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SANDF to unveil 'new design'
27/05/2008 21:16 - (SA)
Cape Town - The SA National Defence Force (SANDF) new "force design" will be presented to the executive and Parliament within the next month, said Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota on Tuesday.
The design would provide a core nucleus of capabilities that could be expanded and developed should the need arise, he told the National Assembly during debate on his budget vote.
"This implies the need to ensure that all the necessary building blocks, such as doctrine, technology, and training capabilities are retained at an appropriate level to provide the backbone to future growth as and when required by the government," Lekota said.
The army's mandate to defend and protect South Africa's sovereignty and territorial integrity demanded versatility to counter a range of potential threats, and also the mobility to operate across the range of terrain that might be encountered.
South Africa's contribution to global security also implied long-term involvement in peace missions.
Lekoto said: "We must have light, mobile forces and the ability to deploy and sustain such forces over considerable distances in remote areas, and into hostile and underdeveloped areas.
"We must also be able to cope with an escalation of hostilities.
A defence umbrella
"There is thus a need for a strategic, operational and tactical transport capacity to initiate, enhance and sustain deployment of personnel and materiel."
The air force provided a defence umbrella for other assets, and therefore had to have the ability to detect hostile or illegal flights in affected areas.
The navy's three components - surface, sub-surface and air capabilities - had to be suitably complemented by aerial surveillance via satellite and/or aircraft.
Comprehensive health care had to be provided to personnel wherever they were deployed.
The success of securing and stabilising areas of conflict depended largely on a sound understanding of the conflict.
Therefore, defence intelligence had to move beyond the traditional focus on opposing military forces, to include broader intelligence expertise.
The new force design had to meet all these requirements, said Lekota.
- SAPA
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