South Africa has one of the most capable naval forces on the continent, but it is geared towards battles and not patrol capability, argues Magnus Lewis-Olsson, chief executive of Saab Grintek Defence (SGD) South Africa.

This year, with the SA National Defence Force’s (SANDF) mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo and President Jacob Zuma extending the SA Navy’s anti-piracy mission off Mozambique, concerns were raised about the security of South Africa’s borders – with the SA fleet deployed in Mozambique, who was protecting South Africa’s porous coastline?

A disconcerting reality, considering offshore protection for infrastructure such as oil rigs, fixed offshore production platforms and various other floating facilities are limited.

This was a key point of discussion during the Maritime and Coastal Security Africa (MCSA) conference where the fragility of offshore infrastructures was highlighted. These are regarded as ‘soft targets’ due to them being exposed to threats from ‘above, below and the sea’. It was agreed the ability to respond is key to safeguarding offshore facilities.

Amongst its many defence and security solutions, SGD South Africa is also geared towards improving awareness and optimising security at sea and within ports.

The importance of this mandate should not be underestimated. As noted by Thean Potgieter from the Institute of Security Studies “the Indian Ocean is an economic, energy, cultural and military highway of considerable strategic importance.”

It stands to reason it should be offered the best range of security solutions in order to protect sea traffic and infrastructures from the myriad threats facing it.

Lewis-Olsson explains that in order to enable safety and security in the naval sphere, various tactics and solutions need to be deployed: “For example, security solutions would need to be able to offer a complete network which includes everything from port security and traffic management as well as a range of solutions for coastal surveillance, search and rescue and for every type of underwater work in the offshore industry. Saab’s security solutions are designed to facilitate interaction, improve awareness and optimise and secure flows at sea and within ports”.

According to him South Africa’s coast is not alone in facing this threat: “Making seaways, ports, offshore facilities and other maritime as well as shore-based infrastructure safe and secure is a major global challenge and we aren’t just talking objects here – coastguards, the police and the naval fleet are all at risk. A company like Saab’s job would be to make their job easier as well as safer”.

How has technology enabled the safety and security of public servants finding themselves offshore?

“By providing them with knowledge. Knowing what lies over the horizon enables people to make the best possible decision and save lives. Maritime surveillance products – like Skeldar – which provide fleets with situational awareness by scouting ahead and identifying potential threats have the ability to change a high-risk situation into a controlled and responsive one.”

Maritime surveillance is state-of-the-art designed for accurate detection and fast response to suspicious behaviour, such as subversive activities, piracy, smuggling or illegal immigration. It also provides support for search and rescue operations, disaster relief and environmental protection operations.

Ultimately this is the operational structure needed within the SA Navy he maintains as the real threats facing local borders aren’t battles at sea, but threats in the form of illegal fishing, drug trafficking, piracy and illegal commerce.

Dr Deane-Peter Baker, assistant professor of philosophy in the Department of Leadership, Ethics and Law at the US Naval Academy supports this view: “What is needed is a broad and comprehensive rethinking of South Africa’s approach to securing its borders, people, and interests. A recalibration of this kind will have to be realistic about the level of defence expenditure South Africa can afford (given the pressing social challenges that must be addressed by the government on a very small tax base) and must be set against a realistic assessment of the threat environment South Africa is likely to face.”

The solution? “Airborne surveillance assets, such as maritime patrol aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles, will be vital for situational awareness of the nation’s vast EEZ”.

“South Africa has the most capable naval force on the continent, equipped with stealth frigates and torpedo-armed submarines, but there is a great need in the form of equipment for offshore patrols – a requirement that will hopefully receive continuing consideration in the South African’s government’s maritime security strategy,” Lewis-Olsson said.
 

With acknowledgement to defenceWeb.

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Join the discussion…

Richard Young • 7 minutes ago

Back in the mid-90s some were trying to persuade the MoD that the SAN needed patrol capability rather than blue water and subsurface strike.

They would not listen and many of the persuaders were ridiculed and even persona non grated.

But, of course, some among us had other agendas - primarily those of large egos and even larger wallets to fill.

And after all, the nine strike craft should have been replaced soon after 2005.

Now it is nine years later, the rear admiral says to patrol is to control, but there is no money from the SAN budget to patrol our own waters. So the frigates do less than 20% time at sea, mostly patrolling foreign waters using other budgets. One frigate, the newest one, has not been to sea for nearly two years. Saving on lubrication oil costs due to insufficient running budget, it seized both its R50 million each marine diesel engines.

Even the DAF's four patrol vessels don't patrol either because of giant corruption and even greater ineptitude.

Our oceans are truly being raped at present and the situation doesn't look like getting better any time soon.

And the SAN doesn't look like it's getting its new patrol vessels any time soon either.