During apartheid, South Africa's aerospace and defence industry provided the equipment the regime needed to defend its borders. The result was a highly developed sector with a range of competencies. Democracy led to painful restructuring, but two decades on, the industry is looking to opportunities in a burgeoning wider African marketplace. Ahead of Africa Aerospace & Defence - held near Pretoria on 19-23 September - we look at the state of South African industry, with features on state-owned Denel and private contractor Paramount. We examine the ANC government's procurement priorities and pressures, and profile flag carrier South African Airways, striving to find a niche in the African market in the face of competition from Gulf rivals.
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| Saab Financial constraints have left the SAAF unable to fully utilise its Saab Gripens |
Contents
- A structure for success: Denel pins hopes on A400M contract
- Paramount ambition: High hopes for all-new AHRLAC
- Getting to Gripen: The SAAF looks to utilise its new fighters
- Chasing the money: Africa's business aviation market grows
- Eurocopter takes care: Support packages are as vital as sales
- Surveying the market: UK's Cobham puts faith in antennas
- Meet the neighbours: AAD 2012 should be the biggest yet
- African prize: SAA switches focus
Source: Flight International