Armscor assisting in keeping ageing army equipment operational

The landward force was not part of government’s Strategic Defence Procurement Package (SDPP) and has had to extend the service life of much of its equipment. Evidence of this is again contained in an Armscor tender seeking tyres for both the Ratel and Rooikat.

Both were developed in South Africa with first production of the Ratel started in 1976 while the first Rooikat came off the production line in 1987.  The Ratel is slated for replacement by the much-delayed Badger with the SA Army supposed to take 243 of the new infantry fighting vehicles into service at an as yet unspecified date.

Armscor, at the request of the SA Army Armour Formation one would imagine, currently has a tender out for “combat vehicle (Ratel/Rooikat) tyres fitted with. No quantities or delivery dates are specified with bid documents available from [email protected].  Closing date for submissions is 13 April and the tender reference is ESCN/2020/191.

Another SA Army vehicle-related tender is ESCN/2020/194 for the supply of batteries for its Mamba armoured personnel carriers. These vehicles have been in service for over 40 years. Closing date for submissions is 13 April with bid documentation available from [email protected].

The State-owned defence and security acquisition agency this week closed submissions for interested parties to seemingly make use of the Alkantpan test range in the Copperton area of Northern Cape. The range is a strategic ISO 9001 all-purpose ballistic test range for medium to large calibre weapons and ammunition. Related tests are catered for as well and include insensitive munitions, hazard classification, ageing and surveillance trials.

Alkantpan has five firing sites and firing distances of up to 55 000m are available for conventional ammunition. Armscor says in special cases and if ammunition sans explosives is tested, firing distances up to 70 000m can be achieved.

In line with the move to virtual meetings and conferences brought about by national state of disaster lockdown regulations, Armscor is looking to acquire a video conferencing solution of its own to minimise dependence on outside suppliers as a security measures. Closing date for submissions for this tender (EICT/2020/27) close on 16 April. Bid documents are available from [email protected].