BAE Systems South Africa to provide commander and gunner sights for Badger 8x8 armoured 0807142

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Defence & Security News - BAE Systems Land Systems
 
 
Tuesday, July 8, 2014 09:16 AM
 
BAE Systems South Africa to provide commander and gunner sights for Badger 8x8 armoured.
BAE Systems Land Systems South Africa secured a contract from Denel Land Systems under the Badger 8x8 armoured wheeled vehicle programme, to provide commander and gunner sights. The vehicles, known as Badger in South Africa, will be fitted with Denel Land Systems turrets.
     
BAE Systems Land Systems South Africa secured a contract from Denel Land Systems under the 8x8 armoured wheeled vehicle programme, to provide commander and gunner sights. The vehicles, known as Badger in South Africa, will be fitted with Denel Land Systems turrets.
Badger 8x8 armoured vehicle 60mm mortar carrier
     
“This is a key contract for our business, proving our superior sight and component capability,” said Johan Steyn, managing director for BAE Systems in South Africa. “Denel and the South African National Defence Force through ARMSCOR are very important customers for our business and we will continue to support both with the utmost diligence.”

Land Systems South Africa will supply commander and gunner sights for use on the Section, Command, Mortar, Missile and Fire Support variants. The sights are customized for the Badger requirement and support its surveillance and engagement functions on the move and during day and night conditions. The sights will be manufactured to coincide with the Badger production of 238 vehicles starting in 2015 with deliveries continuing until 2022.

Stephan Burger, the CEO of Denel Land Systems says the industrialisation at its facilities in Lyttelton has already started and the manufacturing will commence in early 2015. “The new Badger ICV is a combination of a locally-designed turret and a Finnish designed vehicle platform, customised for the unique South African conditions. The system will be produced locally and represents the apex of the South African defence industry,” says Mr Burger.

“It will provide South Africa’s soldiers with unrivalled firepower, mobility and maximum armoured protection. The SANDF will have an adaptable and flexible vehicle that can be used with equal confidence in both high-intensity warfare and peace support operations.”

Local content on this programme is a key aspect and all design and manufacture of the sights are done in South Africa.