Boeing keen to sell SAAF tranporters

SA is one of only a handful of countries still operating the old fleet of C-130BZ Hercules military transport aircraft, which celebrated 50 years in service last month.

The SA Air Force has been forced to charter other aircraft to transport support equipment for soldiers as its Hercules planes have lower capacity in terms of flight distance and cargo space.

Michael Marshall, international business development manager at Boeing described the C-17 as the world's most versatile and capable airlifter, which he claims outshines the newly designed competitor A400M by Airbus Military as well as Lockheed Martin's newest version of the famous Hercules transporter aircraft, the C130-J.

Marshall used the recent Land Forces conference in Pretoria to showcase the advantages of the C-17 pointing out that it can land and take off with ease on semi-prepared runways and narrow ramps.

As the SANDF increases its missions in Africa, he says the C-17 has the strategic and tactical capability to refuel fighter jets in the air and these jets could be deployed and return without touching the ground.

The C-17 has an unrefuelled range carrying its maximum payload to reach Sudan or Chad from SA while, Marshall says, the other planes only have a range sufficient to get them to Uganda or Kenya.

While the SANDF considers such offers, it emerged last week that the SAAF's R2bn fleet of Agusta 109 helicopters has joined the Gripen fighter jets in storage due to a lack of funds to fly them.

Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula admitted earlier this year that few of the Gripens were flying as most of them were being held in long-term storage.

Thirty Agusta helicopters and 26 Gripen jet fighters were bought in 1999 as part of the arms deal, which is now being probed by a judicial commission of inquiry.

Source: Business Day via I-Net Bridge