SA products to fly on German aircraft

14 March 2001 News

Products developed and produced by Grintek subsidiary, Avitronics, will be installed at the heart of the electronic self-protection suite of the upgraded German front-line Tornado aircraft in contracts worth about R100 million over the next four years.

Sweden's SaabTech Electronics recently received an order worth R160 million for the adaptation and qualification of radar warners for the German Armed Forces Tornado aircraft. Owing to Avitronics' specific competence and close relationship with SaabTech Electronics, the South African company will perform a portion of the work.

Business opportunities created by the cooperation on the Gripen aircraft have also made it possible for Avitronics to become competitive in the development and manufacturing of microwave components for the Tornado.

"We have always known that our products were world-class and internationally competitive but we needed a European partner in good standing to open the sophisticated European defence market for our products, where high technology products out of Africa must still find acceptance," says Sybrand Grobbelaar, MD of the Grintek Group.

Grobbelaar states that the South African defence industry has already benefited from industrial participation in the defence package procurement process.

"For example, 70% of Avitronics' turnover now goes to export markets, partly as a result of the international exposure and industry alliances generated by the defence packages. Our portion of the work on the German Tornado is a spin-off from the work contracted to Avitronics for the Industrial Participation requirements for the arms procurement packages. This additional work placed on Avitronics by Saab is as a result of the technology and price advantages that we could provide," he says.

For further information contact Sybrand Grobbelaar, Grintek, (012) 672 6000, [email protected]

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