Armscor (South Africa)
Encyclopedia
Armscor the Armaments Corporation of South Africa (in Afrikaans
: Krygstuig Korporasie van Suid-Afrika, or Krygkor) is a South Africa
n government-supported weapon-producing conglomerate
that was officially established in 1968, primarily as a response to the international sanctions by the United Nations
against South Africa that began in 1963 and were formalized in 1967.
arms embargo. It was during this time that Armscor contracted with Gerald Bull
's Space Research Corporation
for advanced 155 mm howitzer
designs.
. The Atlas Aircraft Corporation of South Africa
(also known as Atlas Aviation) was established in 1965 to manufacture sophisticated military aircraft and avionics
equipment for the South African Air Force
, as well as for export. It was also established primarily to circumvent an international arms embargo implemented in 1963. Atlas Aircraft was also involved in non-conventional weapons systems research and development in 1987/88, to produce an EMP Cannon for Armscor, which was to be used primarily in shooting down Russian Migs in the Angolan Conflict.
the new South African government dominated military-industrial
and technological conglomerate in 1991, many parts of Armscor's missions and functions were changed and redirected. With the establishment of Denel the manufacturing subsidiaries
of Armscor were split from Armscor in order for Armscor to be solely the procurement arm of the South African Defence Force
(SADF), now known as the South African National Defence Force
(SANDF) and the manufacturing divisions were grouped together under Denel (Pty) Ltd as divisions.
, when training aircraft were assembled locally and the Pretoria branch of the Royal Mint manufactured small arms ammunition (Cawthra, 1986:89). During the war, the arms industry manufactured a substantial amount of basic weaponry for the Union Defence Force
and the Allied forces
, including armoured cars, bombs and ammunition. After the war, most of the wartime arms factories converted to their pre-war civilian activities.
During the 1950s and early 1960s, South Africa relied heavily on arms imports (mainly from Britain). However, South Africa’s withdrawal from the Commonwealth
in 1961, and the imposition of a voluntary United Nations arms embargo in 1963, provided the impetus for a shift towards the establishment of a domestic arms industry. The Armaments Production Board was established in 1964 to control the manufacture, procurement and supply of all armaments for the South African Defence Force
(Simpson, 1989:222). The board also took over the Department of Defence’s workshops and the ammunition section of the South African Mint, and was authorised to co-ordinate arms production in the private sector. By the mid-1960s, nearly a thousand private sector firms were involved in various aspects of domestic arms production.
In 1967, the UN Security Council passed a resolution calling on all states to stop supplying arms to South Africa. In 1968, the Armaments Production Board’s name was changed to the Armaments Board. It was tasked with the procurement of armaments for the SADF and ensuring the optimal utilisation of the private sector for arms production (Simpson, 1989:222). In the same year, the government established the Armaments Development and Production Corporation (Armscor). The Defence Ordnance Workshop and the Ammunition Section of the South African Mint became its first full subsidiaries. Over the next few years, Armscor took over various private sector companies, such as Atlas Aircraft Corporation, and established a number of new production and R&D facilities (Cawthra, 1986:98).
In 1973, the government established the Defence Advisory Council (DAC) to co-ordinate the private sector’s involvement in domestic arms production (Philip, 1989:205).
presence is based in Maryland
, although known by the slightly altered name of Armscorp. The "p" at the end of the name was added, within the USA at least, when it was determined that Armscor
of the Philippines
predated them, both in the USA and worldwide.
It is important to note that for the past decades of concurrence, the firearm
merchandise of the Philippine and South African entities have hardly overlapped in terms of caliber
and type. The Philippine entity has remained focused on manufacturing sport or personal-defense arms and ammunition, and such are generally quite distinguishable from the refurbished military surplus that have been the bulk of the South African entity's business.
Afrikaans
Afrikaans is a West Germanic language, spoken natively in South Africa and Namibia. It is a daughter language of Dutch, originating in its 17th century dialects, collectively referred to as Cape Dutch .Afrikaans is a daughter language of Dutch; see , , , , , .Afrikaans was historically called Cape...
: Krygstuig Korporasie van Suid-Afrika, or Krygkor) is a South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n government-supported weapon-producing conglomerate
Conglomerate (company)
A conglomerate is a combination of two or more corporations engaged in entirely different businesses that fall under one corporate structure , usually involving a parent company and several subsidiaries. Often, a conglomerate is a multi-industry company...
that was officially established in 1968, primarily as a response to the international sanctions by the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
against South Africa that began in 1963 and were formalized in 1967.
Expansion
Armscor oversaw a vast military, industrial and technological empire that consumed tens of billions of dollars. During the 1960s and 1970s, Armscor produced a great deal of South Africa's armament as the state faced a tightening UNUnited Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
arms embargo. It was during this time that Armscor contracted with Gerald Bull
Gerald Bull
Gerald Vincent Bull was a Canadian engineer who developed long-range artillery. He moved from project to project in his quest to launch economically a satellite using a huge artillery piece, to which end he designed the Project Babylon "supergun" for the Iraqi government...
's Space Research Corporation
Space Research Corporation
Space Research Corporation was a corporation founded by Gerald Bull, after the budget for his research at Project HARP for the United States and Canadian federal governments was cut in 1967, in order to commercialize the technology of long-range artillery. Project HARP's assets were then given to...
for advanced 155 mm howitzer
Howitzer
A howitzer is a type of artillery piece characterized by a relatively short barrel and the use of comparatively small propellant charges to propel projectiles at relatively high trajectories, with a steep angle of descent...
designs.
Atlas Aircraft Corporation
Once established, Armscor absorbed the Atlas Aircraft CorporationAtlas Aircraft Corporation
The Atlas Aircraft Corporation of South Africa was established in 1965 to manufacture a number of sophisticated military aircraft and avionics equipment for the South African Air Force, as well as for export...
. The Atlas Aircraft Corporation of South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
(also known as Atlas Aviation) was established in 1965 to manufacture sophisticated military aircraft and avionics
Avionics
Avionics are electronic systems used on aircraft, artificial satellites and spacecraft.Avionic systems include communications, navigation, the display and management of multiple systems and the hundreds of systems that are fitted to aircraft to meet individual roles...
equipment for the South African Air Force
South African Air Force
The South African Air Force is the air force of South Africa, with headquarters in Pretoria. It is the world's second oldest independent air force, and its motto is Per Aspera Ad Astra...
, as well as for export. It was also established primarily to circumvent an international arms embargo implemented in 1963. Atlas Aircraft was also involved in non-conventional weapons systems research and development in 1987/88, to produce an EMP Cannon for Armscor, which was to be used primarily in shooting down Russian Migs in the Angolan Conflict.
Denel and Armscor
With the establishment of DenelDenel
Denel Ltd is a South African state owned aerospace and defence technology conglomerate established in 1991. It was created when the manufacturing subsidiaries of Armscor were split off in order for Armscor to become the procurement agency for South African Defence Force , now known as the South...
the new South African government dominated military-industrial
Military-industrial complex
Military–industrial complex , or Military–industrial-congressional complex is a concept commonly used to refer to policy and monetary relationships between legislators, national armed forces, and the industrial sector that supports them...
and technological conglomerate in 1991, many parts of Armscor's missions and functions were changed and redirected. With the establishment of Denel the manufacturing subsidiaries
Subsidiary
A subsidiary company, subsidiary, or daughter company is a company that is completely or partly owned and wholly controlled by another company that owns more than half of the subsidiary's stock. The subsidiary can be a company, corporation, or limited liability company. In some cases it is a...
of Armscor were split from Armscor in order for Armscor to be solely the procurement arm of the South African Defence Force
South African Defence Force
The South African Defence Force was the South African armed forces from 1957 until 1994. The former Union Defence Force was renamed to the South African Defence Force in the Defence Act of 1957...
(SADF), now known as the South African National Defence Force
South African National Defence Force
The South African National Defence Force is the armed forces of South Africa. The military as it exists today was created in 1994, following South Africa's first post-apartheid national elections and the adoption of a new constitution...
(SANDF) and the manufacturing divisions were grouped together under Denel (Pty) Ltd as divisions.
Growth of South Africa's armaments industry in the twentieth century
The development of a domestic arms industry was one of the most significant aspects of the militarisation of the apartheid economy. South Africa’s arms industry was established with British aid just prior to the Second World WarWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, when training aircraft were assembled locally and the Pretoria branch of the Royal Mint manufactured small arms ammunition (Cawthra, 1986:89). During the war, the arms industry manufactured a substantial amount of basic weaponry for the Union Defence Force
Union Defence Force
The Union Defence Force may refer to a former or current military organization:* the South African Army from 1912 to 1957* the military of the United Arab Emirates...
and the Allied forces
Allies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
, including armoured cars, bombs and ammunition. After the war, most of the wartime arms factories converted to their pre-war civilian activities.
During the 1950s and early 1960s, South Africa relied heavily on arms imports (mainly from Britain). However, South Africa’s withdrawal from the Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
in 1961, and the imposition of a voluntary United Nations arms embargo in 1963, provided the impetus for a shift towards the establishment of a domestic arms industry. The Armaments Production Board was established in 1964 to control the manufacture, procurement and supply of all armaments for the South African Defence Force
South African Defence Force
The South African Defence Force was the South African armed forces from 1957 until 1994. The former Union Defence Force was renamed to the South African Defence Force in the Defence Act of 1957...
(Simpson, 1989:222). The board also took over the Department of Defence’s workshops and the ammunition section of the South African Mint, and was authorised to co-ordinate arms production in the private sector. By the mid-1960s, nearly a thousand private sector firms were involved in various aspects of domestic arms production.
In 1967, the UN Security Council passed a resolution calling on all states to stop supplying arms to South Africa. In 1968, the Armaments Production Board’s name was changed to the Armaments Board. It was tasked with the procurement of armaments for the SADF and ensuring the optimal utilisation of the private sector for arms production (Simpson, 1989:222). In the same year, the government established the Armaments Development and Production Corporation (Armscor). The Defence Ordnance Workshop and the Ammunition Section of the South African Mint became its first full subsidiaries. Over the next few years, Armscor took over various private sector companies, such as Atlas Aircraft Corporation, and established a number of new production and R&D facilities (Cawthra, 1986:98).
In 1973, the government established the Defence Advisory Council (DAC) to co-ordinate the private sector’s involvement in domestic arms production (Philip, 1989:205).
Outside of South Africa
Its United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
presence is based in Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, although known by the slightly altered name of Armscorp. The "p" at the end of the name was added, within the USA at least, when it was determined that Armscor
Armscor (Philippines)
The Arms Corporation of the Philippines is familiar to many firearms enthusiasts for its inexpensive 1911-pattern pistols, revolvers, shotguns, sporting rifles, firearms parts and ammunition. It traces its beginnings to a Manila gun retail store in the year 1911, though the present corporation...
of the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
predated them, both in the USA and worldwide.
It is important to note that for the past decades of concurrence, the firearm
Firearm
A firearm is a weapon that launches one, or many, projectile at high velocity through confined burning of a propellant. This subsonic burning process is technically known as deflagration, as opposed to supersonic combustion known as a detonation. In older firearms, the propellant was typically...
merchandise of the Philippine and South African entities have hardly overlapped in terms of caliber
Caliber
In guns including firearms, caliber or calibre is the approximate internal diameter of the barrel in relation to the diameter of the projectile used in it....
and type. The Philippine entity has remained focused on manufacturing sport or personal-defense arms and ammunition, and such are generally quite distinguishable from the refurbished military surplus that have been the bulk of the South African entity's business.
External links
- Company website
- Armscor summary from the Federation of American ScientistsFederation of American ScientistsThe Federation of American Scientists is a nonpartisan, 501 organization intent on using science and scientific analysis to attempt make the world more secure. FAS was founded in 1945 by scientists who worked on the Manhattan Project to develop the first atomic bombs...