testing talk
1 // Denel Overberg’s
operations building
2 // The range’s mobile
cinetheodolite is used to
collect trajectory data
3 // Live fire testing of a
Darter missile
“The support we provide to our
clients in the defense forces helps
them to be knowledgeable buyers
and users of equipment”
AEROSPACETESTINGINTERNATIONAL.COM // SEPTEMBER 2019 65
The test range also has a series of
high-speed video cameras available to
carry out launch, in-flight and impact
recording. There is a fully-equipped
meteorological station that can provide all
standard meteorological parameters such
as barometric pressure, temperature,
relative humidity, density, wind direction
and speed. The range’s flight termination
system ground equipment consists of a
mobile, dual redundant system with
remote control facilities.
WHAT IS YOUR TYPICAL WORK DAY?
The Denel Group is very busy with a
major turnaround process and it is my
responsibility as acting CEO to lead the
process at Denel Overberg Test Range.
My main focus is to keep abreast with
the test range’s challenges amidst the
bigger Denel Group’s turnaround. It’s a
challenging period but at the same time
exciting, because I have the opportunity
to explore new hands-on ideas to turn the
company around and to improve on the
successes of the test range.
My days consist of regular one-on-one
discussions and workshops with my
management team around the progress
on specific programs and projects
launched to achieve our objectives.
Constant engagement with our main
stakeholders is also a big part of my daily
routine, to ensure that the test range
strengthens its positive relationships and
receives the support required to sustain
our business. It is also important for me
to stay in touch with the staff and if time
allows, I like to walk about the various
departments to put a personal touch on
staff interaction and to make sure that
the staff knows that they are valued.
WHAT TEST EQUIPMENT IS THE
RANGE’S MOST IMPORTANT?
The various tracking instrumentation
systems are dependent on each other for
safety and general tracking purposes and accurate
trajectory measurement. Therefore no system is more
important than the any other.
HOW HAS TECHNOLOGY CHANGED THE WAY YOU
CONDUCT TESTS?
Today’s clients have modern airborne systems which are
faster, with GPS capability and wider flight ranges. It is
important for the test range to keep up-to-date with
these changes to track these highly-dynamic airborne
systems and provide high-speed sequential imaging for
engineering analysis and documentation.
ARE THERE ANY PARTICULAR TESTS OR
EXPERIENCES THAT STICK IN YOUR MIND?
The Rheinmetall Denel Munitions Ammunition
Capability Demonstration is one of the world’s largest
live-firing demonstrations. It was first held at the test
range in 2015 and again earlier this year. The event
showcased the capabilities, facilities and infrastructure
of the test range.
During these two events about 164 different
ammunition types were demonstrated and the quality of
local ammunition brands manufactured
for artillery, infantry, air and navy
weapons were on display. In 2015 more
than 300 foreign delegates from 57
countries attended and participated and
in 2019 the total grew to more than 800
foreign delegates from 53 countries. The
presence of so many international
observers confirmed the global reputation
of the local defence sector and the
reputation of Denel Overberg Test Range
as a high-tech testing venue. There are
very few facilities of this kind in the
world and during this demonstration we
showed that it is amongst the very best.
HOW IMPORTANT ARE YOUR TESTS?
Vital. The support we provide to our
clients in the defence forces assists them
to be knowledgeable buyers and users of
equipment. They help the defense
industry verify the systems under
development against specifications. We
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