On 8 Nov 2017 the feedback report was presented to Chief of the South African Army, Lt Gen L. Yam, whereby the Chief approved the utilisation of the new generation equipment for external deployments. The outcome and numerous presentations finally lead to the acceptance by Lt Gen L. Yam in November 2017.

Already in Dec 2014 tests were done for J Ops, (then Col Moni) to prove the NVIS capability of the Loop Rail with the “old Generation/legacy” equipment.

Reutech Communications has developed a dedicated NVIS (Near Vertical Incident Skywave ) antenna tuning unit (ATU) that addresses the “skip zone”. This ATU uses an LOOP antenna to achieve NVIS communications.

The ATU and LOOP have been used successfully implemented by South African Special Forces, South African Navy and International Clients. The South African Army requested that the ATU be made compatible to the legacy SANDF HF C21 radio.

Since the LOOP + ATU is an unique technology the SA Army was not sure that this new technology would outperform the current Whip + ATU to ensure communications from 0 to 400 km. Two CJ OPS Land Rovers were fitted with a current Whip configuration and the new Loop Rail + ATU and side by side evaluation tests were conducted between WHIP and LOOP.

Test results in Thangami Forest

The test results were excellent and later lead to the tests in the Thangami Forest in Kwa-Zulu Natal where Reutech Communications again finally proved the success with the new generation equipment.

The outcome and numerous presentations finally lead to the acceptance by Lt Gen L. Yam in November 2017.