October 17, 2007: In a
move to upgrade its navy, South Africa is looking into acquiring amphibious
shipping. This is not only a sign of South Africa rebuilding its military after
decades of being embargoed, but it is also a sign that it intends to become a
major regional power in its own right, rather than by default.
Much of this is due to the
fact that South Africa is arguably the most functional government in
sub-Saharan Africa. They also have a reasonably well-educated and large
population. As such, they are likely to take the lead in the African Union's
rapid deployment force. In order to have a rapid deployment force, one needs
power-projection capabilities.
To get this, South Africa
is not only looking into amphibious vessels, but it is also going to acquire
Airbus A400 transports. These transports
have a range of up to 9,300 kilometers, and can carry up to 41 tons of
cargo. These will replace aging C-130s, and try to acquire modern
fighter-bombers.
Among the amphibious
vessels that South Africa is considering is
LHDs like the French Mistral-class or similar designs from Spain. This
would, in essence, give South Africa the first African carrier, even if it were
a "Harrier carrier". The French Mistral-class vessel displaces 24,000
tons and carries 16 NH90 helicopters. The Spanish design is a little larger
(27,000 tons), and also it was much more versatile, and it includs a ski-jump
on the bow (which enables short-take off aircraft to get into the air with a
heavier bomb load). Spain's version of this vessel, which will be named Juan
Carlos I, will be able to carry up to 30 Harrier V/STOL multi-role aircraft in
some situations – or it can carry a similar number of helicopters, like the
Agusta A109s in South African service.
The landing ship (or
ships) would go along with four new MEKO A200SAN frigates, which displace 3,700
tons, and are armed with a 76mm gun, sixteen Umkhoto point-defense
surface-to-air missiles, eight Exocet anti-ship missiles, and four 12.75-inch
torpedo tubes. The Umkhoto was designed in South Africa (which did become
largely self-sufficient in producing and designing its own weapons due to the
embargoes against it).
South Africa's emergence
as a major regional power in Southern Africa has largely been by default. Many
of its neighbors are very poor or dysfunctional. Still, its modernization of
its forces is going to make that regional power status legitimate in its own
right. – Harold C. Hutchison (haroldc.hutchison@gmail.com)
