The night of Friday 10 August, saw the annual tank night shoot at the De Brug firing range near Bloemfontein. This annual event is hosted by the Tank Regiment and is open to the public. Showcased for the first time during a firing exercise was the latest main battle tank of the SANDF – the Olifant Mk2.

Totally revised and updated it offers the Tank Regiment a modern design fitted with the latest equipment required for the digital battlefield. Compared to the Olifant Mk1A, the Mk2 features significant improvements in the night vision, target acquisition and fire control capability of the tank.

Olifant Mk2 engaging target

To illustrate the digital battlefield capability the public was able to view on a large display screen – live video feeds with superimposed targeting info via a wireless link from each Olifant Mk2 which took part in the night shoot. This was very informative and illustrated the modern equipment suite of the Mk2. Not to be outdone a Mk1A also took part and within its range limitation was accurate to the letter despite its fairly outdated equipment. This was one display which did not require pyrotechnics as the tanks provide all the fireworks.

The Olifant Mk2 is now the main battle tank of the SANDF and entered service during the second quarter of 2007.

All photos: E. Kotze’, J. van Zyl & A. Dyason. Top photo: A. Dyason. Photo manipulation: A. Dyason

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