The United States has escalated its scrutiny of South Africa’s defence activities, accusing the nation of illegally exporting technology to train the Chinese military. This development has intensified tensions, particularly as South Africa engages in naval exercises with Iran, Russia, and China, further complicating its diplomatic relations with the United States.
On 15 January 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice took action against two mission crew trainers (MCTs) from the Test Flying Academy of South Africa (TFASA) en route to China. These mobile classrooms were intended to train the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) on anti-submarine warfare and airborne warning systems. The FBI, in a statement shared on its X account, revealed that the MCTs were designed using U.S.-origin software and were modelled after the P-8 Poseidon, a Boeing-designed aircraft central to U.S. anti-submarine warfare capabilities.
John A. Eisenberg, the U.S. Assistant Attorney General for National Security, accused TFASA of enabling the Chinese naval and air forces. He alleged that the academy acted as a conduit for transferring NATO aviation expertise, operational knowledge, and restricted technology to the Chinese military. Eisenberg emphasised that the illegal export of U.S. military flight simulator technology and the recruitment of former NATO pilots to train Chinese forces posed significant risks to U.S. national security and endangered American service members.
TFASA responded swiftly to these allegations, denying any wrongdoing. In a statement shared by Darren Olivier on his X account, the company rejected claims of transferring NATO expertise or using U.S. military technology. TFASA described the containers as basic mobile classroom units, devoid of tactical simulators, advanced systems, or classified military training capacities. The company also announced plans to release a report from a 2024 investigation, which supposedly vetted the software used in the trainers for export compliance.
This controversy unfolds against the backdrop of escalating tensions between the U.S. and South Africa over a multinational naval exercise involving Iran, Russia, and China. The South African National Defence Force faced accusations of disregarding President Cyril Ramaphosa’s orders to withdraw Iranian ships from the exercises in False Bay, Western Cape. In response, Defence Minister Angie Motshekga initiated a probe into Iran’s participation, establishing a Board of Inquiry to investigate the allegations.
U.S. Senator Jim Risch criticised South Africa’s actions, accusing the African National Congress-led government of hiding behind a non-alignment stance to host what he termed as America’s enemies. Risch called for stronger action against the South African government, endorsing President Donald Trump’s stance on the matter.
As these geopolitical tensions simmer, the implications for global defence partnerships and technological exchanges remain profound. The U.S. actions against TFASA and its broader scrutiny of South Africa’s defence activities signal a hardening stance on technology transfers and military collaborations. For South Africa, the situation underscores the delicate balance between maintaining strategic autonomy and navigating complex international alliances.
The unfolding events also highlight the critical role of transparency and compliance in defence technology exports. As nations continue to invest in advanced military capabilities, the need for robust oversight and adherence to international norms becomes ever more apparent. The outcome of the U.S. investigation and TFASA’s response will likely set precedents for future defence collaborations and technological exchanges between nations.