Stephen Laufer
SOUTH Africa took another large step towards becoming the armourer of the Persian Gulf this week when Denel announced a $120-million artillery sale to Oman. The contract is for the G-6 artillery system with ammunition and training for Omani crews, and is the first since the lifting of the UN embargo on arms deals with this country.
The G-6 was used extensively by the old South African Defence Force in Angola, particularly during the battle of Cuito Cuanavale, where it had a superior range to guns used by the Angolan and Cuban forces.
It is an armoured, motorised howitzer with a maximum range of 48km at sea level.
With Armscor/Denel having sold weapons clandestinely to several states in the tense Gulf region in the past, the G-6 sale increases the possibility of regional conflicts in which South African weapons are used by all sides.
The contract will bring smiles to the top echelons of the South African National Defence Force: the generals have been complaining that budget cuts have led to the cancellation of further local G-6 purchases and were worried that Denel would have to cease production.
The Omani order keeps the production line going, allowing the SANDF to plan for purchases further down the road.
The Omani purchase is likely to bring further major orders, according to Jane’s Defence Weekly expert Helmut Heitmann. He says the Omani army is highly regarded and its decision will help convince other countries to buy the system.
The Omani order will help secure 1 200 Denel jobs and 3 000 jobs at their subsidiaries, said a spokesman.