Question NW1263 to the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans
14 June 2021 - NW1263
Marais, Mr S to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans
(1)Whether she will furnish Mr S J F Marais with the details of the use of the Automated Shooting Range System used by the SA National Defence Force (SANDF); if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details; 2) whether the use of the Automated Shooting Range System benefits the SANDF and the protection of the land, sea and air borders; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details; (3) whether any comparable system from an SA Defence Industry entity was considered; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details; (4) whether a tender was advertised for the procurement of the system; if not, why not; if so, what are the costs involved for the (a) SANDF and (b) the Department of Defence?
Reply:
(1) Details requested entail the SANDF’s tactical employment of strategic assets, any information so required may only be disclosed in a closed session.
(2) The Automated Shooting Range (ASR) system will benefit the SANDF as it is intended to improve its members’ shooting skills and combat effectiveness with limited ammunition and the simulation of different combat scenarios in the midst of the dwindling budget allocation.
(3) The ASR was specifically designed for the SANDF; the Department is not aware of a similar capability within the local defence industry.
(4) The system was benchmarked and requested at a bi-lateral (Cuba/RSA) level, thereby no tender process was followed.