Air-to-air missile deal only weeks away from full consummation

Although the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) has released $52-million for investment in South Africa's A-Darter air-to-air missile (AAM) project, Brazilian sources have confirmed that the actual contract to cover this investment has not yet been signed.

Following the breaking of the story by Engineering News (Feb-ruary 10, 2006), Denel CEO Shaun Liebenberg told the South African Press Association (Sapa), in response to a question from a Sapa reporter, that the deal is 80% to 90% done.

The contract is expected to be ready in a few weeks, with Engin-eering News sources saying that signature is likely in late March or early April.

The contract will establish such matters as work share between the two countries and which Brazilian companies will be involved in the A-Darter project, the nature of that involvement, what South African technology will be transferred to Brazil, and what components will be developed in Brazil (or perhaps developed by or with Brazilians sent to South Africa).

While the Brazilian investment in the project is now a matter of public record, the amount being invested by South Africa is unknown, so it is impossible to determine how big a percentage of the development costs will be borne by the South American country - 50%? 40%? 33%? 25%? It is, however, logical to assume that Brazil's share in developing the A- Darter will be in proportion to the country's contribution to the total costs.

Further, indications are that this investment will be a first instalment only, and that there will be further investments in future in the A-Darter. The Brazilian defence news website, Defesanet, estimates that Brazilian investment in the project could eventually total $100-million to $130-million.

It should be noted that the contract will be between the FAB's Depart-ment of Research and Development and South Africa's arms procurement, disposal and research-and-development agency, Armscor.

The A-Darter is being developed by the Denel aerospace-systems division of State-owned defence industrial group Denel.

Clearly, then, the A-Darter is being developed for, and on contract from, Armscor, acting on behalf of the South African Air Force (SAAF).

Also clear is that the development of the missile still has a way to go - otherwise, what would be the point of the Brazilian investment? If the A-Darter was almost ready for service, the FAB would simply buy it.

There are no indications of how far away from operational service the A-Darter is; the airframe design is obviously finished - otherwise Denel would not have made public its dimensions and mass - as is, almost cer- tainly, the design of the rocket motor.

It is likely that the remaining development is concentrated on the missile's seeker, fuse, and avionics systems - these days, these are the most difficult and expensive components for any missile project.

What, however, is also clear is that the injection of Brazilian funds into the project should accelerate the development process and result in the missile's entering service sooner than would otherwise be the case.

Engineering News