South Africa�s range of airborne assets is used to protect the country against air threats, provide fire-support to forces and protect infrastructure through interdiction and closeair support. To utilise the available Air Force resources to provide humanitarian and support services internally and in the region. To fulfil a primary role in providing air power in a future balanced, modern and technologically advanced National Defence Force. This requires well-integrated airspace surveillance and command and control systems. George Counts Jr., died in a car crash along with his wife and[…], The Chief of the Air Force unveiled the Collective Heritage Display Hall at the Swartkop branch of the SAAF Museum on Thursday 15th of September. About 400 air force personnel are women. The South African Air Force (SAAF) Museum houses its main branch at Air Force Base Swartkop where various historical artefacts of the SAAF are displayed in both static and flying conditions. It is home to the SAAF’s Central Flying School (CFS) and used to be known as CFS Langebaanweg until a name change in 2001.

The air force is under the overall command of the chief of the air force, a lieutenant general, who is assisted by the chief of the air force staff and the air force inspector general. At AFB Swartkop, 104 Squadron and 17 Squadron provide light transport and VIP transport services respectively. The airbase is home to the light transport 101 Squadron and, more recently, 19 Squadron, which conducted bombing and strafing activities in Greece and the former Yugoslavia during the Second World War.

Browse over 50,000 other reports on our store. }, Page last modified: document.getElementsByTagName("head")[0].appendChild(script); To provide the State with professional and cost effective operational air capabilities to support interest groups in accordance with the constitution. The South African Air Force (SAAF) included about 7,000 career active-duty troops and 3,000 active-duty volunteers who are fulfilling their national service obligations, as of 1996. AFB Waterkloof is also home to the Central Photographic Institute, the Joint Air Reconnaissance Intelligence Centre, the Electronic Warfare Centre and the SAAF Telecommunications Centre. To retain the necessary operational capability to deter potential aggressors in general and potentially aggressive air forces in particular. To be a source of pride and loyalty for all its members and all the people of South Africa.

Visit GlobalData Store. To enjoy high esteem in defence, state, national and international circles as a result of its professionalism, preparedness and operational efficiency. Since 1956, AFB Durban has shared runways with Durban International Airport, just south of the city. Effective air defence depends on detecting, identifying, tracking, intercepting and destroying potential air threats. – Mlangeni, 95, was the last surviving Rivonia trialist, spending more than quarter of a century imprisoned on Cape Town’s notorious Robben island before his release in 1989.

(function(src){var a=document.createElement("script");a.type="text/javascript";a.async=true;a.src=src;var b=document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0];b.parentNode.insertBefore(a,b)})("//experience.tinypass.com/xbuilder/experience/load?aid=bYdYZQml5V"); The South African Air Force (SAAF) included about 7,000 career active-duty troops and 3,000 active-duty volunteers who are fulfilling their national service obligations, as of 1996. During Operation Savannah (1975 - 1976) the SAAF deployed helicopters, light aircraft and transport in different roles in support of a South African task force in Angola. Equally important however, is the decisive role of intelligence in precise ordnance delivery, rapid force projection and the quick and effective deployment, support and recovery of our forces from combat situations. Expect to find helicopters such as the Denel Rooivalk, the Atlas Oryx and the Augusta Westland AW109 LUH at this airbase. 2 Squadron was the last to use the Atlas Impala II before it was retired by the SAAF in 2005. The use of air capabilities has, in fact, become indispensable to defence support operations. The SAAF’s most northern airbase, AFB Makhado is located near the Zimbabwean border in Limpopo and was established in 1940. The Central Flying School is said to operate around 60 Pilatus PC-7 trainer aircraft, which are capable of basic aerobatics, tactical and night flying training. The only aircraft currently stationed at AFB Hoedspruit these days are Oryx and AW109 utility helicopters. The work of the Test Flight and Development Centre focuses on training and makes use of a range of trainer aircraft including P-7Cs, the BAE Systems Hawk Mk120, and the now retired-from-service Atlas Cheetah D. AFB Overberg is located on the south coast in the Western Cape. Democratic Alliance (DA) shadow defence and military veterans minister Kobus Marais wanted Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula to provide some detail as regards problems facing the SAAF in keeping its fleet of fixed and rotary-wing aircraft airworthy.


SAAF squadrons have fought in several conflicts, including World War II, the Korean War, and in Africa the Namibian War of Independence and the South West Africa/Angola Border War. The air force is often called up to assist in military evacuation and rapid deployment, strategic lift, air supply and airborne operations or civil society operations such as search and rescue, support to other security services, diplomatic interventions, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. Operating from frigates. AFB Bloemspruit is located in the centre of South Africa, near Bloemfontein in the province of Free State, and shares its runways with Bloemfontein airport. } The school leases various retired Lockheed Ventura aircraft and Cessna Caravan, PC-7s and Douglas C-47s from other units as required. 105 Squadron, a territorial reserve squadron, also operates at AFB Durban, providing land-based crime prevention assistance to the Army and police force where necessary. A photo of[…], The 315th Airlift Wing received news late last week that one of its members, Senior Master Sgt. var script = document.createElement("script"); Key air capabilities are also used in peacekeeping missions and combined security operations, providing air transport for ordered and diplomatic commitments, and air support to civil authorities and for South Africa�s international obligations. There are nine official air force bases (AFB) in South Africa that have been established since the South African Air Force (SAAF) was founded almost a century ago.
Mapisa-Nqakula�s response came ahead of the air force�s centenary celebration, officially marked on 01 February 2020 and commemorated with a series of events culminating at the Africa Aerospace and Defence (AAD) exhibition at AFB Waterkloof in September 2020. It serves nine squadrons in total including 21 Squadron VIP transport, 28 Squadron medium transport and two other light transport squadrons, while 60 Squadron conducts activities such as in-flight refuelling, and electronic warfare and electronic intelligence. Built using WordPress and the EmpowerWP Theme, The History of the South African Air Force (SAAF), Painting Donation – SAAF Spitfire MkIXe AX-K 5553.

The airfield is responsible for the management of the Northern Cape Vastrap Weapons Range, an airfield around 500km to the north-west of Bloemspruit, used by the SAAF 16 Squadron attack helicopter squadron to practice tactical bombing operations due to its remote location in the Kalahari Desert. Helicopters at the base include the Oryx and the anti-submarine warfare AW Super Lynx 300. This is where you will find the SAAF’s Test Flight and Development Centre and the accompanying 525 Squadron, which provides security services for the AFB Overberg. Despite the commercial airport closing in 2010, no replacement was made for the 15 Squadron, which still currently operate at the airport. The fleet includes C-47TPs which are more than 70 years old, and C-130BZs, operated by 28 Squadron for over 50 years.

The SAAF Museum is an integral part of safeguarding the collective heritage and history of the SAAF. script.setAttribute("onerror", "setNptTechAdblockerCookie(true);"); d.setTime(d.getTime() + 60 * 60 * 24 * 2 * 1000);

While static systems provide much of this capability, South Africa�s deployed forces can also rely on mobile, organic air, land and sea systems for protection. Browse over 50,000 other reports on our store. As far as flying airworthy aircraft are concerned she said �the decision to stop flying will be determined by airworthiness and aviation safety considerations�. Fighter jets at AFB Makhado include the Saab Gripen C and D models, as well as the BAE Hawk fighter jet trainer aircraft. Msimang also mentioned that the Air Force last week welcomed the return of young pilots and technicians from training in Cuba. From the late seventies onwards the SAAF participated in all subsequent military operations, and played a key role in major operations such as Reindeer (1978), Rekstok (1979), Safraan (1979), Sceptic (1980), Protea (1981), Daisy (1981), Mebos (1982), Phoenix (1983), Askari (1983 - 1984) and Egret (1985). How were the air force bases in South Africa established and what are they used for in recent times?