Dean Wingrin
@deanwingrin.bsky.social
Aviation and defense journalist, author, photographer, defenceWeb correspondent and general raconteur.
Lots of talk about charging the people responsible for the 17 MK Party affiliated men who found themselves fighting obo Russia in Ukraine. I'm guessing that charges will mainly relate to anti-mercenary and anti-human trafficking legislation.
A🧵on my uneducated observations.
/1
A🧵on my uneducated observations.
/1
November 28, 2025 at 10:47 AM
Lots of talk about charging the people responsible for the 17 MK Party affiliated men who found themselves fighting obo Russia in Ukraine. I'm guessing that charges will mainly relate to anti-mercenary and anti-human trafficking legislation.
A🧵on my uneducated observations.
/1
A🧵on my uneducated observations.
/1
Still no official feedback from Denel’s AGM today. Watching closely for updates as the state-owned defence group pushes through its turnaround phase. All senior management positions have now been filled and has strong support from its new shareholder, the Dept of Defence.
/1
/1
November 27, 2025 at 12:08 PM
Still no official feedback from Denel’s AGM today. Watching closely for updates as the state-owned defence group pushes through its turnaround phase. All senior management positions have now been filled and has strong support from its new shareholder, the Dept of Defence.
/1
/1
Project Hoefyster, to replace the Ratel ICV with the New Generation Infantry Combat Vehicle (NGICV), has faced years of delay in both development and production due to technical, financial, managerial and contractor-related challenges.
/1
/1
November 26, 2025 at 10:28 AM
Project Hoefyster, to replace the Ratel ICV with the New Generation Infantry Combat Vehicle (NGICV), has faced years of delay in both development and production due to technical, financial, managerial and contractor-related challenges.
/1
/1
Defence analyst Dean Wingrin alleges there is a voice note appealing to the SA men stuck in the Russia-Ukraine war to remain there, otherwise they will be going against MK Party wishes.
Newzroom Afrika
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWBt...
Newzroom Afrika
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWBt...
SA men caught up in Russia-Ukraine war
YouTube video by Newzroom Afrika
www.youtube.com
November 26, 2025 at 8:47 AM
Defence analyst Dean Wingrin alleges there is a voice note appealing to the SA men stuck in the Russia-Ukraine war to remain there, otherwise they will be going against MK Party wishes.
Newzroom Afrika
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWBt...
Newzroom Afrika
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWBt...
Lovely flyby of SAAF CASA C212-300, at Exercise VUKUHLOME, SA Army Combat Training Centre within the Lohatlha Military Area, Northern Cape. The 2025 edition is a brigade level exercise and is due to finish at the end of this month.
November 22, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Lovely flyby of SAAF CASA C212-300, at Exercise VUKUHLOME, SA Army Combat Training Centre within the Lohatlha Military Area, Northern Cape. The 2025 edition is a brigade level exercise and is due to finish at the end of this month.
Reports of foreigners, including those from Africa, being lured to Russia under false pretenses and ending up working in drone factories or even worse, fighting on the front line, is nothing new. Been going on for more than a year. Research before going.
www.france24.com/en/europe/20...
www.france24.com/en/europe/20...
‘Pawns in Putin’s war game’: African women lured into drone factories
Russia has been accused of making false promises to recruit young women from across Africa to work in drone-assembling factories. The women were coerced into assembling Shahed-136 kamikaze drones in…
www.france24.com
November 22, 2025 at 12:02 PM
Reports of foreigners, including those from Africa, being lured to Russia under false pretenses and ending up working in drone factories or even worse, fighting on the front line, is nothing new. Been going on for more than a year. Research before going.
www.france24.com/en/europe/20...
www.france24.com/en/europe/20...
Good news for SAAF fire fighters! The SANDF/Minister has withdrawn its application for leave to appeal the order for reinstatement of allowances for fire fighters. Thus, the Court order stands and the DoD has 30 days to reinstate the allowances, retrospectively to April 2022.
/1
/1
November 20, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Good news for SAAF fire fighters! The SANDF/Minister has withdrawn its application for leave to appeal the order for reinstatement of allowances for fire fighters. Thus, the Court order stands and the DoD has 30 days to reinstate the allowances, retrospectively to April 2022.
/1
/1
28 Squadron, SAAF, and parabats at Exercise VUKUHLOME IV, Nov 2025.
November 16, 2025 at 5:02 PM
28 Squadron, SAAF, and parabats at Exercise VUKUHLOME IV, Nov 2025.
Parliament Raises Concerns Over Gap Between SANDF Morale Survey and Soldiers’ Realities
Defence journalist Dean Wingrin joins @Tessa_Dooms to unpack the discrepancies and what they mean for the future of the force, on @Powerfm987
omny.fm/shows/power-...
Defence journalist Dean Wingrin joins @Tessa_Dooms to unpack the discrepancies and what they mean for the future of the force, on @Powerfm987
omny.fm/shows/power-...
Parliament Raises Concerns Over Gap Between SANDF Morale Survey and Soldiers’ Realities - POWER Perspective
Parliament’s Joint Standing Committee on Defence has raised concerns over a widening gap between the SANDF’s 2024/25 Defence Morale Survey and the real conditions experienced by soldiers on the ground...
omny.fm
November 14, 2025 at 10:01 AM
Parliament Raises Concerns Over Gap Between SANDF Morale Survey and Soldiers’ Realities
Defence journalist Dean Wingrin joins @Tessa_Dooms to unpack the discrepancies and what they mean for the future of the force, on @Powerfm987
omny.fm/shows/power-...
Defence journalist Dean Wingrin joins @Tessa_Dooms to unpack the discrepancies and what they mean for the future of the force, on @Powerfm987
omny.fm/shows/power-...
Reposted by Dean Wingrin
It’s always a pleasure to read Dean’s South African defence budget breakdowns. They’re clear guides to the key elements and a must-read.
In this, Dean shows how a R1.8 billion ‘increase’ actually doesn’t necessarily improve operational capacity as much as you’d think.
In this, Dean shows how a R1.8 billion ‘increase’ actually doesn’t necessarily improve operational capacity as much as you’d think.
The Medium Term Budget Policy Statement was released today. The Department of Defence’s adjusted budget for 2025/26 rises to R59.07 billion, an increase of R1.89 billion from the original allocation.
/1
/1
November 13, 2025 at 3:06 PM
It’s always a pleasure to read Dean’s South African defence budget breakdowns. They’re clear guides to the key elements and a must-read.
In this, Dean shows how a R1.8 billion ‘increase’ actually doesn’t necessarily improve operational capacity as much as you’d think.
In this, Dean shows how a R1.8 billion ‘increase’ actually doesn’t necessarily improve operational capacity as much as you’d think.
The Medium Term Budget Policy Statement was released today. The Department of Defence’s adjusted budget for 2025/26 rises to R59.07 billion, an increase of R1.89 billion from the original allocation.
/1
/1
November 12, 2025 at 1:34 PM
The Medium Term Budget Policy Statement was released today. The Department of Defence’s adjusted budget for 2025/26 rises to R59.07 billion, an increase of R1.89 billion from the original allocation.
/1
/1
Large fires burning on the Heuningberg Mountain above Bredasdorp in the Southern Cape.
A #SAAF Oryx of 22 Squadron has just departed AFB Ysterplaat to assist with aerial firefighting efforts.
A #SAAF Oryx of 22 Squadron has just departed AFB Ysterplaat to assist with aerial firefighting efforts.
November 7, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Large fires burning on the Heuningberg Mountain above Bredasdorp in the Southern Cape.
A #SAAF Oryx of 22 Squadron has just departed AFB Ysterplaat to assist with aerial firefighting efforts.
A #SAAF Oryx of 22 Squadron has just departed AFB Ysterplaat to assist with aerial firefighting efforts.
Airlink’s daily flights between Johannesburg and Maseru will resume tomorrow morning (Fri 07 Nov 2025).
This follows confirmation by the Lesotho authorities that suitable fire and rescue equipment has been sourced for Moshoeshoe I International Airport.
This follows confirmation by the Lesotho authorities that suitable fire and rescue equipment has been sourced for Moshoeshoe I International Airport.
Airlink has suspended daily flights between Johannesburg and Maseru due to the lack of serviceable fire and rescue equipment at Moshoeshoe I International Airport. Normal sevices will resume as soon as the airport operator has restored the regulated emergency response capability.
November 6, 2025 at 11:37 AM
Airlink’s daily flights between Johannesburg and Maseru will resume tomorrow morning (Fri 07 Nov 2025).
This follows confirmation by the Lesotho authorities that suitable fire and rescue equipment has been sourced for Moshoeshoe I International Airport.
This follows confirmation by the Lesotho authorities that suitable fire and rescue equipment has been sourced for Moshoeshoe I International Airport.
Airlink has suspended daily flights between Johannesburg and Maseru due to the lack of serviceable fire and rescue equipment at Moshoeshoe I International Airport. Normal sevices will resume as soon as the airport operator has restored the regulated emergency response capability.
November 5, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Airlink has suspended daily flights between Johannesburg and Maseru due to the lack of serviceable fire and rescue equipment at Moshoeshoe I International Airport. Normal sevices will resume as soon as the airport operator has restored the regulated emergency response capability.
SAAF CL-13B Sabre Mk 6 372, painted in the colours of a F-86F-30 Sabre 601 used by 2 Squadron, SAAF, during the Korean War.
SAAF Museum, AFB Ysterplaat, Cape Town.
SAAF Museum, AFB Ysterplaat, Cape Town.
November 5, 2025 at 2:03 PM
SAAF CL-13B Sabre Mk 6 372, painted in the colours of a F-86F-30 Sabre 601 used by 2 Squadron, SAAF, during the Korean War.
SAAF Museum, AFB Ysterplaat, Cape Town.
SAAF Museum, AFB Ysterplaat, Cape Town.
Reposted by Dean Wingrin
100% with Dean here.
Restoring the C47-TPs to flight was never going to be a real solution anyway, and South Africa’s maritime patrol and search & rescue requirements demand an extremely long-range and capable type or set of types.
It won’t be cheap, but neither is not having maritime control.
Restoring the C47-TPs to flight was never going to be a real solution anyway, and South Africa’s maritime patrol and search & rescue requirements demand an extremely long-range and capable type or set of types.
It won’t be cheap, but neither is not having maritime control.
Sad news for the SAAF's C47-TP TurboDaks. Despite efforts to get them flying again, looks like a decision has been made that they will not fly again.
We need a dignified retreat parade and a funded replacement project.
The blue water economy is too important to ignore.
1/
We need a dignified retreat parade and a funded replacement project.
The blue water economy is too important to ignore.
1/
October 30, 2025 at 9:34 AM
100% with Dean here.
Restoring the C47-TPs to flight was never going to be a real solution anyway, and South Africa’s maritime patrol and search & rescue requirements demand an extremely long-range and capable type or set of types.
It won’t be cheap, but neither is not having maritime control.
Restoring the C47-TPs to flight was never going to be a real solution anyway, and South Africa’s maritime patrol and search & rescue requirements demand an extremely long-range and capable type or set of types.
It won’t be cheap, but neither is not having maritime control.
Sad news for the SAAF's C47-TP TurboDaks. Despite efforts to get them flying again, looks like a decision has been made that they will not fly again.
We need a dignified retreat parade and a funded replacement project.
The blue water economy is too important to ignore.
1/
We need a dignified retreat parade and a funded replacement project.
The blue water economy is too important to ignore.
1/
October 30, 2025 at 9:28 AM
Sad news for the SAAF's C47-TP TurboDaks. Despite efforts to get them flying again, looks like a decision has been made that they will not fly again.
We need a dignified retreat parade and a funded replacement project.
The blue water economy is too important to ignore.
1/
We need a dignified retreat parade and a funded replacement project.
The blue water economy is too important to ignore.
1/
After years of grounding & delays, the SAAF's fleet of 8 Cessna 208 Caravans are finally undergoing it's long awaited avionics upgrade. The Caravans are early production examples, requiring extensive work, so they're being upgraded 1 at a time.
The sole PC-12 is also undergoing maintenance.
The sole PC-12 is also undergoing maintenance.
October 27, 2025 at 7:54 AM
After years of grounding & delays, the SAAF's fleet of 8 Cessna 208 Caravans are finally undergoing it's long awaited avionics upgrade. The Caravans are early production examples, requiring extensive work, so they're being upgraded 1 at a time.
The sole PC-12 is also undergoing maintenance.
The sole PC-12 is also undergoing maintenance.
Lots of comment about a #SANDF "Ratel" at the Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool (Afrikaans Boys High School - Affies) matric farewell party.
It is not a Ratel and it is not a SANDF vehicle. It is a privately owned Jorsin Tau 4×4 IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicle) prototype. Looks great!
It is not a Ratel and it is not a SANDF vehicle. It is a privately owned Jorsin Tau 4×4 IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicle) prototype. Looks great!
October 24, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Lots of comment about a #SANDF "Ratel" at the Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool (Afrikaans Boys High School - Affies) matric farewell party.
It is not a Ratel and it is not a SANDF vehicle. It is a privately owned Jorsin Tau 4×4 IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicle) prototype. Looks great!
It is not a Ratel and it is not a SANDF vehicle. It is a privately owned Jorsin Tau 4×4 IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicle) prototype. Looks great!
Reposted by Dean Wingrin
Excellent interview by Dean on the controversy over the South African LIDAR/rangefinder discovered on a Russian drone.
Dean, like me, assesses that the part is likely commercial only, and neither military nor dual-use, and therefore isn’t subject to any export controls.
Dean, like me, assesses that the part is likely commercial only, and neither military nor dual-use, and therefore isn’t subject to any export controls.
I was on Power FM the other night, discussing the use of South African technology found in Russian drones used to attack Ukraine.
omny.fm/shows/power-...
omny.fm/shows/power-...
South African Tech Found In Russian Drones Used To Attack Ukraine - POWER Perspective
South African authorities said they are investigating how electronic equipment made in the country ended up in Russian drones used to attack Ukraine.
omny.fm
October 22, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Excellent interview by Dean on the controversy over the South African LIDAR/rangefinder discovered on a Russian drone.
Dean, like me, assesses that the part is likely commercial only, and neither military nor dual-use, and therefore isn’t subject to any export controls.
Dean, like me, assesses that the part is likely commercial only, and neither military nor dual-use, and therefore isn’t subject to any export controls.
I was on Power FM the other night, discussing the use of South African technology found in Russian drones used to attack Ukraine.
omny.fm/shows/power-...
omny.fm/shows/power-...
South African Tech Found In Russian Drones Used To Attack Ukraine - POWER Perspective
South African authorities said they are investigating how electronic equipment made in the country ended up in Russian drones used to attack Ukraine.
omny.fm
October 22, 2025 at 10:12 AM
I was on Power FM the other night, discussing the use of South African technology found in Russian drones used to attack Ukraine.
omny.fm/shows/power-...
omny.fm/shows/power-...
At the GICA 2025 October Conference in Cape Town, South Africa. Co-sponsored by @defenceWeb_Afr. Building defence & industrial capacity through strategic collaboration. Looking forward to 2 days of presentations & panel discussions on growing collaboration in defence.
October 15, 2025 at 8:39 AM
At the GICA 2025 October Conference in Cape Town, South Africa. Co-sponsored by @defenceWeb_Afr. Building defence & industrial capacity through strategic collaboration. Looking forward to 2 days of presentations & panel discussions on growing collaboration in defence.
Anecdotally, there seems to be an uptick in #SAAF availability rates recently. The various aircraft may not be fully operational, but at least they're flying. Tonight, two transport aircraft are conducting night training from AFB Waterkloof.
October 14, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Anecdotally, there seems to be an uptick in #SAAF availability rates recently. The various aircraft may not be fully operational, but at least they're flying. Tonight, two transport aircraft are conducting night training from AFB Waterkloof.
They arrived safely at AFB Waterkloof, then after clearing formalities, hopped over to Swartop (AF MDW) after long and tiring flight. Welcome home!
Three SAAF Oryx helicopters in Livingstone, Zambia today, on their way home to South Africa! The three, 1 ex-UN MONUSCO and 2 from the SANDF support contingent, departed Lubumbashi, DRC and are scheduled to arrive at AFB Waterkloof. The remaining 2 Oryx will be airlifted back.
October 12, 2025 at 4:19 PM
They arrived safely at AFB Waterkloof, then after clearing formalities, hopped over to Swartop (AF MDW) after long and tiring flight. Welcome home!