Mosi, the second tri-nation naval exercise to be held in South African waters with Chinese and Russian participation will feature the live fire of Tsikon (Zircon) hypersonic missile.
In February, warships from the Russian Federation Navy (RFN) and China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) exercise with a single SA Navy (SAN) platform will participate in Exercise Mosi II naval exercise.
Russia’s Admiral Gorshkov frigate, which is currently on a long-distance training voyage, will launch of a Tsirkon (Zircon) hypersonic missile during the joint exercise with South African and Chinese navies.
“During the upcoming exercise with the navies of South Africa and China, a training launch of a Tsirkon hypersonic missile will be carried out, to be the first-ever during an event of this kind,” a source close to Russia’s defense industry has told TASS.
The Russian task force to participate in Exercise Mosi II includes Admiral Gorshkov frigate and medium class sea-going tanker The Kama began on January 4 under the command of Captain 1st Class Oleg Gladky, the commander the Northern Fleet’s division of missile ships.
Vessels from the Chinese side are yet to be identified.
For the South African Navy (SAN), the ship’s crew involved in Mosi ll will have about 350 military personnel. Apart from SAN personnel, probably including specialists from the maritime reaction squadron (MRS), other national defence force services and divisions involved are the SA Air Force (SAAF), SA Military Health Service (SAMHS) as well as the Joint Operations, Defence Intelligence, Defence Foreign Relations, Military Police and Legal Services divisions.
The programme which will take place from 17 to 24 February will see PLAN, RFN and SAN vessels come alongside in Richards Bay and replenish while forces prepare for the sea phase.
While Exercise Mosi will be conducted in the southern oceans over the said period, it will coincide with the Armed Forces Day celebration that will take place at uMhlathuze Municipality in Richards Bay, east of Kwa-Zulu Natal province.
Last year, the biennial maritime Exercise Oxide between South Africa and France took place in November last year at the Simon’s Town Naval Base.
The first Russo/China/South African naval exercise (Mosi) took place off South Africa’s west coast between the Capes of Columbine and Good Hope in November 2019.