BAE Systems, a global defence, security and aerospace company, will display a variety of land and air products at an upcoming aerospace and defence exhibition in South Africa.

The Africa Aerospace & Defence (AAD) exhibition will run from September 21 to 25 in Cape Town.

BAE’s stand will feature several products from the Land Systems South Africa business, a scale model of the Hawk lead-in-fighter-training (LIFT) in service with the SA Air Force and a scale model of the BAe146M military transport aircraft.

The Land Systems South Africa business will showcase its RG34, RG35 and RG12 vehicles, two newly developed turret systems, the mobile - fully interactive rifle shooting training (M-FIRST) system and two specialised transfer gearboxes.

These turret systems will include the newly designed self defence remotely operated weapon (SD-ROW) turret. This light-weight weapon system is equipped with a small calibre weapon and designed for use on a variety of soft-skinned, light armoured and mine protected vehicles.

The RG34, a well protected 4x4 light vehicle with supreme tactical mobility and the integrated tactical remote turret (TRT-25), make it ideally-suited for motorised infantry and various tactical battlefield roles.

The TRT-25, which was recently launched in Europe, is a remotely operated turret designed specifically to provide self protection and ground fire support for light armoured vehicles (LAVs), mine protected vehicles (MPVs) and infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs).

The RG34 will also be fitted with an explosive resistant display equipment (EGRE) display from Rockwell Collins utilising BAE Systems’ digital mapping software. The system provides navigation and enhanced battlefield situational awareness.

The RG35 is a new 4x4 or 6x6 mine protected multi-purpose fighting vehicle optimised for both peacekeeping and conventional operations. The RG12 is a 4x4 armoured public order vehicle, in service with several police forces around the world, including the South African Police. This vehicle was recently used during the soccer world cup tournament to ensure spectator safety.

The company’s Gear Ratio division has developed specialised transfer cases for the RG31 and RG32M vehicles. Both items will be displayed on BAE Systems’ stand.

BAE Systems and Saab have supplied 24 new Hawk Mk 120 jet trainers and a number of Gripen fighter aircraft to the South African Air Force for its LIFT and air defence requirements respectively.

BAE Systems will be promoting the latest Hawk Mk 128 AJT standard at AAD. The Royal Air Force is currently taking delivery for the Hawk T.2 derivative for Phase 4 tactical training at RAF Valley.

In addition to the Hawk Mk128 Advanced Jet Trainer on display, a version of the South African Hawk Mk120 will also be demonstrating on the Advanced Technologies and Engineering (ATE) stand.

BAE Systems and ATE are jointly marketing this solution that offers customers the option of upgrading their earlier marks of Hawk (both 60 and 100/200 series) into the latest standard LIFT. A cockpit mock-up of the upgrade solution will also be on display.

The BAe146M is being promoted to African Air Forces as a capable jet transport to replace ageing air transport (AT) aircraft that are in service across the continent. Some 500 transport aircraft are in service across Africa, of which around 40 percent are in excess of 30 years old.

The BAe 146M could also be used by air forces to complement existing fleets of tactical air transports (TacAT) such as C130 Hercules, by taking on a wide variety of non tactical AT roles, thereby prolonging the fatigue life of the TacAT assets. – TradeArabia News Service