variant, signal variant, ambulance variant, command variant, fire support variant, and artillery variant. The section and fire support variants will be equipped with the 30 mm (30×173 mm) GI-30 cannon locally developed by Denel Land Systems. Deliveries were scheduled between 2019 and 2022 but problems at Denel have caused delay's with no vehicles delivered to the South African Army, Armscor has recommended cancelling the contract and the funds to be spent on Ratel upgrades instead. Paramount Group believes a better alternative is to supply its Mbombe 8 infantry fighting vehicles to the South African Army which is a similar vehicle to the Badger as an immediately available and alternative to the long-delayed Badger vehicle. In Armed Forces Day 2023 South Africa an unknown number of Badger IFVs was seen in service with the South African Army. Projects Sepula and Vistula The South African Army has deferred the acquisition of trucks and armoured vehicles to replace its Samil and Casspir fleets under Projects Sepula and Vistula as it explores domestic refurbishment and production. Project Vistula aimed to replace the Samil 50/100 4×4/6×6 truck fleet and Project Sepula aimed to replace the Casspir and Mamba armoured personnel carrier fleets of the South African Army. Projects Biro and Hotel Project Biro will supply three new Warrior-class Multirole Inshore Patrols Vessels (MMIPVS) to the South African Navy to take over and replace the maritime coastal patrol function currently executed by the obsolete Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) SAS Isaac Dyobha and SAS Makhanda. The second future acquisition project for the SA Navy falls under Project Hotel, Project Hotel was initiated to replace the ageing SAS Protea, the SA Navy’s current hydrographic vessel which is more than 50 years old. The delivery of the South African Navy’s new Hydrographic Survey Vessel under Project Hotel has been delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the 2021 South African unrest, the vessel is expected to be delivered sometime between the end of 2023 or early 2024. The vessel will be equipped with the latest survey equipment which includes multi- and single beam echo-sounders as well as side-scan sonar and a seabed sampler to recover material from the seafloor and underlying sub-strata for detailed analytical and testing purposes. Other future acquisitions The South African Air Force's top priority is to acquire new strategic airlift aircraft to replace its ageing C-130BZ Hercules. The SAAF is deciding whether to upgrade its