SANDF has no helicopter maintenance contract — while fighting in two wars

Hanno Labuschagne

Hanno Labuschagne

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SANDF has no helicopter maintenance contract — while fighting in two wars

South Africa has deployed its troops into two wars without renewing a maintenance contract needed to keep its essential attack and transport helicopters flying.

A so-called fixed-cost contract between state arms maker Denel SOC Ltd. and the Department of Defence — which covers the expenses of technicians and engineers — lapsed more than four months ago and hasn’t been renewed, Denel said in a response to queries.

[Bloomberg]
 
Did anyone expect anything less ? Wait till the budget speech - more spending going to be cut.
Eventually we will have nothing. Decolonization complete.
 
Lupus said:
I mean isn't this just typical of the ANC thinking? Maintenance what's that? It's like farmers have nothing to do with food supply, it comes from the shops.
So if a helicopter breaks, you just buy a new one right?
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Possibly a bit more grubby with ANC individuals competing to get at the Denel / SAAF trough and stalling the whole thing through personal greed. A bit like Karpowerships etc.
 
It's sad and mind blowing as well in so many ways!!! And for the reasons we all know.... :eek: :laugh: :ROFL: :X3: ;)
 
Lupus said:
I mean isn't this just typical of the ANC thinking? Maintenance what's that? It's like farmers have nothing to do with food supply, it comes from the shops.
So if a helicopter breaks, you just buy a new one right?
Click to expand...

Not having a contract doesn’t necessarily mean maintenance isn’t being done though.

It likely means it’s being done at a much higher ad hoc cost with no limiter in place.
 
Rooivalk, or Red Falcon, attack helicopters.
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Calling it a Red Falcon attack helicopter is not a thing.

I hear the Rooivalk helicopters are already grounded and is why the Oryx was flying alone for the medical emergency.
 
Remember the days when "South Africa is going to be Zimbabwe 2.0" was supposed to scare you and not be a statement of aspiration?

1708411371212.png

Not gonna lie though, the crumbling of this state's ability to use their military arm isn't something I lose sleep over.
What's next? Are they going to ask the Indian population in KZN to supply them with jet fuel and bullets next time?

Just stick to using the weapons of your ancestors, things were better back then, right.... right?
I know a guy on a corner in Harties who can still make them.

1708411693567.png
 
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Sure, the budget is a huge problem, but they also got rid of many of the experienced technicians a few years ago.

www.defenceweb.co.za

SA Air Force maintenance suffering from loss of skilled technicians - defenceWeb

The aircraft maintenance capabilities of the South African Air Force (SAAF), including that of the presidential Boeing Business Jet, have decreased dramatically since the last of the AMG/Denel support personnel were laid off, resulting in serious implications for aircraft serviceability and...
www.defenceweb.co.za www.defenceweb.co.za
 
Well it was either grants, NHI or helicopters and helicopters got the chop.
 
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