RATEL INFANTRY FIGHTING VEHICLES IRENE MISSILE RESEARCH AND ASSEMBLY/PRODUCTION FACILITY KENTRON, SOUTH AFRICA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP91T00712R000200460008-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 9, 2011
• Sequence Number: 8
• Publication Date: November 24, 1983
• Content Type: REPORT

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/03/09: CIA-RDP91T00712R000200460008-4
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/03/09: CIA-RDP91T00712R000200460008-4
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/03/09: CIA-RDP91T00712R000200460008-4
SECRET
(c) NATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHIC INTERPRETATION CENTER
Page 1 of 1 Attachment to -- Z-15790/83..
Copy 33
NPIC/PEG (11/83)
RATEL INFANTRY FIGHTING VEHICLES
IRENE MISSILE RESEARCH AND ASSEMBLY PRODUCTION FACILITY
KENTRON, SOUTH AFRICA
1. SIGNIFICANCE: THE PRESENCE OF TWO RATEL INFANTRY FIGHTING
VEHICLES INF) AT THIS FACILITY MAY INDICATE SOUTH AFRICAN
INTENT TO MODIFY THEM FOR A SURFACE-TO-AIR MISSILE ROLE. (SWN)
2. REMARKS: TWO RATEL INFANTRY FIGHTING VEHICLES (IFV) ARE IN A
FENCE-SECURED VEHICLE PARK IN THE NORTHERN SECTION OF THIS
FACILITY. THE TWO RATEL ARE CANVAS COVERED. BOTH APPEAR TO
HAVE TURRETS STILL MOUNTED, BUT THE GUN TUBES MAY HAVE BEEN
REMOVED. (SWN)
IRENE RAND A/PDN FAC KENTRON IS REPORTED TO BE THE FINAL
ASSEMBLY AND MODIFICATIONS FACILITY FOR THE CACTUS
SURFACE-TO-AIR MISSILE (SAM) AND THE SKORPION
SURFACE-TO-SURFACE MISSILE SYSTEMS. THE PRESENCE OF THE TWO
RATEL IFV MAY INDICATE THAT THE SOUTH'AFRICANS ARE PREPARING TO
UTILIZE THE RATEL IFV AS A TRANSPORTER-ERECTOR-LAUNCHER (TEL)
FOR THE CACTUS SAM SYSTEM. THE RATEL IFV IS A SIX-WHEELED
ARMORED VEHICLE WHICH IS MORE MANEUVERABLE THAN THE STANDARD
FOUR-WHEELED CACTUS TEL. THE CACTUS SAM SYSTEM IS DEPLOYED IN
LIMITED NUMBERS WITH SOUTH AFRICAN GROUND FORCES. THE SYSTEM
WAS DEVELOPED WITH FRENCH ASSISTANCE, BUT IT HAS BEEN PRODUCED
ONLY IN VERY LIMITED NUMBERS BY SOUTH AFRICA. (SWN)
IRENE RAND A/PDN FAC KENTRON IS APPROXIMATELY 2 NM SOUTHWEST OF-
PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA. (SWN)
These notes have been prepared for briefing purposes only and should not be used for detailed ana-
lytical work. Their use should be restricted to the particular briefing board(s) they were prepared for
and must be considered valid only for the reporting period as indicated by the date of issue.
WARNING NOTICE
Intelligence Sources
and Methods Involved
SF(_RFT
25X1
25X1
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/03/09: CIA-RDP91T00712R000200460008-4