Very short-range air defence system (VSHORAD) manufacturers are preparing to respond to a South Africa request for proposals (RFP), which is expected to be issued next month.
South Africa plans to overhaul its ground based air defences starting with its man-potable/VSHORAD needs. South Africa is expected to require a missile to be integrated with a command and control (C²) system, rather than be used as a standalone system. Industry sources expect an RFP next month and suggest that an order could be placed next year.
Shorts Missile Systems says it will bid the Starstreak command-line of sight weapon and will link with parent Thomson-CSF for the C² system. Raytheon expects to bid the Stinger with its C² system linked to the MPQ-64 Sentinel radar. Also expected to compete are Bofors with the RBS70, Matra BAe Dynamics with the Mistral 2 and Russia's KBM with the 9M39/ 9M313 Igla (SA-14/SA-18).
Source: Flight International
