme.
It would create a good synergy between the countries and essentially provide what Israel has done for India’s defence industry.
Closing the gap between India and Pakistan would be a financial impossibility for Pakistan on its current economic trajectory so it needs force multipliers that could see it have a qualitative edge or at the vest least some sort of equivalent capabilities.
An Attack Helicopter, Howitzer, Short to Medium ranged Surface to Air Missiles, Infrared and Radar Guided Missiles, UAV’s, Upgrades, Electronic Warfare, Aircraft Components, HMD technology, Radar, Refuelling Technology etc would be a strong areas where South Africa and Pakistan could collaborate.
Pakistan has the operational requirement and to a certain extent the funding capabilities to bring a good symbiotic relationship with South Africa which has the technology foundation but lacks the operational requirement and more so the funding.
by Matthys Jacobs
As South Africa has shown with the Umbani/Al-tariq they’re always willing to part with complete TOT with countries.
I do however think the onus would be on Pakistan to aggressively approach the South African Government and Denel and its other main defence industry players such as Reutech and Paramount.