@darren_olivier @somewhatsecserv @karabo_x1 @deanwingrin Of course the pilots are the bigger issue which I didn’t consider in this scenario. Who knows how many pilots are current, and of those how many are proficient in an air to ground role.

@darren_olivier @somewhatsecserv @karabo_x1 @deanwingrin Of course, I was going off the assumption that we already have about 4 Gripens that are available. Of course not all of those are combat ready. Also isn’t the Gripen designed with ease of maintenance in mind? Such that if spares could arrive quickly then it might be doable?

@karabo_x1 @somewhatsecserv @deanwingrin The problem with the DRC and it’s a problem that any invading country would face too, is that it’s an ungovernably vast country. It is simply too big and rural for its own good. That is a big factor here and it’s also possibly why the FARDC abandoned their positions so quickly.

@karabo_x1 @somewhatsecserv @deanwingrin No I don’t think that’s a real threat, even if by some miracle Rwanda actually manages to conquer vast parts of the DRC, which they don’t want to, that doesn’t change the fact that at their core they are still a nation of 14 million with a army of 20k. They’d be very stretched.

@somewhatsecserv @deanwingrin Our average infantry aren’t quite up to the task. But again in the event of a war it’s difficult to say what would actually happen. Again not that I want a war, that is worst case scenario here. 2/2

@somewhatsecserv @deanwingrin Yea I hear you, but as I understood it, there wasn’t any paratroopers deployed in the DRC up until they sent reinforcements recently, I thought it was 9 SAI and 14 SAI augmented by 4 special forces battalion. Regardless you are probably right that most of our average 1/2

@somewhatsecserv @karabo_x1 @deanwingrin I am well aware of that, but I’m saying that with money I’d say that SA could get a few more assets operational within a month. As an example I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that we could get up to 8 Gripens in total operational in a month with adequate funding. But I agree.

@somewhatsecserv @deanwingrin Believed, then the casualty ratio is very much so in our favour, something like 200-800 casualties on their side. So I do believe in our infantries capabilities, they are very well trained.

@somewhatsecserv @deanwingrin Available, and certain problems in the SANDF such as aircraft availability would be able to be boosted in a relatively short time. Of course this is a scenario that I don’t want. But we cannot be bullied by Rwanda or any other African state. Not to mention if rumours are to be -

@somewhatsecserv @deanwingrin Don’t get me wrong, I’m aware of that risk but if it does come to that, I do believe that even with all the problems the SANDF has, it will be able to give them a blood nose. From just a simple capability difference. And in the event of a war, surely emergency funds would be made

@darren_olivier chartered plane, flew from OR Tambo to waterkloof then seemingly flew to Makhado and back to Waterkloof?

@darren_olivier The other two flew under their own power to Beni?

@darren_olivier So there’s no risk that our Oryx’s will be captured? Aside from the one that was attacked?

One of our super kings heading to Makhado.

@darren_olivier @chriva404 @GripenNews Having looked at the flight radar playback, this is the second time today this one has been on flight radar. Also seems to be flying over Roodeval weapons range. This is a lot of speculation of course and could honestly just be a coincidence.

@darren_olivier Would be interesting to know why. I’ve never seen one on flight radar. The other fighter further up is a Hawk, I’ve only ever seen them on flight radar on ferry flights.

@darren_olivier Incredibly frustrating. And the worst part is that government won’t that the opportunity to learn and actually fund the military correctly. Instead they’ll continue defunding the military while sending them on increasingly dangerous and unnecessary deployments.

@darren_olivier So in theory we could deploy 4 Gripens, but as for how long they could actually be useful is a question we don’t have an answer to. And this isn’t considering moving the support crew and equipment for those same Gripens. And the question of where the Gripens would operate from.