Export of S.A. arms likely

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32679, 7 August 1971, Page 17

Export of S.A. arms likely

(N.Z. Prose Assn.—Copyright) PRETORIA, August 5. The Defence Minister (Pieter Botha) has announced that South Africa is seriously considering the export of arms.

After a three-day tour of the country’s armaments factories, the Minister said the Government had already appointed a body to promote arms exports. He said an advanced stage of rationalisation in the armaments industry already existed locally. "And I think we must now apply our minds to rationalisation in the international field. The necesary interest is there and we are on the point of a breakthrough,” said Mr Botha. “An expert in the field of arms production in Europe recently said to me that our standards in this field are very high, even higher than theirs.” Mr Botha said that apart from the manufacture of French Mirage jet fighters under licence—an agreement signed earlier this year—there were further developments in South Africa’s aircraft industry. He said the country would build a light cargo aircraft and an advanced model of the Impala jet aircraft—South Africa’s own fighter-trainer. He added that good progress was being made with the development of guided missiles. Earlier this year Mr Botha told Parliament South Africa was now able to manufacture most of the arms it needed for external protection—and all those it required for internal security. He said that because of arms boycotts, South Africa had been committed to strive purposefully towards self-suffici-ency.