The electronic warfare South Africa 2017 international conference and exhibition: 6-8 November 2017

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The Association of Old Crows Aardvark Roost Chapter is hosting this from 6-8 November 2017 at the CSIR International Convention Centre in Pretoria.

The Association of Old Crows (AOC) Aardvark Roost Chapter is hosting the biennial Electronic Warfare South Africa (EWSA) 2017 Conference and Exhibition from 6-8 November 2017 at the CSIR International Convention Centre in Pretoria, South Africa.

Aardvark Roost is the official AOC chapter of South Africa, driven by individuals that share a common goal to foster and preserve the art of EW. With the desire to further promote collaboration between South African EW stakeholders and the wider community, this event will host a truly international audience.

“EWSA will provide a forum for EW professionals from the military, government, industry and academic fields, to discuss issues related to the requirements of EW programmes, platforms and operations”, said Ryno van Staden, President of the Aardvark Roost. Therefore, the timing of this event on the African continent is seen as very appropriate. “This capstone event will focus on the identified gaps and technologies the services require to ensure EW maintains freedom of manoeuvre through the Electromagnetic Spectrum (EMS) in support of achieving commanders’ objectives”, Van Staden said.

The event will consist of a one-day workshop (6 November 2017), followed by a two-day conference and exhibition (7 and 8 November 2017), hosting local and international thought-leading EW experts. The exhibition will showcase the latest local and various international technologies as well as provide a global perspective of the capabilities within EW community.

The conference will include three separate workshops on the 6th of November, followed by a two-day plenary conference respectively on operations, capability and defence lines of development, and industry developments and inventiveness.

Speakers will include leaders and operators from the military, government, academia and research communities and crucially, industry.

The Conference Programme is still being finalised and high profile national and international speakers will address the most recent and current topics in the EW field.

Confirmed speakers include:

R Adm. Guy Jamieson, PS MMM, Deputy Chief of the South African Navy

Helmoed Römer-Heitman, Defence Analyst

Linda Klevard, Product manager within Product Area Gripen, EW Division, at Saab Surveillance, Stockholm, Sweden

Christer Zätterqvist, Saab Sweden

Dr Sue Robertson, AOC International Region 1 Director

Kevin Wakeford, Chief Executive Officer of Armscor

Dr Francois Maasdorp, CSIR

Prof. Daniel O’Hagan, Associate Professor in Radar at University of Cape Town

Darren Nicholls, Marketing Industry Manager for Aerospace and Defence covering Europe, Middle East,

Africa and India from Keysight Technologies

Abel van der Merwe, Managing Member of Sysdel

Wimpie van den Berg, GEW

One of the speakers who is expected to attract wide attention is world renowned defence analyst, Helmoed Römer-Heitman, who will deliver a presentation on Electronic Warfare in all its forms, from intelligence gathering through jamming to electronic or digital attack and discuss the challenge – and opportunities – of remote attack on electronic and IT systems.

Delegates can look forward to a keynote presentation by Rear Admiral Guy Jamieson who will discuss surface warfare and EW in the missile age –  lessons to be learned from a SAN Historical Perspective.

Dr Sue Robertson will also be a keynote speaker touching on the role of the global AOC, and how they are influencing and shaping Electronic Warfare for the future as well as trends in EW equipment and systems which have been identified by AOC experts.

“The above examples represent just a small sample of what can be expected at the conference. We will make more information available about the programme as invited speakers confirm their participation”, said Van Staden.