Air Forces and Air Wings converge in Limpopo for a simulated humanitarian relief exercise

Southern African Development Community (SADC) Air Forces and Air Wings converge in Limpopo for a simulated humanitarian relief exercise

19 Aug 2011

SADC Air Forces have assembled at South African Air Force Bases Hoedspruit and Makhado in Limpopo for a joint/multinational simulated humanitarian relief exercise (Exercise Blue Cluster), over the period 20 to 28 August 2011. This exercise emanates from a SADC Standing Aviation Committee meeting which was held in Maputo, Mozambique where it was decided to hold a bi-annual exercise with the primary objective of developing and improving regional cooperation in the field of Humanitarian Support Operations amongst all SADC Air Forces and Air Wings.

Air assets from participating nations will jointly execute a simulated humanitarian relief exercise on the borders of South Africa with Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Botswana. The following aircraft (in no particular order) from all air forces and air wings have already arrived:

South Africa:
2 x Gripen2 x AS350 helicopter
2 x Hawk1 x B412 helicopter
1 x C130BZ2 x BN2B Islander

Botswana:
2 x C2121 x CASA 212
1 x C47T (EW)
3 x C208
4 x Oryx helicopters

Angola:
1 x Sector Control Centre
5 x Static Radars1 x IL76

Zimbabwe:
1 x AB412 helicopter
2 x K-8 Jet fighter1 x CASA 212

Zambia and Mozambique are only pledging human resources to the exercise.

Brigadier General Anton Kriegler is the Exercise Director and Colonel Mac Mathanda is the Exercise Air Component Commander.

Approximately one hundred and forty-six (146) members from the afore-mentioned countries will participate. Areas that will be explored include amongst others, simulated humanitarian relief, testing and evaluating command and control systems as well as interoperability amongst various elements of SADC air forces and air wings.

Enquiries:
Lieutenant Colonel Dinky Mokwebo
Exercise Blue Cluster Spokesperson
Cell: 071 434 8176

Issued by: Department of Defence
19 Aug 2011