684:
796:
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841:
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886:
856:
642:
739:
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36:
628:
781:
826:
573:
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278:, and unlike most African states it possessed exceptionally competent scientists and engineers adept at substituting local manufacture for imports. Generally Armscor proceeded by studying specimens of foreign equipment, sometimes through one of its third parties, then applying these skills to their improvement. By the 1990s it could boast of being "a world leader" in the field of upgrading obsolete weapons. Thus, Armscor's
929:
725:
587:
871:
656:
335:
authority to integrate military and civilian industrial projects: this allowed for an ambitious dual-use production effort. According to a 1970 report, small arms and ammunition were being produced not only at defence ordnance facilities, but also at the South
African mint and the African Explosive and Chemical Industries plant, which had previously confined its market to civil mining operations.
711:
500:(Simpson, 1989:222). The board also took over the Department of Defence's workshops and the ammunition section of the South African Mint, and was authorised to co-ordinate arms production in the private sector. By the mid-1960s, nearly a thousand private sector firms were involved in various aspects of domestic arms production.
511:. The Defence Ordnance Workshop and the Ammunition Section of the South African Mint became its first full subsidiaries. Over the next few years, Armscor took over various private sector companies, such as Atlas Aircraft Corporation, and established a number of new production and R&D facilities (Cawthra, 1986:98).
359:
for arms, spares, and munitions; however, this preference was disrupted by
British revulsion at South Africa's domestic and foreign policy. Although British legislation restricting the transmission of certain types of technical armaments to South Africa barely affected the SADF's defence posture, it
261:
on South Africa, promulgated in 1964, became mandatory in 1977. Some of the SADF's preexisting hardware was trying to maintain, and any national defence establishment would encounter hurdles in keeping these systems operational without access to foreign technical support as well as new deliveries of
334:
Armscor oversaw a vast military, industrial and technological empire that consumed tens of billions of dollars. It was able to draw on both civilian and military resources, and had both legitimate and clandestine networks as a means of obtaining defence technology. Armscor's powers included the
265:
Armscor pursued both covert arms deals and black market purchases in an effort to acquire restricted defence technologies as rapidly as possible. The experience of the embargo encouraged South
African efforts in diversifying suppliers while assuming indigenous production of some paraphernalia.
438:. The Portuguese contacted Messmer and achieved his written blessing on the condition that the loan was kept secret. Only then could South Africa agree. However, it became increasingly difficult for suppliers to exert control over indigenous weapons produced under licence.
270:
in particular helped compensate for the military effects of the UN embargo. Armscor officials used aggressive covert techniques to acquire technology, bartering through other public sector enterprises, front companies, foreign agents, and even civil organisations.
396:
series of fighter aircraft, which were modified in France for South
African requirements. Armscor's predecessor, the Munitions Board, had also imported the AML-60 and AML-90 armoured scout cars from France. The vehicles saw action against Cuban
477:, when training aircraft were assembled locally and the Pretoria branch of the Royal Mint manufactured small arms ammunition (Cawthra, 1986:89). During the war, the arms industry manufactured a substantial amount of basic weaponry for the
507:. It was tasked with the procurement of armaments for the SADF and ensuring the optimal utilisation of the private sector for arms production (Simpson, 1989:222). In the same year, the government established the
472:
The development of a domestic arms industry was one of the most significant aspects of the militarisation of the apartheid economy. South Africa's arms industry was established with
British aid just prior to the
503:
In 1967, the UN Security
Council passed a resolution calling on all states to stop supplying arms to South Africa. In 1968, the Armaments Production Board's name was changed to the
492:
in 1961, and the imposition of a voluntary United
Nations arms embargo in 1963, provided the impetus for a shift towards the establishment of a domestic arms industry. The
250:, a former South African security chief, and defence expenditure spiraled upwards. Armscor, then a relatively new entity, was charged with modernising the arsenal of the
514:
In 1973, the government established the
Defence Advisory Council (DAC) to co-ordinate the private sector's involvement in domestic arms production (Philip, 1989:205).
1352:
530:
and technological conglomerate, many parts of
Armscor's missions and functions were changed and redirected. With the establishment of Denel the manufacturing
214:. It was originally established in 1968 as an arms production company, by Freve and Rapelang. primarily as a response to the international sanctions by the
1541:
456:. The Atlas Aircraft Corporation of South Africa (also known as Atlas Aviation) was established in 1965 to manufacture sophisticated military aircraft and
1551:
422:
Although the French supplied relatively modern and advanced weaponry to South Africa, they imposed some restraint on deployment and training. During the
355:
to abandon its traditional non-violent tactics in favour of armed struggle. The government was initially dependent on its largest trade partner, the
485:, including armoured cars, bombs and ammunition. After the war, most of the wartime arms factories converted to their pre-war civilian activities.
795:
1526:
488:
During the 1950s and early 1960s, South Africa relied heavily on arms imports (mainly from
Britain). However, South Africa's withdrawal from the
1546:
553:
The Armaments Corporation of South Africa Limited Act, Act No 51 of 2003, was enacted to provide for the continued existence of Armscor.
1531:
840:
430:
helicopters and Panhard armoured cars from South Africa to supplement their own limited resources had to be routed through the French
1068:
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1120:
238:
government had placed a disproportionate emphasis on civilian law enforcement and the maintenance of internal security. However, a
683:
1437:
1384:
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1190:
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464:, as well as for export. It was also established primarily to circumvent an international arms embargo implemented in 1963.
543:
1359:
392:. Armscor also purchased systems abroad which were designed to SADF specifications. The most prominent of these were the
211:
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885:
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995:
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battle rifle; a year later, a modified version of this weapon and its ammunition was being manufactured in
246:
convinced the government that it faced a serious external threat. In 1978, the premiership was accepted by
239:
427:
1000:
539:
527:
497:
423:
407:
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during the 1964-1977 period. In 1964 a Belgian licence was obtained for South African manufacture of the
251:
1502:
453:
447:
307:
352:
496:
was established in 1964 to control the manufacture, procurement and supply of all armaments for the
21:
This article is about the South African defense company. For the Philippine small arms company, see
1005:
243:
972:
765:
388:'s assembly plants. Similarly, Italy granted a licence for production of an advanced trainer, the
547:
489:
461:
416:
958:
870:
1440:. Peter Batchelor (International Development Research Centre). 26 November 2006. Archived from
1387:. Peter Batchelor (International Development Research Centre). 26 November 2006. Archived from
1305:
1243:
1236:
825:
482:
600:
22:
1416:
1095:
738:
641:
348:
8:
431:
204:
125:
1208:
South Africa's armaments industry: continuity and change after a decade of majority rule
928:
669:
1507:
478:
1441:
1388:
1332:
1247:
1211:
1186:
1137:
1072:
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546:(SANDF). The manufacturing divisions were grouped together under Denel (Pty) Ltd as
934:
919:
572:
474:
389:
46:
876:
522:
Armscor continued in the post-apartheid era. In 1992, with the establishment of
1272:
The Unspoken Alliance: Israel's Secret Relationship with Apartheid South Africa
964:
724:
586:
435:
356:
283:
255:
215:
1329:
Avontuur in Angola: Die verhaal van Suid-Afrika se soldate in Angola 1975-1976
710:
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689:
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279:
275:
274:
South Africa had already maintained a small arms producing capacity during
258:
219:
81:
1477:
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of Armscor were split from Armscor in order for Armscor to be solely the
377:
323:
311:
207:
128:
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606:
592:
578:
531:
393:
299:
144:
35:
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786:
771:
730:
675:
661:
412:
319:
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235:
223:
1010:
457:
385:
360:
spurred diversification efforts, as the regime purchased arms from
303:
247:
75:
861:
816:
1353:"Portuguese and South African interaction between 1965 and 1970"
801:
647:
633:
402:
381:
373:
361:
291:
267:
1058:
1056:
523:
369:
287:
1178:
1053:
398:
344:
177:
509:
Armaments Development and Production Corporation (Armscor)
113:
1438:"South Africa's arms industry: Prospects for Conversion"
1238:
Embargo Disimplemented: South Africa's Military Industry
1210:(2006 ed.). University Press America. p. 164.
266:
Availability of Western-style equipment and spares from
1121:
The South African Deal: A Case Study in the Arms Trade
468:
Growth of apartheid South Africa's armaments industry
1242:(1989 ed.). Oxford University Press. pp.
1182:
War and Society: The Militarisation of South Africa
1159:
Politics and Government in African States 1960-1985
1235:
1062:
343:South Africa began acquiring large quantities of
322:, a larger and more sophisticated variant of the
226:which began in 1963 and were formalised in 1977.
1518:
110:Solomzi Thandubuntu Phenduka (01 Feb 2020–)
16:Arms procurement agency and former manufacturer
1093:
338:
1417:"Arms Embargo against Apartheid South Africa"
1150:
1096:"Arms Embargo against Apartheid South Africa"
526:, the new South African government dominated
441:
1269:
1542:Manufacturing companies established in 1968
1552:Government-owned companies of South Africa
1432:
1430:
1428:
1426:
1285:
1283:
1281:
1229:
1227:
616:
34:
1069:International Development Research Center
1326:
1233:
1030:
1028:
1026:
415:interceptors became the mainstay of the
254:(SADF). This was a difficult task, as a
1423:
1405:. GlobalSecurity.org. 26 November 2006.
1320:
1278:
1224:
1131:
452:Once established, Armscor absorbed the
1527:Companies based in the City of Tshwane
1519:
1265:
1263:
1125:
1116:
1114:
1112:
1470:
1298:
1174:
1172:
1170:
1168:
1023:
201:Armaments Corporation of South Africa
29:Armaments Corporation of South Africa
1205:
1179:Jacklyn Cock, Laurie Nathan (1989).
1134:The SADF in the Border War 1966-1989
544:South African National Defence Force
1547:1968 establishments in South Africa
1419:. Richard Knight. 26 November 2006.
1403:"South African Air Force Equipment"
1260:
1199:
1156:
1109:
1094:Richard Knight (26 November 2006).
426:, Portugal's request for a loan of
212:South African Department of Defence
13:
1289:
1165:
517:
282:were rebuilt from elderly British
14:
1568:
1532:Defence companies of South Africa
1512:Federation of American Scientists
1496:
894:armoured personnel carrier (1994)
819:armoured personnel carrier (1979)
804:armoured personnel carrier (1978)
1331:. J.L. van Schaik. p. 182.
996:Military history of South Africa
971:
957:
942:
927:
912:
884:
869:
854:
839:
824:
809:
794:
789:infantry fighting vehicle (1976)
779:
764:
737:
723:
709:
699:
682:
668:
654:
640:
626:
599:
585:
571:
234:Until the 1970s, South Africa's
1557:Nuclear weapons of South Africa
1537:Organisations based in Pretoria
1448:
1409:
1395:
1377:
1345:
1036:"Armscor Annual Report 2018/19"
849:self-propelled artillery (1987)
754:
1385:"South Africa's arms industry"
1087:
1065:"South Africa's arms industry"
302:airframes and inspired by the
1:
1292:South Africa: A Country Study
1016:
318:; Armscor also developed the
1458:. denel.co.za. 3 August 2011
329:
242:, and the escalation of the
240:Cuban intervention in Angola
7:
1063:Peter Batchelor (c. 1995).
1001:South African Defence Force
989:
902:
540:South African Defence Force
498:South African Defence Force
424:Angolan War of Independence
339:Embargo and diversification
314:, inspired the six-wheeled
298:interceptors were based on
252:South African Defence Force
58:; 56 years ago
10:
1573:
561:
556:
494:Armaments Production Board
454:Atlas Aircraft Corporation
448:Atlas Aircraft Corporation
445:
442:Atlas Aircraft Corporation
308:armoured personnel carrier
229:
20:
1327:Du Preez, Sophia (1989).
1270:Polakow-Suransky, Sasha.
1132:Scholtz, Leopold (2013).
879:armoured ambulance (1990)
542:(SADF), now known as the
411:, and the Mirage III and
353:African National Congress
172:
162:
154:
142:
134:
121:
104:
88:
70:
52:
42:
33:
1234:Landgren, Signe (1989).
1136:. Cape Town: Tafelberg.
1006:South African Border War
347:arms in 1960, after the
244:South African Border War
617:Rifles And Machine Guns
462:South African Air Force
417:South African Air Force
1456:"Denel – Our Profile"
1308:. Armstrade.sipri.org
1206:Henk, Daniel (2006).
262:parts and equipment.
23:Armscor (Philippines)
1444:on 19 November 2006.
1391:on 19 November 2006.
1185:. New Africa Books.
349:Sharpeville Massacre
1365:on 14 December 2014
1161:. pp. 283–408.
1075:on 19 November 2006
864:armoured car (1990)
774:armoured car (1962)
528:military-industrial
479:Union Defence Force
164:Number of employees
30:
460:equipment for the
432:Minister of Armies
408:Operation Savannah
28:
1306:"Trade Registers"
1294:. pp. 1–846.
1274:. pp. 1–336.
1253:978-0-19-829127-5
1192:978-0-86486-115-3
1143:978-0-624-05410-8
190:
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1407:
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1358:. Archived from
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1349:
1343:
1342:
1324:
1318:
1317:
1315:
1313:
1302:
1296:
1295:
1290:Kaplan, Irving.
1287:
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1157:Duignan, Peter.
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1129:
1123:
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1107:
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1091:
1085:
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1080:
1071:. Archived from
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1040:
1032:
975:
961:
946:
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916:
888:
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390:Aermacchi MB-326
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1508:Armscor summary
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865:
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609:
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581:
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536:procurement arm
520:
518:After apartheid
505:Armaments Board
470:
450:
444:
341:
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286:purchased from
284:Centurion tanks
232:
176:
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111:
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1497:External links
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717:Denel Y3 AGL
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71:Headquarters
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1369:13 December
1045:17 February
935:Atlas Alpha
378:Switzerland
324:Panhard AML
312:Berliet VXB
306:. A French
208:procurement
129:procurement
90:Area served
1521:Categories
1312:9 December
1017:References
950:Atlas Oryx
745:Milkor MGL
607:Vektor CP1
593:Vektor SP1
579:Vektor Z88
394:Mirage III
300:Mirage III
145:Net income
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1478:"History"
1101:7 October
1079:7 October
772:Eland Mk7
731:ZT3 Ingwe
676:Vektor R5
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648:Vektor R2
634:Vektor R1
548:divisions
401:tanks in
330:Expansion
320:Eland Mk7
316:Ratel IFV
236:apartheid
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1011:Cold War
990:See also
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903:Aircraft
847:G6 Rhino
481:and the
458:avionics
419:(SAAF).
386:Pretoria
304:IAI Kfir
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218:against
180:.armscor
122:Services
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832:G5 Impi
817:Casspir
562:Pistols
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370:Italy
288:India
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158:Freve
155:Owner
1486:2018
1464:2011
1371:2014
1333:ISBN
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1103:2018
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345:NATO
290:and
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