South African Firm Forges UAE’s Armored Fleet

Key Takeaways:

• The Kasser II armoured vehicle, touted as a UAE-made product, was actually designed and built by South African company Integrated Convoy Protection (ICP) in the UAE’s free trade zones.
• ICP provided the intellectual property, parts, and manufacturing capacity for the Kasser II, which was assembled in the UAE’s Tawazun Industrial Park.
• The export of the Kasser II’s components from South Africa may have been done without the required permits, potentially violating South African law.
• This incident is part of a larger pattern of South African defence companies exporting intellectual property and resources to the UAE, often in contravention of South African laws and regulations.
• The UAE’s defence sector has been built and maintained by white South Africans, many of whom have ties to the apartheid military architecture.

Introduction to the Kasser II
The Kasser II armoured vehicle, unveiled at the International Defence Exhibition and Conference in 2021, is a mine-resistant and ambush-protected vehicle designed to withstand the harsh conditions of modern warfare. However, despite being touted as a UAE-made product, the Kasser II has a more complex origin story. In reality, the vehicle was designed and built by South African company Integrated Convoy Protection (ICP) in the UAE’s free trade zones. This revelation raises questions about the export of South African defence technology and the potential violation of South African laws and regulations.

The Role of ICP
ICP, a South African company with a long history of manufacturing armoured vehicles, played a crucial role in the development and production of the Kasser II. The company provided the intellectual property, parts, and manufacturing capacity for the vehicle, which was then assembled in the UAE’s Tawazun Industrial Park. ICP’s involvement in the project was facilitated by a contract with the International Golden Group (IGG), a UAE-based company with ties to the Edge group, a state-owned Emirati arms conglomerate.

The Export of Components
The export of the Kasser II’s components from South Africa to the UAE raises concerns about the potential violation of South African laws and regulations. According to South African law, the export of defence-related technology and equipment requires a permit from the National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NCACC). However, it appears that ICP may have exported the components without obtaining the necessary permits, potentially violating South African law. ICP denies this, claiming that the components were "off the shelf" parts and did not require permits.

A Pattern of Defence Exports
The incident involving the Kasser II is not an isolated event, but rather part of a larger pattern of South African defence companies exporting intellectual property and resources to the UAE. This trend has been facilitated by the strong ties between the UAE and South Africa, particularly in the defence sector. Many South African defence companies, including Denel and Paramount, have alleged that UAE companies have unlawfully obtained their intellectual property, often with the assistance of local employees.

Unanswered Questions
Despite the revelations about the Kasser II, many questions remain unanswered. The NCACC has not provided clear answers about whether export permits were obtained for the components, and the police are investigating the matter. Furthermore, the nature of ICP’s current relationship with IGG and the Edge group is unclear, and it is unknown whether new contracts have been signed. The ongoing production of the Kasser II in the UAE also raises concerns about the potential impact on conflict and human rights in countries where the vehicle is being supplied.

Conclusion
The story of the Kasser II highlights the need for greater oversight and regulation of South Africa’s defence exports. The potential violation of South African laws and regulations, combined with the ongoing pattern of defence exports to the UAE, raises concerns about the country’s role in facilitating conflict and human rights abuses abroad. It is essential that the South African government takes steps to ensure that its defence exports are subject to proper consideration and regulation, and that the country’s defence industry is not complicit in the perpetuation of human rights abuses.