Conference Day One: Wednesday, 30 August 2017
8:00 am - 9:00 am Registration, refreshments and networking
9:00 am - 9:15 am National anthem and chairman’s welcome address
9:15 am - 9:30 am OPENING KEYNOTE SPEECH: Current status and expectations for security in West Africa
- Overview of Ghana Army and future trends in West Africa
- Internal and expeditionary challenges in the West African region
- Defence expenditure to secure borders, defend resources and keep the peace
9:30 am - 10:10 am VIP PANEL DISCUSSION: Future priorities for African defence forces in the field of indirect fires
- Discussing foreseen evolution and best practices for optimal use of field guns and heavy mortars in observed and unobserved fires
- Examining the importance of interoperability and the influence of digital communication and fire control systems in order to achieve increased precision and win engagements
- Assessing new training methods and the use of virtual reality to achieve excellence in combat
10:10 am - 11:00 am OFFICIAL RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY OF EXHIBITION AREA, EXHIBITION TOUR, NETWORKING COFFEE BREAK AND MEDIA INTERVIEWS OF VIP ATTENDEES. TROPHIES OF APPRECIATION TO BE PRESENTED TO KEY VIP ATTENDEES. CORPORATE VIDEOS TO BE PLAYED.
11:00 am - 11:30 am Key issues facing Ghana’s deployment of armoured vehicles in the context of peacekeeping operations in Africa
- Reviewing challenges in Ghanaian Armed Forces engagement with the UN in Liberia (UNMIL), DRC (MONUC), Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL)
- Examining areas of improvement in using armoured units within peacekeeping operations
- Discussing maintenance requirements in a context of increased usage of land equipment
11:30 am - 12:00 pm KEYNOTE: African armies’ current requirements: Plans, policy and directions in armoured vehicles acquisition
- An overview of current and foreseen changes and requirements for armoured fleets in African nations
- geopolitical landscapes, economical contexts and impact on procurement
- Firepower, military capabilities of violent groups and insurgencies across the continent and ways to defeat them
Brigadier General Jack Sinyangwe
Chief of Policy, Doctrine and Strategy Development BranchZambia Army
12:00 pm - 12:30 pm Re-manufactured and refurbished vehicles
- Considering refurbishment and remanufacture programmes for specific requirements
- Extending systems lifecycle with lessened strain on defence budgets by re-manufacturing and refurbishing of ex-stock military and police vehicles
- Adopting an unconventional layout for urban warfare and peacekeeping with ballistic, landmine and driveline upgrade fitted in the remanufacture process
12:30 pm - 1:00 pm Approach to defence mobility: Plans and experience in Africa peacekeeping efforts
- Lessons learnt and future plans for increased efficiency of armoured units in peacekeeping operations
- Examining supply challenges to peacekeeping forces
- Exploring future possible solutions for ammunition and maintenance of land systems and personnel carriers
Brigadier General Anderson Mathlo
Nigeria Defence Attaché and Advisor to Minister of DefenceBotswana Defence Force
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Luncheon welcome speech and corporate videos followed by networking lunch
2:00 pm - 2:30 pm Using special purpose vehicles for security forces to improve resilience against terrorist or violent threats
- Assessing the use of SPVs against heavy armoured and infantry fire vehicles to retain speed of mobility and effectiveness in reconnaissance efforts
- Using special purpose vehicles with the right C4ISR and communications equipment to improve counter measures and gain a tactical advantage in ambush related scenarios
- Using SPVs primarily for strategic and tactical mobility with a high level of protection especially against anti-tank and anti-personnel mines, modular and with tunable armour protection to obtain the needed strategic push for the armoured corps and artillery divisions
2:30 pm - 3:00 pm Effective use of assets on joint infantry-mechanised missions
- Winning engagements through conducting sustained combined arm and close combat land operations
- Combining efforts of company teams, combat support, and combat service support to be decisive
- Discussing future requirements on improved mobility and enhanced organic fire support in a joint-fires environment
3:00 pm - 3:30 pm Future of IED and EFP threats and appropriate measures in Africa
- Assessing proven techniques and technological advances in prevention against the threat of unpredictable explosive devices in asymmetrical conflicts
- Improving protection against threats posed by EFP, while reducing the total weight of the armor
- Learning to provide enhanced levels of protection against direct attacks and under-body blasts
3:30 pm - 4:00 pm Virtual and staff coordination training using constructive simulation for indirect fires
- Discussing cost-effectiveness and efficiency of simulated military equipment and environment to improve performance
- Precision enhancement, projects and future possibilities - how to adapt training in the future to cope with changing operational demands
- Training for certification and rehearsing for missions by allowing joint fires operators to join in simulations
4:00 pm - 4:10 pm Closing remarks from the chair
4:10 pm - 4:10 pm End of conference day one
The published programme is correct at time of printing. However, given the seniority of our speakers and the nature of their roles, speakers may subsequently substitute or remove themselves from the programme. This is always regrettable, and we will always try to replace the speaker with a speaker with equivalent insight. For the most up-to-date programme, please visit the event website.