Sandf Demonstrates And Assesses Its Airborne Tactics
The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) demonstrated its airborne capabilities on Friday and used the opportunity to assess how it could improve in order to better equip the army.
The annual "Exercise Young Eagle" demonstration took place in Bloemfontein with more than 1500 soldiers from various parts of the country taking part in the exercise.
The objectives of Exercise Young Eagle include the successful integration of all the airborne and supporting units, as a rapid, combat-ready reaction force that can be deployed at any time.
Chief of the South African Army Lt General Solly Shoke encouraged school children who had been invited to witness the exercise, to focus on their studies as the army wanted dedicated people in its ranks.
The exercise included fixed wing assault landings with parachutes and helicopter assault operations.
Different helicopters with various capabilities took part in the exercise, among these the C130 aircraft which was used by the paratroopers.
The exercise was based on the scenario of a rapid, airborne mobile assault over a distance, which according to the SANDF, is very important when they are urgently requested to assist in African Union peace keeping operations.
In October, the SANDF conducted a similar training operation in Lohatlha in the Northern Cape dubbed "Exercise Seboka."
In that exercise, the army demonstrated brigade defensive firepower and the application of a mobile defence technique.
The training terrains were developed and adapted to accommodate the specific requirements of different army units, to achieve training aims in the execution of modern mobile combat exercises.
This was to assess the army's facilities, technology and quality of training.
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21 Novembre 2006 à 18:54 dans
- zsandf (anglais)
