Giant aircraft will boost military muscle: a multibillion rand order for the Airbus A400M troop and equipment air carriers means SA can intervene in trouble spots in sub-Saharan Africa quickly and effectively. But there are those who say the money could have been better used in other sectors. Tom Nevin reports.

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South Africa

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Giant aircraft will boost military muscle: a multibillion rand order for the Airbus A400M troop and equipment air carriers means SA can intervene in trouble spots in sub-Saharan Africa quickly and effectively. But there are those who say the money could have been better used in other sectors. Tom Nevin reports.

The announcement came out of the blue, and it was the clearest signal yet that South Africa has accepted the role of Africa's policeman. In a short statement, the government said it had ordered up to 14 gargantuan, high-tech military carrier aircraft and had entered into a joint warplane building agreement at the same time.

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The order for the all-weather, all-terrain Airbus A400M transporters, at about ...

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