Grintek's new defence technology company opens office
23 May 2001
News
Grintek Communication Systems (GCS) recently opened its new premises at a gala event in the Highveld Technopark, Centurion. South Africa's Minister of Defence, Patrick Lekota, unveiled a work of art symbolising the merger of the two Grintek divisions - Grintek Electronics Systems and Grintek Comms - to form Grintek Communication Systems.
In the address that followed, the head of the SANDF, General Siphiwe Nyanda, said that the South African government was committed to retaining strategic defence technologies in the country. "It is essential that we preserve our indigenous capability of being able to customise products and systems for the unique requirements of our armed forces and to support such systems and products in the long term," he said.
"However, it is also crucial that the related industries do their utmost to sustain themselves by firstly optimising their operations and secondly, addressing the world market," Nyanda continued. He remarked that in this respect he was pleased to note that Grintek had achieved considerable success in the international market.
Grintek Chairman Zoli Kunene said that the peace enforcement role of the defence force had become a priority and required a complete rethink in military affairs. In view of this, Grintek had conceptualised a Battlespace Integrated Tactical Communication Network (BITCON) which would enable Network Centric Warfare.
"The BITCON system will be capable of integrating legacy systems and equipment, as well as commercial-off-the-shelf and military-off-the-shelf systems and products. Through its network management, switching and routing capabilities it will provide seamless communication to forces deployed anywhere in the world," he said.
"Grintek is presently negotiating with an overseas partner for the co-development of a BITCON system. We will take the lead in this project and sub-contract development and manufacture to local and overseas industries. The objective of partnering and co-development is to achieve the desired economies of scale to drive down costs and secondly to create the opportunity for Grintek and our partners to market an open standard system that will meet the needs of most nations," he said.
For further information contact Franco Benedetti, Grintek Communication Systems, (012) 671 4500.
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