Saab to participate in SAJADS on 10-12 September

The history of the South African Joint Air Defence Symposium (SAJADS)

In August 1999, Brig Gen MS Brazzoli, Director Command and Control Systems, SAAF, Brig Gen S Marumo, GOC of the SA Army Anti-Aircraft Formation, and participants of the SA Navy presented the first South African Air Defence Symposium. The aim of the symposium was to create a forum for the SANDF to serve as a platform for SANDF Services, and the defence industry to share military air defence concepts and requirements as well as the new technologies within the international and local air defence industries.

What started off as an air defence symposium that predominantly concentrated on anti-aircraft defence, grew in size over the years to include the total spectrum of air defence, being: fighter aircraft, surface to air anti-aircraft weapon systems, and radars for command and control. The name of the symposium then changed to SAJADS, to demonstrate the aspect of 'jointness'.

The South African Air Defence Symposium continued on a yearly basis up until 2001, whereafter it alternated with AAD so as to not clash with the Air Show. The Military Information and Communication Symposium South Africa (MICSSA) also followed this pattern of alternating with AAD.

This year marks the 8th year of JADS and the aim of the symposium is to provide a forum where members of the air defence (AD) fraternity have the opportunity to exchange information and ideas on requirements, technology and solutions, both on a formal and an informal basis.

The theme of SAJADS 2013 is: "Integrated JAD in the SADC", alluding to a regional integrated Joint Air Defence (JAD) capability in context of (a) the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and (b) the Department of Trade and Industry's (DTI's) Industrial Action Plan to enhance indigenisation.

This is in keeping with the South African government's commitment toward the SADC as an enabler for regional integration and sustainable development, with particular emphasis on the Mutual Defence Pact's objective to seek mutual co-operation in defence and security matters.

Discourse is invited on the role and contributions of JAD toward the SADC and DTI objectives stated below:

1. SADC objectives: The focus is on conflict resolution, military preparedness, collective self-defence and self-action, destabilising factors and settlement of disputes.
2. DTI objectives: The objective is a dynamic industrial, globally competitive South African economy, characterised by inclusive growth and development, decent employment and equity, built on the full potential of all citizens.

The aim is to attract people interested in the subject of air defence, with specific emphasis on defence officials, government officials, defence institutes and the relevant defence industries. Saab, the manufacturer of the Gripen fighter aircraft, is a major role-player in air defence as a South African defence-related industry, and as such must take the responsibility of attending and being seen at SAJADS.

Saab must not negate the opportunity of presenting papers during SAJADS. Provision has been made for approximately 20 papers, which will be limited to 30 minutes in order to allow time for questions and answers. The Paper Guidelines must be used to submit "close-to-final" draft papers of approximately eight pages (including graphics). Papers will be adjudicated on a number of parameters, including applicability to the theme, technical content, structure, and adherence to the prescribed format and length. Papers will be published in Symposium Proceedings with an ISBN, which will be provided in the Registration Pack on check-in on the first day of the symposium.

The symposium will be held at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Convention Centre, in Pretoria, from 10 to 12 September 2013. Companies, organisations and institutes are invited to contribute toward the costs of the symposium, and in so doing, making it possible to keep the symposium fees within reach of the broader cross-section of the air defence fraternity.