35-round magazine. Standard Service rifle since 1980. Can be fitted with various optical sights. Infantry can train using Portable Target Systems (PTS) (deployed from the army's Target Trailer System (TTS)), Fixed Installation Rifle Shooting Systems (FIRST) as well as Electronic Learning Aiming Correction Systems (ELACs), which is equipped with hit sensors, Magnetic and IR Sensors for shot scoring. Live fire target practice is conducted with Lateral Moving Rail Target Systems (LMRT). The R5 carbine is used by the airborne and armoured troops of the SA Army, the SA Air Force, SA Navy, Military Health Service and the South African police Service.[5]
3-round magazine. In service since 1998 by the South African Special Forces and Army Infantry sniper sections. Comes equipped with the 8 × 56 Lynx Telescopic sight.
Belt-fed GPMG in service since 1986 alongside the FN MAG. 100-round pear-shaped pouch in general use, 200-round rigid box. Can use both non-disintegrating DM1 and NATO M13 or R1M1 disintegrating link belts.
Belt-fed GPMG. Main automatic weapon of dismounted infantry sections. 100-round pear-shaped pouches in general use and 200-round disintegrating link metal belts. Can be mounted on a Tripod as well as vehicles.
M1919A4 Browning Medium Machine gun modified by Lyttleton Engineering Works, now Denel Land Systems, to fire the 7.62×51mm round. It is Belt fed and generally fitted to armoured and infantry vehicles as well as certain helicopters as a secondary or tertiary armament.
A grenade which consists of a cylindrical tinplate body containing the smoke composition, a spring-loaded striker mechanism of the fly-off lever type and a pyrotechnic igniter/delay system. The fly-off lever is retained by a conventional safety pin and pull ring.
The grenade has a variety of signalling applications and may also be used for screening and for
training exercises in riot control.
A grenade which consists of an aluminium case containing the illuminating composition, to which is fitted a conventional fly-off lever striker mechanism.
The illuminating grenade provides sufficient light for target identification and attack. The grenade
can also be used as a light source for emergency conditions when other pyrotechnic light sources are not
available.
Second generation South African rifle grenades manufactured by RheinmetallDenel Munitions (formerly Swartklip Products, a division of Denel). The grenade incorporates a bullet trap and deflector in the tail tube. This allows them to be fired without the need to unload the rifle of its ammunition.
Bullet Trap rifle grenades available includes HE/AP (High Explosive/Anti-Personnel), Practice and HE/DP (High Explosive/Dual Purpose) grenades. The HE/DP type has a shaped charge warhead which can penetrate 150 mm of rolled homogeneous armour or 450 mm of reinforced concrete. Grenades can be fired from both 5.56mm and 7.62mm rifles in the South African arsenal.
A shaped charge grenade, based on the Belgian ENERGA anti-tank rifle grenade and designed to be fired from most 7.62mm rifles. Can penetrate 275 mm of rolled homogeneous armour. Presumably largely phased out of South African service along with the large majority of 7.62mm R1 rifles. No longer in production.
A belt-fed, high velocity, long-recoil, open-breech grenade launcher in service. Ideally used as a tripod-mounted support weapon for infantry or mounted on a vehicle. Electronic indirect sight and Aim point direct sight can be mounted.
Large numbers of RPG-7s were purchased during the mid-1970s and are used as the primary infantry anti-armour rocket launcher and is deployed at section level for use against armoured vehicles. Currently the Army is looking for a replacement for this ageing system.
An indigenous reusable anti-tank weapon primarily used to penetrate modern main battle tanks and fortifications. In reserve from 2007 due to high operating costs.
46 Milan ADT (Advanced Digital Technology) launchers as well as 300+[18][19] Milan ER (extended range) SACLOS missiles are in service since 2007[20] with the Army’s airborne and motorised infantry battalions as well as with the Special Forces Brigade. Soldiers train on the four simulators acquired from MBDA. All systems are equipped with Video output devices and 15 launchers are equipped with Thermal imaging systems.
Multipurpose long-range beam-riding precision guided missile. The missile is launched from a triple launcher atop a modified Ratel infantry combat vehicle, known as the ZT3. 13 launchers are upgraded and 80 newer ZT3A2 missiles were delivered to the army in 2005 as part of Project Adrift. The missile is used by the Armoured Corps and the Mechanized infantry battalions.
Eight Lightweight Multiple Launchers (LML), two 20 km-range Thales Page continuous-wave (CW) low-observable battery air defence local warning radars as well as about 100 VSHORAD (very short range air defence) high-velocity missiles were ordered in December 2002 and are in use with 10 Air Defence Artillery Regiment. These missiles have a range of between 5–7 km. Stockholm International Peace Research Institute lists the number of Portable SAMs delivered as 96 for the GBADS phase 1 project with another order for 82[23]
A heavily modified and modernized Centurion tank. The MK1A tanks were commissioned in 1985. The MK1Bs were commissioned in 1991 and the MK2 tanks were commissioned in 2007 by using some TTD tank part. Due to the age of the vehicles, a number of tanks were deemed to be unserviceable in the mid-2000s. To rectify this more than R 117 million was spent between 2008 and 2011 to maintain and upgrade the tank fleet to maintain optimal force readiness.[27]
Fleet to be replaced sometime in the future through Project Aorta.
264 units. Designated Badger. Designed to replace the ageing Ratel model within the SANDF. Completion of delivery of 264 Badgers to the SANDF should occur by 2022, according to the Project Hoefyster contract. There will be five versions: a standard infantry carrier, a command car, fire support variant, mortar carrier and tank hunter.[31]
Primary armoured fighting vehicle in service with the South African Mechanized infantry units. Variants in service include the Ratel 20 (armed with a Denel GI-2 20mm cannon), Ratel 60 (armed with a 60mm breech-loading mortar), Ratel 90 (armed with a 90mm Denel GT-2 low-velocity gun), command variant, fire-support vehicle and an 81mm mortar carrier. The fleet will be partially replaced by the Badger through Project Hoefyster.
Ratel IFV equipped with a triple ZT3 Ingwe ATGM launcher. Provides additional Anti-Tank capability to the Armoured Corps and Mechanized Infantry Battalions
IMV with significant protection against anti-tank mines and small arms fire. Comes in several variants: an armoured personnel carrier, ambulance, light cargo vehicle (Blesbok freighter), tanker, a fire support team vehicle(FISTV), a light recovery vehicle (Gemsbok) and a Plofadder mine clearing vehicle.
Upgraded Magirus Deutz 130M7FAL 4×4 2-ton (load) truck. The trucks serve as the primary off-road light general purpose truck of the SANDF and comes in several variants, each fulfilling a different role. These include general cargo/fuel/troop transport variants, artillery fire control posts, variants with office and workshop bodies, a battery charger variant, a light recovery variant (designated "Pegasus") and a variant with a Light General Repair(LAD) rear body.
Upgraded Magirus Deutz 192D12AL 4×4 5-ton (load) truck. Trucks are utilised in different roles as personnel/cargo transporters, field repair and maintenance vehicles, water/fuel transporters, field recovery vehicles (variant designated as "Springbok"), refuse collection trucks, mobile showers, mobile offices, bridge transporters, radio and technical bins and pantry vehicles(with refrigeration capability).
Upgraded Magirus Deutz 320D22AL 6×6 10-ton (load) truck. Trucks are utilised in different roles as personnel/cargo transporters, water/fuel transporters, field recovery vehicles (variant designated as "Kameel"/Mine protected variant designated as "Withings"), dry canteen vehicles, field repair and maintenance vehicles (designated as "Waterbok"), UAV launchers, UAV recovery vehicles and gun tractors (for towed artillery pieces).
The army employs several variants of this vehicle. The "Skimmel" is a heavy recovery vehicle which is fitted with a tow arm, a winch, a crane and various other equipment. The "Zebra" is a maintenance and repair variant of the truck. The "Kameelperd" version carries the Army Air Defence Artillery's ESR220 Thutlwa mobile battery fire control post and early warning radar. The trucks also have tank transport and bridge layer variants.
Locally developed long range 155mm Self-Propelled Howitzer. Small numbers of artillery pieces are used by the School of Artillery to train gun crews from multiple regiments.
169 acquired (along with 75 Super Fledermaus fire control units) in the 1960s. 48 of these Mk I guns were upgraded to Mk V status and the Super Fledermaus fire control units replaced by Italian LPD20 radars in 1990. These guns will be upgraded by Rheinmetall AG to use Oerlikon Skyshield fire control systems and Ahead airburst ammunition.
Designated as "Kameelperd". The system uses an L-band 2D surveillance radar to provide early warning to air defence artillery troops in the field. This fully autonomous armoured system (with self-contained power plant)is transported by a Spanish-designed Kynos Aljaba 8×8 (“Skimmel” in SANDF service) truck. It is capable of tracking aircraft in a 120 km radius and can be fully operational within 10 minutes of arrival at the deployment site. The system also provides for a combined air picture derived from primary radar(through utilisation of Link-ZA, the SANDF's data link system), as well as a command and control system for effective air defence control.
A system designed to clear routes of mines. Usually they operate in pairs one after the other. The leading vehicle acts as a Mine Detection Vehicle (MDV) and is designated as "Meerkat". The second Husky in the system tows a trailer called a "Duisendpoot" and is known as a towing /mine detection vehicle (T/MDV). The latest version of the Husky, the 2G, has high sensitivity low metal content detectors, ground penetrating radar, powerful air blowers and a robotic arm.
Acquired in 2012 under Project Cytoon. The radars are designed to plot a pedestrian at 10 km, a vehicle at 21 km, a tank at 28 km, a helicopter at 21 km, a boat at 12 km and a ship at 48 km. The radar system uses a frequency modulated continuous wave Doppler radar and is designed to be virtually undetectable by enemy electronic warfare equipment. All systems are in service with the SA Army Tactical Intelligence Corps.
Acquired in 2012 under Project Cytoon. The Thales Sophie can spot humans at over 4 km, tanks at 10 km, helicopters at 12 km and jet fighters at 16 km. All systems are in service with the SA Army Tactical Intelligence Corps.
Acquired under Project Klooster. The Vulture is used for target acquisition, fall-of-shot detection and fire correction in support of Towed and Self Propelled Gun Howitzer Systems of the SA Army Artillery Formation. It operates without a pilot or a runway and is deployable in 30 minutes in unprepared terrain. The UAV is launched from a catapult on the back of a SAMIL 100 truck. The Vulture is monitored on the ground via the Navigator and Observer screens in a Ground Control Station. A laser system is used for automated approach, an arrestor system for its capture and an inflatable airbag for its recovery.
The LOCATS is an unmanned aerial target used to train Air Defence Artillery crews in gunnery. It is launched from a ramp fitted on the back of a flatbed truck and is recovered by parachute.
^ abcGander, Terry J.; Cutshaw, Charles Q. (February 2002). Jane's Infantry Weapons 2002-2003 (28th ed.). Jane's Information Group. ISBN978-0710624345.
^Jones, Richard D.; Ness, L.S. (27 January 2009). Jane's Infantry Weapons: 2009-2010. Jane's Infantry Weapons (35th ed.). Jane's Information Group. ISBN978-0-7106-2869-5. Archived from the original on 4 April 2019. Retrieved 30 November 2014.
^"Trade Registers". Armstrade.sipri.org. Archived from the original on 2011-01-31. Retrieved 2013-06-20.
^Leon Engelbrecht (24 May 2011). "SA Army stocks up on Milan 3". Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 15 December 2016. The SANDF has ordered an undisclosed further number of Milan missiles..The R57 990 630.80 purchase order was awarded to Euromissile [sic] last week. It takes the known value of Project Kingfisher – according to the Armscor Bulletin System (ABS) – to R271 076 483.37...The Kingfisher contract was placed on December 20, 2006, and initially escaped media notice. In March 2009 the military ordered a further 13 Milan ADT firing posts and four simulators under a contract worth €10.7 million (about R129.3 million at then exchange rates, but R81.5 million on the ABS.
^Leon Engelbrecht (8 October 2008). "SA Army, SOF "operationalising" MILAN". Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 15 December 2016. The launchers were received in 1974, but were placed in storage in 1996. SA employed the MILAN in combat in southern Angola in the 1980s. Under Project Kingfisher, 30 launchers were upgraded to Milan ADT-ER status and 300 missiles were acquired for R167.4 million.
^Camp, Steve; Helmoed-Römer, Heitman (November 2014). Surviving the Ride: A pictorial history of South African Manufactured Mine-Protected vehicles. Pinetown: 30 Degrees South. ISBN978-1928211-17-4.
^"Vehicles - Gecko". Army.mil.za. SA Army: SA Dept of Defence. 2010-12-13. Archived from the original on 2015-09-23. Retrieved 2014-12-01.
^ abEngelbrecht, Leon. "Cytoon handed to the Army". defenceweb.co.za. defenceweb.co.za. Archived from the original on 26 July 2014. Retrieved 25 July 2014.
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