The Minister of Defence and
Military Veterans, Honourable Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula
officially opened the AAD 2012 exhibition and airshow on
Wednesday 19 September 2012 at Waterkloof Airforce Base
in Tshwane. The airshow has returned to the city of
Tshwane after extensive renovations and upgrades at the
Waterkloof Base since 2004. In 2006, 2008 and 2010 the
show has been held at the Ysterplaat Airforce Base in
Capetown.
After the official opening
the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans with Chief
South African National Defence Force Gen. Solly Shoke
with their entourage walked through the Youth
Development Programme and the four Arms of Services’
stalls. This followed by the Chief of the Navy’s
inspection on the SA Navy’s stall, while the SA Navy
Marimba Band entertained the people with great sounds.
Guard of Honour receiving the Minister of Defence and
Military Veterans, Honourable Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula
The AAD 2012 opens door to
local and international traders for the improvement of
the defence and related industries. This year’s show has
attracted atleast 28 countries and 12 Pavillion from
Belgium, Brazil, China, Germany, India, Italy, Parkistan,
Russia, Turkey, UK, USA and Romania are expected to
boost the business for local and international companies
involved in the growing defence. As Hon Nosiviwe
Mapisa-Nqakula put it in her officiating ceremony, “It
is within this strategic environment that we have set
ourselves the objective of maintaining and growing our
defence industry to achieve:
-
A suitable resourced
South African National defence Force
-
A strong research and
development capacity for the country
-
A diversified and
commercially active defence industry”
The show’s focus for the
first three days 19 – 21 September 2012 is to create
sustainable and mutually beneficial strategic
partnerships with companies from other countries.
“In this regard emphasis
will be placed on building partnerships with our SADC
partners and the continent. This is our natural base as
we hope to build strong partnerships to produce
requirements for our armed force”
Apart from the business,
there is a youth development programme whereby industry
representatives give more information about careers to
the school children. Well the youngsters are the future
of our country and therefore need to be nurtured at an
early age and provide them direction and impart wisdom.
The 22-23 September 2012 are days set aside for the
public to enjoy Aerobatic Displays, Fun Fly Park. The SA
Navy, SA Army, SA Airforce, Special Forces, Military
Police, SAMHS showcase their capabilities and feature of
vehicle demonstrations and other interesting
exhibitions.
“We certainly value your
gesture of friendship and solidarity. We also thank all
the representatives of countries present here. Your
presence here adds significantly to the stature of this
expo. Your presence has defined the size of this
exhibition and it our hope that your investments will
yield results for your companies. We also wish all our
visitors a pleasant experience in our country”, said the
Minister expressing her gratitude for this enormous and
beautiful event.
The top role players of
the South African National Defence Force and the brother
nation Namibian Navy had this to say about ADD 2012:
General Solly Shoke –
Chief of the SANDF
AAD is a flagship of South
Africa
Lt Gen Vusumuzi Masondo
- Chief of the SA Army-
I think from what I see,
the AAD is growing from strength to strength and as you
must have heard now that the number of exhibitors has
increased and even the number of foreign delegation that
join the AAD this year has increased . I think it is
becoming a premium aerospace and defence show in Africa
and we are proud as a SANDF
Lt Gen Carlo Gagiano –
Chief of the SA Airforce
As you know this is the
first AAD back at Waterkloof since 2004. 2006, 2008 and
2010 we had it at Ysterplaat Airforce Base in Capetown
due to the rebuilding of the runway, obviously the space
here is much bigger, we have far more interest for
companies to exhibit, there is not a single space open
for outside exhibition; like these aircraft standing
here. All the stall are fully booked months in advance.
It seems to me this is a very popular defence
exhibition. We are going to have a good show but we very
are proud of our youth programme that is here to expose
the youth to aviation, Airforce, Navy, Army and SAMHS.
All in all it is going to be fun, Saturday and Sunday
with the airshow and army show.
Vice Admiral Johannes
Mudimu – Chief of SA Navy
I think the AAD is an
important landmark in the history of our country and
particularly for the SANDF because it is an opportunity
to us
as a country to showcase the capability of our defence
related industries primarily to the Southern African
Development Community (SADC) and to the continent and
also to the world. I think the technologies that are
imbedded within these defence related industries are the
opportunities that roughly speak to the fact that we as
a continent we can have the ability to produce,
manufacture and build the systems that can be used by
the militaries of our region, continent where the
defence of our territorial integrity and sovereignty of
our countries must be protected. The protection of
the country is important because in the arena of the
economic development and prosperity you need to have a
very strong military on land, air and as well as at sea
within that environment you are able to allow the
economy to develop. The AAD is that window where
our industries are showing various arsenals that they
can manufacture and develop in South Africa which will
be used by the Navy, Airforce, Army and SAMHS and also
we have invited our friends in the region and
international community to showcase their products which
might be of interest in the militaries of the region and
of the world that are participating in this event.
Young and old eager to know what the SAS Protea does as
they attentively listen and watch the demonstration by
LS T. Makhanya
Rear Admiral Peter Vilho
– Navy Commander in Namibia
As the Chief of the
Namibian Navy for us it is a very important opportunity
to be able to participate in this momentous occasion. It
is important for us because is the first time such event
is taking place in Africa and in the region of SADC, as
a member of SADC we feel it is important for us to be
here because there is a lot to learn from our brother
nation South Africa and also in future we want to be
able to participate not only as potential customers but
as producers of maritime equipment. So we came here to
see what others are doing and we hope we will learn from
this occasion.
