Pretoria Defence electronics and telecommunications group Grintek announced yesterday the latest in a series of strategic international partnerships driving the group's growth and gaining access for it to first world markets.

The agreement is with French defence firm La Croix, and will involve co-operation in defensive systems for tanks and other armoured vehicles.

In essence, Grintek's Avitronics division will combine its laser warning system with La Croix's response hardware.

This sends out a smokescreen to obscure the vehicle, to help protect it from attack.

"The warning system detects that a laser is being used to target the vehicle, just before the weapon is to be fired, and this will trigger the smoke dispenser," said Avitronics CE Ben Ash. "You screen the vehicle behind the smoke.

"This is the first time we have cooperated with anyone in this area and the system is already being evaluated by one European army."

Avitronics, which is a partnership between Grintek (51%) and Saab of Sweden (49%), has also developed self-protection warning systems for helicopters, submarines and aircraft.

Many of its contracts are linked to opportunities that have arisen under the SA government's strategic defence procurement programme.

"We have more than trebled our turnover in the past three years, and are now recognised as an international player," said Ash.

"Over the next three years, we plan to double our size again."

He said an updated version of Avitronics' missile warning system for aircraft would be on display at this week's Africa Aerospace and Defence Show at Waterkloof.

"These are life-saving devices, to warn the pilot he is under attack and to protect the aircraft," he said.

"With peacekeeping, people have to fly aircraft into unknown areas, and this will lead to a huge demand for self-protection equipment with our products comparing to the best in the world."

With acknowledgements to John Fraser and Business Day.