Department of Defence Annual Report 2008-2009

| Department of Defence |
The Division is completing the acquisition process
of the Strategic Defence Package programmes, of
which various systems have now been delivered to
the RSA. Milestone dates for two of the Strategic
Defence Packages programmes (ghter aircraft and
light utility helicopters) have moved to the right,
mainly due to industry challenges. Delivery of
the A400M-programme has also been delayed by
between 18 and 24 months, due to the inability of
the industry to perform accordingly.
The Division has embarked on a strategy to enhance
communication with the Defence Industry to
ensure optimised spending, to achieve the most
cost-effective and optimum durability of Defence
equipment. On 4 February 2009, an annual Defence
Industry-day was attended by senior members of
the DOD, members of the Portfolio Committee on
Defence, captains of industry and other important
stakeholders. The purpose was to enhance open
communication between all roleplayers and to
indicate the direction that the DOD’s future
acquisitions will take.
Some noteworthy achievements of the Division
include the following:
• Improved communication between the DOD
and other stakeholders on defence equipment
acquisition and support.
• Active involvement in the negotiating and
eventual signing of the DENEL Rheinmetall
Agreement on 1 September 2008.
• Participated in inter-departmental discussions
on the recapitalisation of DENEL.
• Landward Defence Acquisition. The
production and/or upgrading of Rooikat
Armoured Cars, Olifant MKII Main Battle
Tanks, Casspir and Mamba Mine and Ballistic
Protected Personnel Carriers, as well as SS77
Light Machine Guns in this nancial year and
will be closed as soon as their commissioning
into the landward structures is completed.
• Air Defence Acquisition. Five additional
Agusta A109 Light Utility Helicopters were
delivered to the South African Air Force (SAAF)
during FY 2008/09, bringing the total delivered
to 28 out of a contracted 30 aircraft. The last of
the Hawk Lead-In Fighter Trainer (LIFT) aircraft
was delivered, which completes the contractual
amount of 24 aircraft. Five dual-seat Gripen
Advanced Light Fighter Aircraft (ALFA) were
delivered to the SAAF during FY 2008/09,
and system implementation at Air Force Base
Makhado is ongoing. Lynx maritime helicopter
OT&E is ongoing and the rst deployment of
a Lynx helicopter onboard a Naval frigate took
place successfully in October 2008.
• Naval Defence Acquisition. The third Class
209 Type 1400 submarine, the SAS QUEEN
MODJADJI I, arrived in Simon’s Town on 22
May 2008. All three submarines as well as the
four frigates have now been commissioned into
service. Five new naval projects commenced the
acquisition approval process, during the latter
part of the reporting period. These projects
will be directed at upgrading and sustaining the
SA Navy’s off-shore patrol and hydrographic
capabilities, as well as addressing the gaps within
its mine warfare core-capability and Port/Unit
Security environment.
• Although the Division had positive achievements,
it had to contend with the following challenges:
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The lack of project ofcers with
appropriate level of experience, coupled
with the high workload placed on project
ofcers, impacted on the performance of
projects. This situation manifested in all
areas of defence acquisition. The Division
is trying to improve the situation by means
of mentoring/coaching current project
ofcers, maintaining close liaison with the
Services (seconding of project ofcers
to the Division), as well as increasing
the number of Project Manager courses
presented annually.
In the area of project management, the
following challenges were experienced:
• Landward Defence Acquisition.
The budget allocation to address
the full requirements of landward
forces does not allow acquisition of
full capabilities. A strategy of partial
acquisition is followed to maintain
a minimum core-growth capability
in the end-users environment. In an
attempt to improve this, the Division
liaises continuously with the Chief of
the Army and his staff. At the same
time, the Division engaged in the reprioritisation
of the Strategic Capital
Acquisition Master Plan with all the
relevant authorities.
• Air Defence Acquisition. System
implementation into the Air Force and
subsequent system handover of certain
major projects are being hampered
by a shortage of skilled personnel in
the Air Force. The project teams, also
often undermanned, are stretched to
| Programme 1: Defence Administration |
39 Annual Report FY 2008 - 2009