SAS Assegaai exhibit opened at Naval Museum

Flag Officer Fleet Rear Admiral Philip Schöultz will tomorrow officially open the SA Naval Museum Submarine SAS Assegaai. 

The SAS Assegaai (formerly SAS Johanna van der Merwe), the third of three Daphne Class submarine built in France for the SA Navy, was commissioned in 1971. She served her country well and with the acquisition of three new Type 209 submarines, decommissioned in November 2003. Unlike her two sisters which were cut up for scrap, she was retained for preservation as a museum exhibit at the SA Naval Museum.

China elevates its missile force chief in PLA

BEIJING (PTI): Fearing that US is making inroads into its neighbourhood, China has elevated a General heading its missile strike force to the rank of Deputy Chief of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), the biggest land force in the world.

Lieutenant General Wei Fenghe, 56, chief of staff of Second Artillery Corps, the PLA's strategic missile force, has been named deputy chief of the general staff, China Central Television's military channel reported, signifying the priority the Red Army is laying in building up its missile arsenal.

By his elevation, the General is likely to join the all powerful Central Military Commission (CMC), China's apex defence body currently headed by President Hu Jintao.

It is also seen as an upgrading of the missile force's strategic importance in the PLA.

"Agree or not, there is a considerable disparity in terms of military muscle between America and China. 

Iran deploys new naval missile systems

TEHRAN (BNS): The Iranian Navy has received new naval cruise missile systems from its Defence Ministry on Monday.

“The systems are capable of spotting and destroying different targets at sea,” state-run Press TV quoted Iranian Defence Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi as saying.

"The systems are capable of spotting and destroying different targets at sea," said Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi at the delivery ceremony of the missile system on Monday



Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi


General Vahidi pointed out that the systems include launch pads as well as spotting and missile guiding systems.

All the systems have been fully designed and produced by local experts, the defense chief further explained.



According to General Vahidi, the deployment of the missile systems along the country's coastline will not only boost national defense capability, but play a key role in maintaining regional security and stability as well.

Iran has achieved numerous breakthroughs in the defense sector and reached self-sufficiency in producing various types of military equipment and systems.

Iranian Navy Commander


Iran announced recently that it is mass producing, and ready to export air defense systems.

"We can meet all our needs in the air defense sector by relying on domestic resources," said a top Iranian commander.

"When we [design and] develop weapons, they will be mass produced, and we can export the surplus to other countries if deemed appropriate," the commander added.