Southern Africa arms build-up

Press, 6 September 1976, Page 8

Southern Africa arms build-up

NZPA-Reuter London South Africa and Rhodesia have considerably increased their military arsenals in the last year, the International Institute of Strategic Studies says in its annual report on the military balance in 19761977. just released in London, Agence France-Presse reports. The independently-financed institute, founded in 1958 as a non-govemment centre for information and research on problems of international security and arms control, notes that South Africa and Rhodesia remain more powerful militarily than all their black neighbours. The report adds, however, that Soviet aid to Angola included heavy armaments and planes operated by some 15,000 to 20,000 Cubans. South Africa, it says, while buying submarines and naval vessels from France (and missile patrol boats from Israel), is now producing French Mirage fighter aircraft of the latest type under licence, and also her own armoured fighting vehicles. Rhodesia, faced with growing activity by nationalist guerrillas, has extended military service from 12 months to 18 months, set up a second black battalion, and is forming a third black battalion, the report says. Rhodesia has received from South Africa some tanks — probably the 60 Eland armoured vehicles that were not listed in its arsenal last year, it says. The report outlined the military strength of the nations of southern Africa as follows:

South Africa: The military budget amounts to SUSI494M this year, compared with SUSI332M in 1975. The army has 389,000 men, 31,000 of whom are draftees.

It has at its disposal 141 Centurion heavy tanks, 20 Comet medium tanks, 1000 A.M.L. armoured vehicles, 250 Saracens, and 50-M3s, 230 scout cars, 18 surface-to-air Cactus missiles, and 54 Tigercats. The South African Navy has three Daphne submarines, two destroyers, and five anti-submarine frigates. Two Agosta submarines, two A 69 frigates, three missilecarrying gunships, and six corvettes equipped with sur-face-to-surface Gabriel two missiles are on order. The South African Air Force has, in addition to Canberra and Buccaneer bombers, four fighter squadrons, one reconnaissance and one interceptor squadron, all using various Mirage models, and four helicopter squadrons, two of which have 40 Alouettes, one having 25 Pumas and the other 15 Superfrelons. On order are 32 Mirage FIA, 30 Impalas, and 37 Kudus. Rhodesia: The military budget rose to SUSI3OM this year, compared with SUSIO2M in 1975.

The Rhodesian Army has three infantry battalions and a fourth in training, three Special Air Services squadrons, one artillery battery, and one engineering squadron. It owns 30 Eland armoured vehicles and 20 Ferret reconnaissance vehicles. Its forces total 9200 men. Tanzania: The military budget shot to SUS7OM this year, against SUS42M in 1975. The army has one tank battalion and seven infantry battalions — two of which are stationed in Mozambique — compared with four in 1975. The navy has six gunboats. The Tanzanian Air Force consists of three fighter squadrons (there was

onlv one in 1975) of MIG2I, MIGI7, and MIGI9 aircraft, its forces total 14.600 men. For the first time, the institute also gives details, although they are incomplete, of forces in southern Africa’s two newest States, Angola and Mozambique. Angola: The armed forces are estimated at 30,000 men, excluding Cubans and Soviet advisors and technicians. Angola is reported to have about 200 heavy, medium, and light tanks, 90 armoured transports, and some sur-face-to-air SA7 missiles. The air force includes 12 MIG2I and three G9l fighters, and an unspecified number of MIGISs and MlGl7s. Mozambique: The report notes only that mortars and rockets have been used at the Rhodesian border. The equipment, primarily of Soviet origin, includes some surface-to-air SA7 missiles. The report said there had been flights, probably by expatriate personnel, on MIG fighters. The forces were estimated to total 10,000 men at independence. Trial postponed

The trial of 14 Czechoslovak pop musicians and artists, due to open on Monday in Prague, has been postponed. Informed sources said no new date had been set and speculated the move was to foil actions of support for the accused, seven of whom are in preventive detention. The group, mainly members of progressive rock bands called “Plastic People of the Universe,” and “D.G. 307” have been charged with disrupting public order, and they face between six months and three years in gaol if convicted. —Prague.