Rhodesian Military News

[The Commonwealth of Rhodesia]

Work on laser guided mortar and artillery projectiles continues and has been expanded to include 240mm mortar projectiles.

Officers are now required to develop a professional library including the works of Heinz Guderian, Gerald Templar and others. A focus on combined arms and "deep penetration" mechanized operations is also developing among the general staff.

[The Commonwealth of Rhodesia]

The An-26 AWACS conversion program has made progress as the first converted aircraft made its first flight today. Though it lacks the full avionics suite, the flight does prove the viability of the fuselage and powerplant conversions, which include high-power turboprops installed above the wings to provide superior high-altitude performance. The radar system is being refined and will be installed within the next few weeks.

[The Commonwealth of Rhodesia]

The fitting of upgraded T-72 turrets to T-62 Zambezi tanks has been canceled due to technical difficulties.

As part of the Chariot tank development program, one T-62 tank is being fitted with prototype Chariot turret for testing.

[The Commonwealth of Rhodesia]

The Navy has begun an upgrade program for its Type 23 Frigates. Changes include the stationing of a Sea Skylark ASW helicopter, the replacement of the ship's twin 30mm AA guns with a 20mm Gatling gun CIWS, and the replacement of its 4.5" Mk. 8 naval gun with an automatic navalized version of the 155mm L/52 G5.

[The Commonwealth of Rhodesia]

The MPAT has successfully passed the tests necessary for wide scale use. It has been successfully fired from aircraft, tank guns, recoilless rifles, and small boats.

Final conversion of BMP-2R/125 has begun.

The 2S1/115 prototypes are completed and have entered the testing phase.

All AMX-13 light tanks have been upgraded to AMX-13/76(GT4) standard.

The G5/R has been successfully tested and will enter production.

Laser-guided 155mm artillery rounds have also undergone successful testing. Work continues on 120mm and 240mm mortar rounds.

The MiG-21/404 thrust vectoring aircraft has proved successful. Further work on thrust vectoring engines for RhAF aircraft is underway.

[The Commonwealth of Rhodesia]

A single Alouette III utility helicopter is being modified with a side-firing 105mm recoilless rifle for tests.

The first wheeled 105mm and 155mm howitzer prototypes have been completed and are undergoing testing.

Prototypes of the four Leopard combat vehicles (IFV, IFSV, IATV and IC3V) are under construction. The IFSV design is undergoing revisions related to the main gun using experience gained from international contracts.

[The Commonwealth of Rhodesia]

Production of a limited number of Chariot tanks has begun. Specifications are as follows:
Primary Armament: 120mm L115 rifled main gun in autoloading turret. Fires split-charge APFSDS, stabilized HEAT, and HESH ammunition.
Coaxial Armament: Browning 0.50 BMG caliber machine gun
Secondary Armament: commander has one 7.62mm Browning machine gun and one 20mm HS.404 autocannon.
Powerplant: 1500hp diesel engine
Armor: Chobbham derivative with provision for additional bolt-on armor
Weight: 63 tons
Top speed: 75-80 km/h

Additional Information:
-The tank has a crew of three (Commander, Driver, Gunner) and a T-80 derived autoloader for the main gun.
-The tank's chassis is a modification of the Centurion tank, with the arrangement reversed to place the engine at the front and crew compartment at the rear. It is longer than the Centurion and features a torsion bar suspension.
-The commander and gunners' stations both feature the ability to link into the vehicle's thermo-optical sensors and laser rangefinder for target aquisition.
-The tank can fire the MPAT guided ant-tank missile.

The vehicle's overall external appearance is essentially similar to that of the Merkava Mk. I and Mk. II but lacks the 60mm mortar, double-hulled fuel storage and the provision to carry infantry in the rear.

[The Commonwealth of Rhodesia]

The BMP-2R/125 amphibious tank destroyer has entered service with Marine units. The vehicle, armed with a 125mm 2A46 smoothbore gun, is based on a BMP-2 chassis with a modified autoloading turret. Ammunition is stored in "blow out" compartments for safety, and the rear door has been retained to allow the three man crew to exit the vehicle under fire.

The prototype 2S1/115 tank destroyer for airborne units has also been completed. Trials have begun, with mixed results.

105mm and 155mm wheeled howitzers have been in testing, which has proven promising. Further experiments are set to begin with an inertial navigation system as the vehicle enters limited production and service.

The Ratel 115 anti-tank vehicle prototype has been completed and is beginning tests.

[The Commonwealth of Rhodesia]

A new 105mm light howitzer, based on technologies developed in the 155mm G5R and found in the L118 Light Gun, is being developed. 

[The Commonwealth of Rhodesia]

Development of ATGM and 30mm autocannon turrets for the Scorpion light tank has begun.

ZPU-2 and ZPU-4 anti-aircraft mounts are being refurbished and equipped with Browning M2 12.7mm heavy machine guns.

[The Commonwealth of Rhodesia]

The first 48 Chariot tanks have entered service with the Armored Corps.

Work has begun on mounting the Kh-29 air to ground missile on the RB-52 using underwing mounts. Work has also begun on developing a lighter version of the weapon for use against lightly armored vehicles, featuring a warhead in the 150 to 200lb range. Such a weapon is a likely candidate for use on ground attack aircraft such as the Su-25, but also on gunships like the Dakota.

A laser-guided 250lb bomb is being developed for deployment on attack and maritime patrol aircraft.

[The Commonwealth of Rhodesia]

The Air Force has begun two projects related to fixed-wing gunships. The first, "Project Gunship II," aims to arm existing Turbo Dakota gunships with the 2B9 Vasilek mortar, two 0.50 BMG Gatling guns, and electro-optical air to ground missiles.

Project Gunship III aims to arm larger An-12 transport aircraft with two 20mm Gatling guns, a 120mm breech-loading mortar, and a 40mm Bofors gun.

One prototype of each is being prepared.

[The Commonwealth of Rhodesia]

All Hunter FG.9, MiG-19, MiG-21 and Su-22 derived aircraft are being removed from service and placed into reserve storage due to the age of the airframes.

Work has begun on upgrading Rhodesian MiG-29 aircraft to include pulse doppler radar and other avionics derived from that of the SAAB Gripens currently in service.

Two An-26 aircraft modified to carry AWACS equipment have entered service.

An indigenous anti-ship missile, based on the Harpoon, has begun low-rate production.

[The Commonwealth of Rhodesia]

The Gunslinger, a self-propelled howitzer based on the Chariot tank chassis and armed with a G5R 155mm L52 gun, has entered service.

The SPG5, a wheeled self-propelled howitzer armed with the same L52 G5R, has also entered service.

The Leopard 40 IFV, Leopard Infantry Fire Support Vehicle, and Leopard Infantry Anti-Tank Vehicles have all entered service, as has the MTLB-30 amphibious IFV.

[The Commonwealth of Rhodesia]

Work has begun on developing a new turret for the LAV-25. The upgrade package will incorporate a 120mm breech-loading mortar capable of firing a variety of guided and unguided rounds in both direct and indirect fire as well as a 25mm or 30mm autocannon.

The package is expected to be offered on the export market.