Reunert subsidiary Reutech Radar Systems will deliver a radar tracking system next month for the first of SA's new corvettes, which will be arriving in Simon's Town soon.

With the completion of the R230m contract for eight systems, the company says it will step up its efforts to break into the international market for radar systems.

CEO Piet Smit says that the company derives about 30% of its revenue from exporting radar subsystems . Now the aim is to export complete locally developed systems, which he describes as the "best in the world".

Exporting hi-tech systems will help the company reach its real potential, and validate more than a decade of investment in developing systems, says Smit.

In addition to the corvette order, Reutech is building the tracker and other systems such as the dome and drive control for a large telescope, now under construction in Northern Cape.

The tracker will be used to position the telescope, which will be powerful enough to allow the viewer to see a point of light as small as a candle flame on the moon.

Smit says his company's alignment with European Aeronautic Defence and Space (EADS) would boost its exports. EADS owns 33% of Reutech. "On our own we find it hard to convince clients to buy high technology defence equipment from Africa."

He says EADS is well-known worldwide and is well-connected to suppliers of platforms such as ships and aircraft. The multinational, which owns 80% of aeroplane manufacturers Airbus, is the third-largest player in radar systems in Europe.

Smit hopes to start negotiating orders for complete radar systems this year. "At the moment our order book is full," he says.

The corvette order and a contract to supply and integrate surveillance systems for the South African National Defence Force make up the bulk of the company's business at present.

Smit said the contract for ground-based air defence surveillance systems was likely to be extended.

With acknowledgements Carli Lourens and the Business Day.