- Yes
- No
Introduction:
With the addition of Multi-Vehicle SAM Systems to War Thunder, this opens the possibility for a new South African GBADS (Ground-based Air Defence System) to be added, known as the Cavallo 8x8. The Cavallo truck can be divided into two versions, a radar truck known as the Thutlwa and a missile truck known as the Umkhonto which works in conjunction.
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The Vehicle
During The mid 1980’s the SADF was in the market for new heavy duty logistic / recovery vehicles to support Olifant tanks and later the G6 Rhino. Having looked at a number of options, it was finally decided to go for the Spanish built Kynos Aljaba 8x8. This vehicle was favoured due to its off-road capabilities making it very useful for the SA Army. The defence force would later upgrade the trucks under project Raadsaal, which mainly focused on equipping the trucks with a new armoured mine-protected cab for increased crew survivability, the trucks would also receive the new designation of Cavallo 8x8 (project completion 2008).
Vehicle Specifications:
Length: 21.42 m
Width: 4.25 m
Height: 2.98 m
Ballistic: protection against 7.62mm
Mine: deflect 5 kg TNT blast.
Top Speed: 80 km/h
Engine: Deutz BF12L 513 EC 19 Litre V12 turbo charged diesel
Horsepower: 525 hp @ 2200 rpm
Drivetrain: 8x8
Transmission: ZF 16S-190A.
Total Crew: 5
Radar Truck: 1x ESR 220 radar
Missile Truck: 8x Umkhonto missiles
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The Radar
During 1988 the SADF approached Reutech (South Africa defence firm) with requirements for a new radar system to be used with air defence artillery. Reutech would end up developing a solid-state L-band, 2D surveillance radar designed to provide early warning to air defence artillery troops in the field. The first prototype system would be delivered to the SADF in 1992 under the designation Kameelperd. After continuous improvement to the prototype, the SANDF (previous SADF) would place an order in 1996 for four of these systems under project Bioskoop with the final delivery in 2006. The radar system would also receive a new designation, now known as the ESR 220 Thutlwa. Reutech would also continue to develop a 3-dimensional ground-based dual-band radar technology demonstrator in partnership with the Department of Defence, Armscor, CSIR and Denel, which is based on the ESR 220 Thutlwa already in service with the SA Army Air Defence Artillery Formation.
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Radar Specification:
Frequency: L Band
Instrumented Range: 120 km
Antenna Rotation Rate: 15 r/min
Target Track Capability: 100 targets / sec
Antenna Height: 4 - 12 m variable
Shelter Protection: small-arms and shrapnel
Systems: IFF (identification, friend or foe)
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The Missile
During 1993 the South African Defence firm Denel would set out to continue developing a new domestic ground to air missiles. Development of ground to air missiles was nothing new to South Africa as the defense firm Kentron (now part of Denel) developed the SAHV-3 a few years prior which could be mounted on the Cactus and the Rooikat SPAAM. However the Cactus was becoming heavily outdated and the Rooikat SPAAM was never fully adopted into service, so the need for a new missile system was needed. The new missile would be known as the Umkhonto MkI (Block 1) with land based testing for this missile being concluded mid 2005. The Umkhonto would make its way on the newly acquired Valour-class frigate and for land based applications it would be used in the newly developed ground based launcher system. In 2008 development was started for the Umkhonto MkII (Block 2) which would focus on increased range (Umkhonto MkI 12km / Umkhonto MkII 20 km) with final flight tests being conducted in 2016. Umkhonto MkII is now the current missile in use with the SANDF, however developments continue to improve the Umkhonto’s range with the use of a new dual pulse rocket motor and nose cone, increasing the range up to 35 km, depending on the variant.
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Variants:
Umkhonto IR: Standard Umkhonto with IR seeker (IR = Infrared)
Umkhonto-EIR: Umkhonto IR with dual pulse rocket motor (EIR = Extended Infrared)
Umkhonto-R: Umkhonto with dual pulse rocket motor and radar seeker (R = Radar)
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Missile Specifications:
Missile length: 3.320 mm
Missile diameter: 180 mm
Wingspan: 400 mm
Control fin span: 500 mm
Launch mass: 135 kg (IR), 170 kg (EIR), 185 kg (R)
Warhead: 23kg
Range: 20 000 m (IR), 30 000 m (EIR), 35 000 m (R)
Seeker: IR (Infrared), R (Radar)
Rocket Motor: low smoke rocket motor (IR), low smoke dual pulse rocket motor (EIR), (R)
Maximum Mach No.: 2.2 (IR), 2.7 (EIR), (R)
Systems: Continuous updating of target course from surface radar during missile flight, via a telecommand link, to enable engagement of manoeuvring targets.
Umkhonto Flight Test 2016 Final (Video)
SHE Cavallo Trucks Skimmel (Video)
Sources:
Denel Dynamics 2018
Surviving the Ride, written by Steve Camp and Helmoed-Romer Heitman, page 112-114
DBRXL (RSR 320) - 3D Air Defence Radar
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ESR 220 Air Defense Artillery Warning Radar - Thutlwa
Link: https://www.reutechradar.com/products/defence/
RRS 35 Years of Innovation, page 47
Link: https://www.reutechradar.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/REUTECH-35th-book_e-version.pdf
SA Army Main Equipment (Appendix 9B), page 88
Link: https://www.defenceweb.co.za/wp-content/uploads/Repository/A-Guide-to-the-SANDF/A-guide-to-the-SANDF-chapter-9-army-app-b-armament.pdf
Denel Dynamic 2013, page 14-17
Link: https://admin.denel.co.za/uploads/Denel_Dynamics_Products.pdf
Denel Dynamic 2015, page 4-7
Link: https://admin.denel.co.za/uploads/3231e428ad2deb55d4a3759e3585adf2.pdf
Reutech Heritage Products - Defence
Link: https://www.reutechradar.com/products/products-heritage/defence/
TrucksPlanet SHE Cavallo
Link: SHE Cavallo (Military vehicles) - Trucksplanet
Thutlwa makes international debut
Link: Thutlwa makes international debut - defenceWeb
Thutlwa BFCPs handed over to Air Defence Artillery
Link: https://www.defenceweb.co.za/company-zones/reutech/vpo-reutech-thutlwa-bfcps-handed-over-to-air-defence-artillery/
Air Defence Artillery officially receives Thutlwa battery fire control posts
Link: Air Defence Artillery officially receives Thutlwa battery fire control posts - defenceWeb
Fact file: Denel Dynamics Umkhonto short-range infra-red-guided point air defence missile system
Link: https://www.defenceweb.co.za/resources/fact-files/fact-file-denel-dynamics-umkhonto-short-range-infra-red-guided-point-air-defence-missile-system/
SA Navy to receive Umkhonto II
Link: https://www.defenceweb.co.za/sea/sea-sea/sa-navy-to-receive-umkhonto-ii/
More money for GBADS 2
Link: More money for GBADS 2 - defenceWeb
ADA invests in C2
Link: https://www.defenceweb.co.za/aerospace/aerospace-aerospace/ada-invests-in-c2/
Denel Dynamics develops expendable nose cone to increase missile range
Link: https://www.defenceweb.co.za/industry/industry-industry/denel-dynamics-develops-expendable-nose-cone-to-increase-missile-range/
Denel upgrading Umkhonto missile
Link: Denel upgrading Umkhonto missile - defenceWeb
