Linda Ensor
DENEL would be making a "significant announcement" during the coming Brics summit in Durban about a Russian partnership for the maintenance and repair of helicopters‚ the arms manufacturer's chief executive, Riaz Saloojee‚ said on Tuesday.
The Department of Defence and Military Veterans will host a defence industry exhibition and a conference on the sidelines of the Brics – Brazil‚ Russia‚ India‚ China and South Africa – summit.
Last year manufacturer Russian Helicopters signed an agreement with Denel Aviation which made it the only company in sub-Saharan Africa accredited to perform maintenance‚ repair and overhaul services for the Russian manufacturer's helicopters. At the time it said it had 280 helicopters in service across Africa.
The pending new deal with the Russians is one of several in the pipeline‚ which Saloojee assured MPs would put the historically troubled arms manufacturer on the road to financial sustainability.
A decision as to whether the SANDF would order infantry combat vehicles from Denel was in the final stage and Saloojee said a formal announcement on the outcome would be made within weeks.
