Air defence system poses ‘high risk’ for SA, DRC, UN aircraft
A big threat to a South African military force deployed to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) could come from sophisticate weapons such as surface-toair missiles allegedly operated by the Rwandan army-supporting M23 rebels.
This is according to a UN document seen by AFP on Monday about the escalating conflict in eastern DR Congo.
The confidential report by the United Nations (UN) in the DRC said a “suspected Rwandan Defence Force (RDF) mobile surface-to-air missile (SAM) was fired at a UN observation drone last Wednesday without hitting it”.
The report added that “external military intelligence from France supports assessment that the suspected WZ551 6×6 IFV mobile SAM system is Rwandan.”
The mobile system is supplied by China.
The Monusco (UN Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the DRC) peacekeeping mission said in the document it had “no past reporting of known armed groups possessing the training, capital or resources to operate and maintain a mobile surfaceto-air missile system”.
Escalation of conflict
It added that it “indicates an escalation of conventional force conflict in eastern DRC”.
The document notes that M23 and the Rwanda army have used numerous weapons against aircraft and also have in their armoury anti-aircraft guns and man-portable air defence systems.
Such weapons pose a high risk to all DRC government and UN aircraft in the region, the document states.
Earlier this month, a South African Air Force (SAAF) Oryx medium transport helicopter was hit dozens of times by small arms fire while carrying out a casualty evacuation in the DRC.
SAAF sources indicated that the aircraft, from 22 Squadron, was hit over 40 times by fire from AK-47 assault rifles and PKM machineguns. It is suspected that M23 rebels operating in the DRC were responsible.
The Oryx was badly damaged, with multiple rounds going through the cabin, cockpit and main rotor blades, and causing damage to the hydraulic system.
Pilot, medic wounded
Suspected Rwandan missile fired at UN drone
The aircraft pilot and a medic were wounded, although not seriously, and the chopper landed safely at a UN hospital, according to defenceWeb.
This was not the first time SAAF helicopters operating with the United Nations mission in the DRC have been hit by small arms fire.
The most tragic incident occurred on 5 February, 2023 when Sergeant Vusumuzi Mabena was killed by a sniper’s bullet while flying an Oryx on a routine mission.
The pilot, Captain Mathew Allan, was injured by the same bullet, but recovered.
A Rooivalk was hit in the tail by small arms fire on one occasion and at least two Oryx have been hit by small arms fire in the DRC over the last decade.
Darren Olivier, director at African Defence Review, told defenceWeb that, after the February 2023 incident, SAAF planners have been warning about the risk of aircraft being attacked, especially as budget cuts and withdrawals have meant that Monusco transport helicopters usually no longer have Rooivalk or other helicopter gunship escorts providing cover.