Jonathan Rosenthal/JOHANNESBURG
The South African Government has opted for the Saab/British Aerospace Gripen fighter and BAe Hawk trainer as the main elements of a R30 billion ($5.22 billion) 15-year modernisation package for the South African National Defence Force.
UK companies were the clear winners in the 18 November announcement, with the BAe/Saab partnership chosen to supply 28 Gripen light fighters over the Dassault Mirage 2000-5.
Cost of the deal is around R10.9 billion and the consortium has pledged industrial participation commitments worth R48 billion. BAe was also selected to supply 24 Hawk LIFT (lead-in fighter trainer) jets at a cost of R4.7 billion, with a matching industrial participation commitment of R8.6 billion.
The Hawk LIFT is an uprated version of the Hawk 100 with a new glass cockpit, head-up display and Hotas. The aircraft will be powered by Rolls-Royce/Turbomeca Adour 871 turbofans. GKN Westland was selected to supply four naval Super Lynx 300 helicopters worth R787 million, with industrial offsets of R2.7 billion.
The contracts are a precursor to a revamp of the South African Air Force (SAAF). The government says it will now enter into further negotiations with the preferred suppliers to achieve an affordable financial package. Negotiations are expected to last three to six months months before final contracts are signed. Delivery of the first aircraft is expected to begin in 2002.
Dassault questioned the selection of the Gripen, arguing that 38 Mirage 2000s would have cost roughly the same (R10 billion) as the 28 Gripens on order.
The only real surprise was the announcement of a R2.2 billion order for 40 Agusta A109 light utility helicopters. Although the Agusta A109 was seen as the SAAF's favourite, Eurocopter and Bell Helicopter Textron are believed to have each offered about 60 helicopters for roughly the same price as the 40 Agusta machines.
A Bell source involved in the project says the US company had offered 60 Bell 427 helicopters at a cost of $380 million, while it had identified industrial participation offers worth $1.7 billion.
The Gripen selection marked the first export of the fighter, which is now operated only by the Swedish air force. South African defence companies will play a significant role in developing and integrating systems for the baseline export Gripen.
Modifications that will have to be made will include the installation of additional cockpit cooling systems for tropical conditions and the supply of communications and electronic warfare equipment. The weapons package for the aircraft has not been disclosed, but it is expected to include locally developed weapons such as the short-range air-to-air U-Darter missile.
Earlier in the week, Saab and BAe awarded a R56 million contract to South African electronics firm Grintek to supply digital audio management systems to integrate audio and radio communications into the Gripen avionics suite.
Source: Flight International
