View Document - Parliament of South Africa

161 THURSDAY, 9 OCTOBER 2008
162
Serial
No
ates and Submarines is tabulated
below:
Vessel Capability
Level
a b
1 Valour Class Frigates
1.1 SAS AMATOLA Seagoing level of
capability
1.2 SAS
ISANDLWANA
Seagoing level of
capability
1.3 SAS SPIOENKOP Seagoing level of
capability
1.4 SAS MENDI Maintenance Period
(Presently)
2 Heroine Class Submarines
2.1 SAS ‘MANTHATISI Extended Maintenance
Period
2.2 SAS CHARLOTTE
MAXEKE
2.3 SAS QUEEN
MODJADJI I
Seagoing level of
capability
Seagoing level of
capability
(1) (b) As part of both Project SITRON
(frigates) and Project WILLS
(Submarines), it was decided to
conduct a series of relatively small
upgrades during normal scheduled
maintenance periods, once the
vessels were in South Africa. This
would add to the local content of
the vessels and obviously reduce
the overall cost of the projects. It
would also assist in the security
classification of the actual operational
capabilities of the two types
of vessels (in-house contractual
work versus outsourced via the
vessels’manufacturers). These upgrades
were planned activities
and, as such, fall under the overall
project costs.
Frigates. The frigates have had a small
addition to its accommodation facilities
to allow for more trainees/additional
personnel to be carried on board. In
addition, a helicopter control radar has
been added as part of the plan to
integrate the Super Lynx helicopters
acquired under Project MAULSTIC.
This plan also added certain electrical
power points additionally required to
maintain the helicopter in the frigates’
hangers. Planned software upgrades on
combat suites have taken place in order
for all frigates to remain under the same
baseline. The lessons learnt from the
deployment of the SAS AMATOLA to
the UK to conduct a NATO inspection
have led to a number of small damage
control issues being addressed. All of
these upgrades will have been completed
by the end of this financial year
except for the addition of a remotelycontrolled
close-in weapon system
(South African manufactured and to be
completed by end 2009).
Submarines. This project was a ‘‘turnkey’’
project producing operational
submarines from the outset. No significant
upgrades are envisaged except for
the normal software improvements to
existing equipment. However, certain
technical tests have been conducted to
ensure that the boats comply with
international obligations (these are the
first submarines in the world to have
been inspected as a class by the Germanisher
Lloyd ship classification
organisation). In addition, the boats
have been fitted for integration with
international rescue submersibles as
per the project plan.
(1) (c) Maintenance in the SA Navy is
planned and executed in various
periodicities, ranging from daily,
weekly, monthly, four-monthly,
annually, etc. The most significant
of these are the four-monthlymaintenance
events which are
thus used as the basis for measurement
of maintenance status.
Maintenance returns are due three
times a year, namely end of January,
end of May and end of September.
Due to operational com-