Denel Dynamics - News & Events
A Division of Denel Pty LTD
South Africa positions itself as a local defence supply partner in Turkey - Mon 2011/05/09 03:58 PM
South Africa is exploring joint collaborative programmes in Turkey says Jan Wessels, the CEO of Denel Dynamics. The missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVS) business is an exhibitor at this year’s International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF), being held in Instanbul, Turkey from 10 – 13 May 2011. The South African company is not treating Turkey as a ‘market’ for selling products; the country is considered more for a partnering opportunity on future collaboration projects. “Turkey has an advanced defence industry with ambitious national industrial development goals - similar to South Africa. It makes sense for us to strengthen relationships between the two nations and find win-win cooperation opportunities,” says Wessels. Both South Africa and Turkey are members of the G20 group of progressive developing nations.
“South Africa has a comparably small but highly agile missile and UAV design, production and maintenance capability, anchored around a very strong engineering ‘hub’ in Denel Dynamics,” says Wessels. Looking forward, the innovative technologies in the A-Darter and Umkhonto missiles provide the South African business with the confidence that they can add value to Turkish air defence missile programmes through partnerships. The A-Darter joint collaboration project between the governments of Brazil and South Africa is a high profile example of what can be achieved between the industries of two politically aligned, advanced developing nations. “South Africa and Turkey can do the same,” says Wessels.
“South Africa’s engineering core has been developed and honed for over 30 years through Denel Dynamics, which has resulted in one of the best globally competitive teams in our field. Two specific highlights for 2010 were the highly successful introduction into service of the South African Umkhonto vertical launched surface-to-air missile system by the Finnish Navy, a NATO member, and the equally successful completion of integration and certification of the A-Darter 5th generation air-air missile from the Gripen fighters of the South African Air Force.
Umkhonto spearheads SA’s reach into new markets
South Africa’s recent upgrade of its Umkhonto surface-to-air missile (SAM) to a Block 2 version featuring much enhanced ‘clutter’ performance, has highlighted Denel Dynamics’ system into new prominence in the international market.
Umkhonto can now comfortably be applied to Ground Based Air Defence Systems (GBADS), naval launch platforms and even against surface targets (surface-air-surface capability). Denel Dynamic’s innovative solution to a clutter background requirement from an international client dramatically enhanced Umkhonto to function in a multi-platform role for both air and surface targets. It has been operationally proven in challenging, high-clutter background environments including littoral water and land warfare scenarios.
“Now that the missile’s range, all weather options and rejection of ECM have been extended, Umkhonto is still the best choice for any navy and we are proud to have the Block 2 for land application as well,” said Machiel Oberholzer, Executive Manager Air Defence at Denel Dynamics. The upgrade also enables easy integration with different radar and platform solutions in network centric applications.
A-Darter missile clearance on Gripen Aircraft
The first A-Darter 5th generation short range air-to-air missile, designed to meet the challenges of future air combat, was successfully launched from a South African Air Force Saab Gripen fighter jet on 17 June 2010. Since then, all the required firings have taken place and clearance for the full carriage and firing envelopes of Gripen has been achieved. After an extensive ground test series of campaigns, these clearance launches from the air are highly significant in A-Darter’s developmental cycle as an air-air missile for the joint missile development programme between South Africa and Brazil. The Saab Project Manager for the integration test campaigns of A-Darter, Magnus Reineholm, was recently quoted as saying: “The A-Darter and the Gripen aircraft have worked beyond our expectations and we are extremely pleased with the test firing results.”
The missile development programme is due for completion in 2012. Only a hand-full of countries in the world are capable of developing missiles in this class. The relationship with the Brazilian Air Force and Brazilian Industry on the Development Programme has strengthened the ties between the two countries and may lead to more cooperation opportunities. The initial fighter aircraft for integration are the Hawk and Gripen for the South African Air Force, and the F-5BR for the Brazilian Air Force. Significant export opportunities exist for this product into further markets.
During May 2010, Defence and Military Veterans Minister Lindiwe Sisulu announced to the South African Government National Assembly that A-Darter was “a very important project of the Department of Defence (DoD)”. The Minister highlighted that, “this programme is set to become a model for cooperation and joint development by South Africa and other nations.”
Emerging markets are the future
For advanced developing countries including Turkey and South Africa, emerging markets are the future. IDEF will showcase the significant progress that has been made in terms of indigenous technological and industrial development in Turkey, and why Denel Dynamics strategy towards co-operation in Turkey is a sound one.
South Africa positions itself as a local defence supply partner in Brazil - Wednesday, April 13, 2011 6:11 PM
South Africa’s missile and UAVS house, Denel Dynamics, has relaunched its Denel do Brazil office against the backdrop of potential increased country to country cooperation. This week, for the first time, South Africa joined the summit of the BRICS group (formerly Brazil, Russia, India, and China as BRIC only). Officials and experts say that South Africa will become a gateway to the African continent for other BRICS countries and its membership of the group will enhance south-south cooperation. Speaking in Beijing, China on 13 April, South African President Jacob Zuma hailed his country's “historic” role in its first leaders' summit of the BRICS group of five major developing nations.
The main theme of the BRICS summit is "inclusive development" which is a point of interest at this year’s LAAD 2011 defence exhibition which is coincidently being held in the same period in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from 12 – 15 April. Denel Dynamics, a high-technology business unit in the South African Denel Group, is using the opportunity to showcase how country to country support - whether it be systems integration or joint development can establish and grow indigenous expertise in both countries.
“Our integration capabilities are the key to our sustained presence in Brazil”, says Jan Wessels, CEO of Denel Dynamics. The Brazilian/South African A-Darter programme is a noteworthy example of a very successful joint development. The BRICS countries are seeking to assert themselves on the global stage and are set to invest in improving the capabilities of their armed forces. As the successful A-Darter programme nears completion, it will result in a new 5th generation air-air missile ready for industrialisation and production with the same data pack available in both countries. This sets high expectations on both sides of the Atlantic for the next joint project. “Pending the RFP from Aeroelectronica, the F5 integration of A-Darter, could be the first project as part of a larger partnership for Denel do Brazil, in this instance as main subcontractor to Aeroelectronica.”
“Denel do Brazil intends to position itself to partner rather than compete with Brazil’s industrial players and internal expertise, to perform certain complex integration projects” says Wessels. “We are respectful of the Brazil industry and its players and we want to build on the professional relationships we have built since 2006. It is important to establish a reputation for being a trusted local defence supply partner of precision systems technology and services,” says Wessels.
Denel do Brazil will also benefit from the special deep and long-term strategic relationship that Denel has with the Armaments Corporation of South Africa (ARMSCOR), and will be able to make use of its years of experience and collaboration with the defence industry. ARMSCOR is the central point for the acquisition, maintenance and disposal needs of the South African Department of Defence which include systems and technology acquisition, procurement and product systems management. Importantly, it maintains strategic capabilities and technologies and promotes the local Defence Related Industry.
Denel do Brazil is being set up as a defence systems and programme management house, anchored around Denel Dynamics missile and UAV capabilities. It will start up as a small collaborative nucleus made up of a mix of experienced Denel Dynamics system engineers and a team of Brazilian engineers. The office, which is now located in São José dos Campos will provide enough space to act as a base for the interaction and execution of future system-level management programmes.
Denel Dynamics’ core business covers tactical missiles, precision-guided weapons and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). World-class facilities, an excellent customer support record and a formalized quality control system, add up to an impressive capability in the design, development, manufacture, integration and supply of systems as well as the provision of related services.
Latest South African missile achieves qualification
By: Keith Campbell
Published: 26 January 2011
Denel Dynamics announced on Tuesday that its new air-to-surface missile, the Mokopa, has been successfully qualified and is now ready to be released on to the market.
The Mokopa was originally designed as an anti-tank weapon – specifically, in the South African context, for the Denel Rooivalk attack helicopter. However, it has also been developed into a multi-purpose weapon, for both regular and irregular warfare operations.
The Mokopa has a range of more than 10 000 m, and can be fitted to vehicles and fast jets as well as to helicopters. It can be supplied with semi-active laser guidance or imaging infrared guidance systems, and anti-tank or multipurpose warhead options.
During the trials programme, the Mokopa’s performance was validated using the anti-tank warhead and semi-active laser guided version of the missile. The firing trials were conducted at the Denel group’s OTB test range near Bredasdorp in the Western Cape province, these trials concluding on January 21.
The Mokopa represents the next generation of anti-tank/multipurpose air-to-surface and surface-to-surface missiles developed by Denel Dynamics. The company’s current missile in this category is the Ingwe, which was also originally an anti-tank weapon but later adapted to become a multipurpose missile.
The Mokopa’s maximum range is roughly twice that of the Ingwe. The Mokopa has a mass of 49,8 kg, a diameter of 178 mm and a length of 1 995 mm. In its anti-tank version, it can penetrate more than 1 350 mm of rolled homogenous armour.
20 January 2011 - Local High School leads to success in Maths and Science
Partnership between Denel Dynamics and local High School leads to success in Maths and Science
An imaginative partnership between high-tech defence company, Denel Dynamics, and a school in an informal settlement has resulted in a significant improvement in maths and science results.
Learners from the Steve Tshwete Secondary School in Olievenhoutbosch have been receiving extra tutoring in mathematics and sciences for four hours every Saturday from Denel Dynamics’ employees. The results were visible at the end of 2010 when the school received 3 distinctions in mathematics and for the first time in the history of the school 2 distinctions in physical science.
In recognition of the achievement Denel Dynamics has awarded a bursary to the value of R90 000 to Kgaugelo Mokholwane, one of the 2010 learners from Steve Tshwete to continue his studies at tertiary level. The bursary will cover tuition fees, accommodation and books for his first year of study; and he will also be supported with mentoring and life skills training from Denel Dynamics.
The headmaster of Steve Tshwete, Mr Kenneth Ndou says there has been a 30% improvement in the average mark of students for these two subjects since the joint project with Denel Dynamics was introduced in 2008. Olievenhoutbosch is a sprawling informal settlement situated south-west of Pretoria near Centurion.
70 learners from the school travel to the Denel Dynamics campus in Centurion every weekend to be tutored by the engineers of the company, best known for its manufacturing of sophisticated tactical missiles, precision-guided weapons and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVS).
Ms Venashree McPherson, the People Development Manager at Denel Dynamics says the Saturday School for Maths was established as a project to make a valuable contribution to the development of grade 8 – 10 students in the local community.
Given the company’s profile in technology and engineering, maths tutoring was an obvious initiative to tackle. Denel Dynamics has recently embarked on providing capacity building aids for science teachers and looks forward to the improvement of the quality of science.
Some 44 engineers from Denel Dynamics now contribute their time and knowledge on a voluntary basis every weekend to improve understanding of maths and science among the learners. Ms Mercy Mxokozeli, the head of the department of science at Steve Tshwete says the extra weekend classes complement the teaching done at the school during regular hours.
The first learners who started at the School three years ago wrote their matric exams in 2010 and the results exceeded their wildest expectations. One of the learners who passed with flying colours, Maifo Nesly, will start with her studies in engineering at the University of Cape Town later in this month.
SRC president, Kgaugelo Mokholwane, the recipient of the Denel Dynamics bursary, ascribes his success in the matric exams to dedication, hard work and the extra tutoring he received at the Denel Dynamics Saturday School. He, too, has ambitions to continue his studies in electrical or electronic engineering.
McPherson says Denel Dynamics will continue to grow and expand the project with the expectations of even better results in the future.
The successful matriculants were honoured at a recent function at Denel Dynamics which was also attended by the top tertiary students who received bursaries from the company. There are currently 55 bursars at universities across the country studying various engineering disciplines, including aeronautical, mechanical, computer and electrical engineering. Between them the students achieved 99 distinctions during the course of the 2010 academic year.
ends
28 July 2010 - 1st A-Darter missile launched from Gripen Aircraft
PURE ROCKET SCIENCE AS A-DARTER GETS AIRBORNE
1st A-Darter missile launched from Gripen Aircraft
The first A-Darter 5th generation short range air-to-air missile, designed to meet the challenges of future air combat, was successfully launched from a South African Air Force Saab Gripen fighter jet on 17 June 2010. “After months of successful ground tests, this launch from the air is highly significant in A-Darter’s developmental life as an air-to-air missile,” says Denise Wilson, the Executive Manager of Air-Air Missile Systems at Denel Dynamics. “This test-firing is both a crucial achievement and a progressive milestone into the joint missile development programme between South Africa and Brazil.” Saab is equally pleased. Saab Project Manager for the integration test campaigns of A-Darter, Magnus Reineholm, was recently quoted as saying: “The A-Darter and the Gripen aircraft have worked beyond our expectations and we are extremely pleased with the test firing results.”
The missile development programme is in its third year, over halfway into the five-and-a-half year programme which is due for completion mid-2012. Deon Olivier, the A-Darter Product Manager at Denel Dynamics, says that only a hand-full of countries in the world is capable of developing missiles in this class and this programme has gone a long way to assist Denel Dynamics to maintain and grow the technical skills in its engineering environment. The relationship with the Brazilian Air Force and Brazilian Industry on the Development Programme has strengthened the ties between the two countries and may lead to more cooperation opportunities. The initial fighter aircraft for integration are the Gripen for the South African Air Force, and the F-5BR for the Brazilian Air Force. Significant export opportunities exist for this product into further markets.
In May 2010, Defence and Military Veterans Minister Lindiwe Sisulu announced to the South African Government National Assembly that A-Darter was “a very important project of the Department of Defence (DoD)”. She emphasised that the programme is co-funded by the South African DoD and the Brazilian Air Force and represents the first cooperative defence program under the trilateral IBSA agreement. The Minister highlighted that, “this programme is set to become a model for cooperation and joint development by South Africa and other developing nations.”
Job Creation
The A-Darter programme provides 200 direct jobs (highly skilled engineers and technical support personnel) within Denel Dynamics, and up to 1 200 indirect jobs in the wider SA industry. In a sector that is currently experiencing a global skills shortage, this impact on job creation from Denel Dynamics is an important South African contribution. This successful A-Darter/Gripen flight test campaign demonstrates a high level of technical capability in the South African local defence industry and the ability to cooperate with leading international defence companies such as Saab Aerospace in Sweden. More/
A-Darter/
Test Snapshot
This first launch test in June was executed by Saab from the Gripen Flight Test Centre at the SA Air Force Test Flight and Development Centre on Air Force Base Overberg in South Africa. By the end of 2010, all further tests will be airborne with the next major milestone being a guided missile test against an aerial target.
“At the start of this programme there was every intention that this concept would fly, but Denel Dynamics was well aware of the road we’d have to take to provide conclusive proof. We are now at a point where testing is going well and the missile is performing better than expected in certain areas. We still have a lot to achieve in the next two years, but we are running to schedule and look forward to moving from the development stage to the implementation phase in 2012,’ said Denise Wilson.
At the Africa Aerospace and Defence (AAD) exhibition to be held in Cape Town in September 2010, the A-Darter will be showcased on the Gripen for the first time in South Africa. AAD is a premier event on the international aerospace and defence calendar.
ENDS
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Background on the missile/aircraft integration process
This first A-Darter/Gripen separation trial coincided with the first aircraft/missile avionics integration flight test campaign. A high level of digital integration between the aircraft and missile is characteristic of 5th generation missiles and requires extensive aircraft/missile functional integration testing to ensure the aircraft and missile communicate as intended. . Tests were conducted with an A-Darter System Avionics Test Missile containing a fully functional seeker to verify sensor fusion between the aircraft and missile.
The high level of aircraft-missile digital integration together with the agility and extended range of the missile will ultimately afford the pilot a significant tactical advantage.
The programme to integrate the A-Darter on Gripen started in 2007 and is currently being implemented in sync with the missile development programme by Saab Aerospace and Denel Dynamics. The aircraft/missile integration flight test campaign is being performed by Saab in partnership with Denel Dynamics, Denel Overberg Test Range, Incomar Aeronautics and the South African Air Force Test Flight and Development Centre.
The A-Darter is designed to be highly agile missile (hence the prefix in its name), able to manoeuvre at very high G-forces. Its imaging IR seeker is designed to have very high angles of view. With a mass of under 100kg, the missile is powered by a boost-sustain rocket motor with thrust vector flight control.
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About Denel Dynamics
Proud Innovators of Competitive Missile and UAV Solutions
The company forms part of the South African State-owned Denel defence industrial group. Denel Dynamics is a leader in systems technology. Its core business covers tactical missiles, precision-guided weapons and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). A wide range of products along with world-class facilities, excellent customer support record and a formalized quality control system (e.g. ISO 9001 and 14000), add up to an impressive capability in the design, development, manufacture, supply and provision of services.
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To contact:
Shantall Tshoshane
Denel Dynamics Public Relations Manager
Tel: +27 (0) 12 671 1555
Cell: +27 (0) 82 052 1820
A division of Denel Pty LTD
“Rocket science – SA’s rare technology capability worth fighting to keep ” - 11-01-2010
Rocket science – SA’s rare technology capability worth fighting to keep
Chief of Defence Materièl from the Department of Defence (DoD), Mr Antonie Visser, gave missiles and UAV business Denel Dynamics, strong support at a recent technology showcase aimed at providing industry and media insight into the latest progress in an environment that is pure rocket science.
From radar to flight control; the microscopic but powerful world of microelectronics; the benefits of simulation and the scope of aerodynamics - it was an impressive display of world-class engineering technology and expertise.
The DoD’s Mr Visser said, “South Africa is one of nine countries worldwide that has this set of specific capabilities and we must be careful not to part with them. The choice comes down to whether we want to catch fish or buy fish, particularly considering the potentially profitable future of Dynamics as it moves closer to realising its commercial goals.” As a proud innovator of missiles and UAVS, Denel Dynamics is working hard to become a profit making South African business with long-term sustainability. Recent results reflect that the business is on track to achieve true sustainability.
Denel Dynamics CEO, Jan Wessels outlined the unique position Dynamics faces as a public enterprise. “This is not a subsidized business; we have to carefully manage the balancing act that is unique to us. In one corner we have our national strategic and defence obligations, and in the other corner we have the need to be profitable and commercially viable at all times.” Wessels is in the process of leading the entity to strike a balance between maintaining essential capabilities for the DoD and Armscor, and exploiting commercial export opportunities.
The Chief of Defence Materièl acknowledged the importance of an integrated approach between Dynamics and the DoD. “Although we cannot assist Denel Dynamics to break even due to our own budget constraints, we need to optimize and support the organisation in its goals to increase exports for Denel Dynamics’ economic survival in the long run.” He emphasized that South Africa needs battle-proven equipment in order for Denel Dynamics to boost its export order book, and offered his department’s support in driving this approach at Parliament and Cabinet level. ‘We must be careful not only to look at current balance sheets, entities like Denel Dynamics have great potential to become commercially viable and are strategically important for SA now, and in“Denel Dynamics on the front row of job creation” - 11-01-2010
Every rand creates 4 x the high-tech jobs
Systems technology leader, Denel Dynamics is making a significant difference to local business and the South African economy. Every rand spent in Denel Dynamics for Missiles and UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) technology, generates four times the jobs in local privately owned high-tech business. This creates direct economic impact to the growth and development of external suppliers.
An estimated total of 3 178 jobs, in addition to the 800 jobs within Denel Dynamics, were created in the 2007/2008 financial year as a result of orders and subcontracts placed by the missiles and UAV manufacturer into the RSA industry. This impact on job creation from Denel Dynamics in a sector that is currently experiencing a global skills shortage is an important South African contribution.
The government has identified that retaining capability in missile and UAV technology is of strategic importance to the country. While government funding has a clear direct impact, generally unknown is the additional downstream enabling effect on suppliers to compete for business in the commercial sector as a direct result of experience and capabilities gained through involvement with defence focussed Denel Dynamics. “Funding towards development and product acquisition over a twelve-month period had a multiplier effect across a diversity of suppliers with great benefit to skills development and retention in the high-tech industry,” says Jan Wessels, CEO of Denel Dynamics. Technology skills are a scarce resource in South Africa, and the cost of developing personnel in this sector is extremely high. “We need to keep our engineers in this country, and this level of job creation makes a healthy contribution to providing a high-tech work pool for South Africa’s engineers.” Military investment in any country’s industry has a high upliftment value on the competitive edge of new technology, either in engineering capability or manufacturing and commercial competence. “Dynamics supports this drive to enable our suppliers to be competitive in the commercial environment and not to be reliant on military business alone.”
Wessels is in the process of leading the Denel owned business to become a profit making South African missiles and UAV company with long-term sustainability. “This is not a subsidized business,” says Wessels. “The challenge we face in our unique position as a public enterprise is to strike a balance between our national strategic and defence obligations, and the need to be profitable and commercially viable at all times. Commercial interest makes business sense, and getting it right will be music to tax-payers ears’.” Recent results for Denel Dynamics reflect that the business is on track with its turnaround to achieving sustainability.“The first A-Darter Missile Delivered for Testing to SAAB, Sweden” - 11-01-2010
Key Milestone Achieved
Denel Dynamics, the missiles and UAV business unit of Denel, is under contract to develop the A-Darter 5th generation air to air missile - A highly agile missile with imaging infrared seeker technology. This is a bi-national programme undertaken in partnership with the Brazilian Air Force, through the South African defence procurement agency, Armscor. The initial fighter aircraft for integration are the Gripen for the South African Air Force, and the F-5BR for the Brazilian Air Force. Significant export opportunities exist for this product into further markets as well.
Now in the third year of a 5½ year development programme, the A-Darter programme provides some 200 direct jobs (highly skilled engineers and technical support personnel) at Denel Dynamics, and up to 1200 indirect jobs in the wider South African industry. “This impact on job creation from Denel Dynamics in a sector that is currently experiencing a global skills shortage is an important South African contribution” said Jan Wessels, CEO of Denel Dynamics.
From development to delivery
Successful integration of the advanced A-Darter with the highly sophisticated and modern Gripen avionics system is a key activity on the programme. The first System Avionics Test Missile (SATM) was delivered to SAAB Aerospace Systems in Sweden end of September. The System Avionics Test Missile will be used for missile/aircraft integration testing on the Gripen, both on the ground and in captive flight. It will be used to test the functional interface between the A-Darter missile and the Gripen aircraft, which includes the modification and verification of the aircraft software to be able to use the A-Darter missiles on the Gripen. “This delivery is significant as it demonstrates the level of maturity of the missile design and its subsystems at this stage of the development programme, and pave the way for the first live test firings of A-Darter from the Gripen in 2010.” said Denise Wilson, Executive Manager for Air-to-Air Programmes at Denel Dynamics.
Beyond 2010
Flagship programmes are required to enable significant enhancements in the national technological capability. Similar to the way the Apollo programme enhanced the general level of technology in the USA in the 1960’s, Denel Dynamics is committed to the development of young engineers and technicians from the platform created by the A-Darter flagship programme. It provides the perfect opportunity to launch young careers in mechanical, electronic and software engineering disciplines. Dynamics currently supports more than 50 engineering bursars at South African educational establishments, and has a vibrant internship programme for the approximate 15 young graduate engineers who join the company from this bursary programme annually.
“DENEL DYNAMICS WILL BE AT THE FOLLOWING EVENTS” - 21-10-2009
Move over planes, trains & automobiles…16-09-2009
Unmanned flying machines are on the horizon
Denel and South Africa gear up to sustain strong position
in the booming global UAV market
South Africa has what it takes to be a player in the fastest growing sector of the international aerospace industry, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). South Africa’s biggest supplier of UAV systems, Denel (the other being ATE) is respected for developing and producing some of the most rugged and reliable tactical UAV surveillance systems in the world. While the US and Israel dominate the global market, there is scope for South Africa to use local skills to create market-leading UAVs to developing nations – a market estimated at R2bn per annum. The RSA UAV industry aims to capture in excess of 20% of this end of the market at an estimated value of R400m a year.
The global increase in operational use of UAVs is a direct result of lessons learnt by allied forces in Iraq & Afghanistan. The surveillance benefits in the defence world of being able to survey borders and enter war zones without a pilot are extensive...read more
Engineering Academy of Learning - 22-10-2009
Denel Dynamics is developing the next generation of engineers
Engineering technology leader, Denel Dynamics is in the privileged and uncommon position of having not one or two, but an entire community of world-class experts in-house. This qualifies the business to propel young engineers through a concentrated funnel of learning and experience that they simply would not find anywhere else.
Respected engineer and former Group Manager: Mechanical Engineering, Grant Wilson, has accepted a new role to head up the Denel Dynamics Engineering Academy of Learning. ‘We work in the world of rocket science; it is pure engineering at its best.”
Denel Dynamics is of strategic importance to South Africa – it houses the technology, the knowledge and the expertise required to protect the security of this country. “There are only a few places in the world that manufacture the types of high technology products developed by Denel Dynamics with its innovative missiles and UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) solutions. It follows that we need a group of very talented people to perform in specialized roles. The aim of the Academy is to channel raw talent to reach the right levels of experience as quickly as possible.”
Experience beyond the norm
Wilson is focussed on growing people exponentially, and providing a 360° experience. “When working in a skilled environment, five years into a career, you may have only experienced the design phase of a project. We want Denel Dynamics’ engineers to fully realize the scope of the job and get excited about it. We need to grow people not only to do a job, but to develop leadership qualities. And we need our senior experts to share their experience and help grow talented youngsters.”
A great place for engineers to work
Dynamics will collaborate with universities and schools to harness the talent. The vigour with which the business is pursuing hands-on student experience, coupled with the work which is being done at high school level with the Dynamics Saturday School for Maths is already resulting in pockets of excellence with which the Academy will integrate.
ENDS
The first A-Darter Missile Delivered for Testing to SAAB, Sweden - 01-10-2009
Key Milestone Achieved
Denel Dynamics, the missiles and UAV business unit of Denel, is under contract to develop the A-Darter 5th generation air to air missile - A highly agile missile with imaging infrared seeker technology. This is a bi-national programme undertaken in partnership with the Brazilian Air Force, through the South African defence procurement agency, Armscor. The initial fighter aircraft for integration are the Gripen for the South African Air Force, and the F-5BR for the Brazilian Air Force. Significant export opportunities exist for this product into further markets as well.
Now in the third year of a 5½ year development programme, the A-Darter programme provides some 200 direct jobs (highly skilled engineers and technical support personnel) at Denel Dynamics, and up to 1200 indirect jobs in the wider South African industry. “This impact on job creation from Denel Dynamics in a sector that is currently experiencing a global skills shortage is an important South African contribution” said Jan Wessels, CEO of Denel Dynamics.
From development to delivery
Successful integration of the advanced A-Darter with the highly sophisticated and modern Gripen avionics system is a key activity on the programme. The first System Avionics Test Missile (SATM) was delivered to SAAB Aerospace Systems in Sweden end of September. The System Avionics Test Missile will be used for missile/aircraft integration testing on the Gripen, both on the ground and in captive flight. It will be used to test the functional interface between the A-Darter missile and the Gripen aircraft, which includes the modification and verification of the aircraft software to be able to use the A-Darter missiles on the Gripen. “This delivery is significant as it demonstrates the level of maturity of the missile design and its subsystems at this stage of the development programme, and pave the way for the first live test firings of A-Darter from the Gripen in 2010.” said Denise Wilson, Executive Manager for Air-to-Air Programmes at Denel Dynamics.
Beyond 2010
Flagship programmes are required to enable significant enhancements in the national technological capability. Similar to the way the Apollo programme enhanced the general level of technology in the USA in the 1960’s, Denel Dynamics is committed to the development of young engineers and technicians from the platform created by the A-Darter flagship programme. It provides the perfect opportunity to launch young careers in mechanical, electronic and software engineering disciplines. Dynamics currently supports more than 50 engineering bursars at South African educational establishments, and has a vibrant internship programme for the approximate 15 young graduate engineers who join the company from this bursary programme annually.
Denel Dynamics is a leader in systems technology. Its core business covers tactical missiles, precision-guided weapons and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). A wide range of products along with world-class facilities, excellent customer support record and a formalized quality control system (e.g. ISO 9001 and 14000), add up to an impressive capability in the design, development, manufacture, supply and provision of services.
Air-to-air missile achieves important milestone - 06-01-2007
The A-Darter 5th generation air-to-air missile developed by an integrated South African-Brazilian team achieved an important milestone last week. This first series of programmed flight tests at Denel's OTB test range successfully evaluated the missile's manoeuvrability and high G-force characteristics, whilst parallel tests of its seeker head's ability to track targets were equally successful.
Both Brazil's and South Africa's governments are jointly funding the development of the A-Darter. Designed as an agile missile (hence the designation "A" in the name), the A-Darter's key technologies had been established by 2006. Full-scale development has been on going since 2007.
The critical milestone achieved last week is a step in the process to prove the missile's performance specification towards completion of the development programme. "The flight tests were a successful first in the series to prove the specifications and simulation models, which bodes well for the missile's eventual integration on the South African Air Force's Gripen fighter jets, the Brazilian Air Force's F5M aircraft, as well as the latter's possible FX programme for a future frontline fighter," said Mr Jan Wessels, CEO of Denel Dynamics.
The ALRRT (Alert) Ingwe Turret - 12 -09-2009
Denel (Pty) Ltd proudly announced the latest development of its successful Ingwe long-range anti-armour missile. The company displayed a newly developed, light weight turret for the missile for the first time during the 2007 Idex exhibition held in the UAE (Janes Defence Weekly, 14 February 2007). The turret has now also been successfully integrated on the Gila mine-protected personnel carrier, developed by Ivema in association with Ngwane Defence. The new configuration will be launched at the 2008 Africa Aerospace and Defence exhibition, scheduled to take place from the 17th to the 21st of September 2008 at the Ysterplaat Air Force Base in Cape Town, South Africa. The turret/vehicle combination recently completed rigorous qualification trials at a test range in South Africa and is ready for production and delivery to prospective customers.
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