The tenth edition of the continent’s largest defence expo – Africa Aerospace and Defence (AAD) – is set to open at Air Force Base Waterkloof in Pretoria this week, with the organisers promising world class attractions as well as a spectacular air show for the public.
Leon Dillman, the CEO of the Commercial Aviation Association of Southern Africa (CAASA) says this year they will be hosting a record number of 16 country pavilions and are expecting higher numbers of official delegations and trade visitors from more than 100 countries than at the previous event in 2016. The United Kingdom, USA, Turkey, China, Russia and Brazil are among those with national pavilions. The show will run from 19 to 23 September.
The CAASA is the lead partner in organising the event. The bi-annual event is managed on a rotational basis by a partnership of the Department of Defence, Armscor, the South African Aerospace and Defence Industry Association and CAASA.
According to figures from the organisers there are 342 contracted exhibitors from 35 countries; Saudi Arabia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Lithuania will be exhibiting for the first time; there will be 90 high-level military delegates from 46 countries; there will be a record number of more than 80 civilian and military aircraft; they expect 35 000 trade visitors and 80 000 members of the public on the open days; 450 accredited local and international journalists are also expected.
This year, the expo boasts a new feature during the trade days on 19 to 21 September– seminars – which are expected to cover topical issues such as cyber security and the future of drones or UAVs. There is to be a dedicated UAV pavilion. Milkor, a South Africa defence company established in 1981, will be displaying three new UAVs.
Among the key local players exhibiting at the show is the Paramount Group. Their Flexible Light Armaments System for Helicopters – a weapons and sensor suite – will be on display. The state-owned defence and technology conglomerate, Denel’s participation has been secured thanks to local defence industry support.
The group’s acting Chief Executive Officer, Michael Kgobe, said in a media release last month that its presence at AAD should be seen as a confident step in turning the business around and rebuilding confidence following a difficult period that resulted in reputational damage leading to liquidity challenges among other things. Its participation also comes at a time when India’s Ministry of Defence has removed the group from its blacklist. This comes 13 years after Denel was first blacklisted from doing business in India over allegations of corruption.
Dillman has indicated that 44 aircraft have been confirmed and that the SA Air Force will have Gripen, Hawk, Rooivalk and other aircraft on static display as well as taking part in the air show. Foreign aircraft participation includes aircraft from the United States – such as C-5 Galaxy and the C-17 Globemaster – and Zimbabwe.
The organisers say the expo is being held as the country marks the centenary of the birth of former President Nelson Mandela, who was the first commander in chief of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF). As part of commemorative events during AAD, members of the public will be treated to grand finale spectacle on Sunday – the second day of the two-day public air show – comprising all arms of services of the SANDF. The organisers say this is a first for AAD.
To accommodate the thousands of aviation and defence enthusiasts expected to attend the open days on 22 and 23 September, the organisers say there will be regular bus shuttles from park and ride facilities located close to the Air Force Base Waterkloof. These will be at Arsmcor offices in Nossob Drive, Erasmusrand, 68 Air School on Snake Valley Road, Air Force Base Swartkop on the Old Johannesburg Road, Fountains Valley on Groenkloof Road and the Centurion Rugby Club on West Street. The flying programme on the weekend is expected to start at 08h00, but the gates are scheduled to open at 06h00.
