Forces: May 20, 2000

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: The South African Army has announced a 15-year plan for modernization. This includes:

@ 95 main battle tanks to be ordered about 2008.

@ 240-300 wheeled 8x8 infantry combat vehicles to outfit three of the four mechanized battalions. The fourth battalion, and the reserve battalions, will retain the current Ratel vehicles. Original plans for 700 vehicles were scrapped as too costly. A group of 72 tank destroyers on the same chassis will be ordered in 2015 to replace the current systems. 

@ "more than 1,000" wheeled mine-protected armored personnel carriers for infantry units and various support units, a considerable reduction from original plans for 3,000 such vehicles.

@ 12 (and later 48) shoulder-fired or pedestal-mounted anti-aircraft missiles.

@ 32 short-range air defense systems mounted on armored vehicles.

@ "several hundred" new tactical logistics vehicles (i.e., trucks).--Stephen V Cole

 


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