NEWS & EVENTS - GENERAL
28 May 2019
19 Squadron Oryx pilot nominated for top UN peacekeeping medal
General
The phrases “remarkable courage” and “extraordinary threat” written by no less a person than the UN Secretary-General do not affect the man they were written for. Just the opposite, he was doing his job and that it meant coming under enemy fire was part o
21 May 2019
Former SAAF Chief Denis Earp dies
General
A former chief of the SA Air Force (SAAF), retired Lieutenant General Denis Earp, died in 1 Military Hospital on Sunday night hours after attending two memorial services.
18 April 2019
Helicopter crash near Centurion
General
A SAAF light helicopter has crashed near the R101 between Ruimte and Wierda Ave in the Centurion area.
18 April 2019
2 SANDF members seriously injured in helicopter crash
General
Two members of the South African National Defence Force have been airlifted to a military hospital in Pretoria following a helicopter crash in Zwartkop.
17 April 2019
Election puts SAAF Museum airshow on hold
General
The South African Air Force (SAAF) Museum at Air Force Base Zwartkop will not hold its annual air show on May 4 with national and provincial elections four days later cited as the reason for postponement.
1 April 2019
SAAF aircraft to generate cryptocurrency to save flying costs
General
The South African Air Force (SAAF), today announced an airborne cryptocurrency mining initiative, called ‘SAAFCoin’. The initiative will make use of the excess electrical power on board its aircraft to generate cryptocurrency and save flying costs.
25 March 2019
Oryx proving its worth in Mozambique
General
The rotary-winged workhorse of the SA Air Force (SAAF) – the Oryx medium transport – is again proving its worth in flood-ravaged Mozambique.
18 March 2019
South African military assets evaluating post-Idai damage in Malawi and Mozambique
General
Tropical cyclone Idai was downgraded after making landfall on the African east coast last week but the destruction it wrought was significant and South Africa has dispatched military assets to assess and evaluate the situation in Malawi and Mozambique.
14 March 2019
Nanosatellites to the rescue for maritime patrol operations?
General
The SA Air Force’s (SAAF’s) 35 Squadron has the motto “Shaya Amanzi” (Strike the Water) in tribute to its major role – maritime patrol and surveillance.
10 March 2019
David Mabuza’s hair-raising jet landing
General
Deputy President David Mabuza endured a hair-raising landing this week at the hands of the SA Air Force, when both tyres on the left side of the VIP jet he was travelling in burst during a landing at Cape Town International Airport.
22 February 2019
Flying hours down for SAAF in latest budget
General
The South African Air Force (SAAF) has had its flying hours cut from 25 000 in the 2018/19 financial year to 17 200 the following year, the latest budget vote has revealed.
22 February 2019
Ramaphosa highlights the importance of the SANDF at Armed Forces Day
General
President Cyril Ramaphosa has emphasised the importance of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and its roles in disaster relief, peacekeeping and border safeguarding at the 2019 Armed Forces Day commemorations in Cape Town.
21 February 2019
Fifty-nine percent of defence budget is salaries
General
The need to reduce the number of people working in government service, including the national defence force, was forcibly brought home by Finance Minister Tito Mboweni during his budget address to the House of Assembly.
12 February 2019
No rush to move AFB Durban as dig-out port delayed
General
Portnet delaying plans for a dig-out port on what was previously a major international airport and currently still home to a single SA Air Force (SAAF) flying squadron has eased pressure on air force management to relocate the helicopter unit.
12 February 2019
ThoroughTec delivering more simulators to the SANDF
General
South African simulation house ThoroughTec Simulation is delivering simulators to the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) as part of several broader equipment acquisition programmes. These include Tactical Crew Training Simulators forthe Army’s B
1 February 2019
SAAF celebrates Prestige Day
General
he South African Air Force (SAAF) today celebrated Air Force Prestige Day, marking the 99th year of the establishment of the Air Force and a quarter century of a democratic air force.
29 January 2019
Defence Force reaps benefits of Armed Forces Day activities
General
The South African Navy, hosts of the 2019 iteration of Armed Forces Day, is planning a huge spectacle in and around Cape Town.
25 January 2019
Cambridge Pixel supporting SAAF radar upgrade
General
The South African Air Force (SAAF) is upgrading its secondary surveillance radars (SSRs) at six airfield across the country, with help from Tellumat and Cambridge Pixel.
4 January 2019
SAAF seeking support services for its Falcons
General
Nothing having been made public to the contrary, the SA Air Force (SAAF) is still operating in austerity mode with acquisition replaced by maintenance and product support for the existing fleet.
10 December 2018
SAAF pilot numbers boosted by 17
General
The SA Air Force (SAAF) has 17 newly minted pilots in its ranks, along with 10 new navigators and flight engineers.
21 November 2018
Inkwazi flying again
General
President Cyril Ramaphosa had to wait 10 months before he could make use of the South African Air Force’s presidential aircraft for the first time.
13 November 2018
21 Squadron apparently didn’t transport VVIPs in 2017/18
General
The latest Department of Defence (DoD) annual report has it the SA Air Force (SAAF) logged 496.3 hours flying government VVIPs and VIPs.
12 November 2018
15 Squadron integral part of rescue technician training
General
The only SA Air Force (SAAF) helicopter squadron on the east coast – 15 in Durban – recently provided airborne platforms for professional rescue technicians to fine-tune their skills.
9 November 2018
“Critical maintenance events” impact on SAAF maritime patrol capabilities
General
Aircraft used by the SA Air Force (SAAF) for the maritime patrol tasking are not only in short supply - they are also more than 80 years old.
8 November 2018
SAAF can only put two C-130s into the air at any one time
General
Ever-increasing demands coupled to diminishing resources are putting what was once called “The Pride of the Nation” into an unenviable situation.
19 Squadron Oryx pilot nominated for top UN peacekeeping medal
General
The phrases “remarkable courage” and “extraordinary threat” written by no less a person than the UN Secretary-General do not affect the man they were written for. Just the opposite, he was doing his job and that it meant coming under enemy fire was part o
Former SAAF Chief Denis Earp dies
General
A former chief of the SA Air Force (SAAF), retired Lieutenant General Denis Earp, died in 1 Military Hospital on Sunday night hours after attending two memorial services.
Helicopter crash near Centurion
General
A SAAF light helicopter has crashed near the R101 between Ruimte and Wierda Ave in the Centurion area.
2 SANDF members seriously injured in helicopter crash
General
Two members of the South African National Defence Force have been airlifted to a military hospital in Pretoria following a helicopter crash in Zwartkop.
Election puts SAAF Museum airshow on hold
General
The South African Air Force (SAAF) Museum at Air Force Base Zwartkop will not hold its annual air show on May 4 with national and provincial elections four days later cited as the reason for postponement.
SAAF aircraft to generate cryptocurrency to save flying costs
General
The South African Air Force (SAAF), today announced an airborne cryptocurrency mining initiative, called ‘SAAFCoin’. The initiative will make use of the excess electrical power on board its aircraft to generate cryptocurrency and save flying costs.
Oryx proving its worth in Mozambique
General
The rotary-winged workhorse of the SA Air Force (SAAF) – the Oryx medium transport – is again proving its worth in flood-ravaged Mozambique.
South African military assets evaluating post-Idai damage in Malawi and Mozambique
General
Tropical cyclone Idai was downgraded after making landfall on the African east coast last week but the destruction it wrought was significant and South Africa has dispatched military assets to assess and evaluate the situation in Malawi and Mozambique.
Nanosatellites to the rescue for maritime patrol operations?
General
The SA Air Force’s (SAAF’s) 35 Squadron has the motto “Shaya Amanzi” (Strike the Water) in tribute to its major role – maritime patrol and surveillance.
David Mabuza’s hair-raising jet landing
General
Deputy President David Mabuza endured a hair-raising landing this week at the hands of the SA Air Force, when both tyres on the left side of the VIP jet he was travelling in burst during a landing at Cape Town International Airport.
Flying hours down for SAAF in latest budget
General
The South African Air Force (SAAF) has had its flying hours cut from 25 000 in the 2018/19 financial year to 17 200 the following year, the latest budget vote has revealed.
Ramaphosa highlights the importance of the SANDF at Armed Forces Day
General
President Cyril Ramaphosa has emphasised the importance of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and its roles in disaster relief, peacekeeping and border safeguarding at the 2019 Armed Forces Day commemorations in Cape Town.
Fifty-nine percent of defence budget is salaries
General
The need to reduce the number of people working in government service, including the national defence force, was forcibly brought home by Finance Minister Tito Mboweni during his budget address to the House of Assembly.
No rush to move AFB Durban as dig-out port delayed
General
Portnet delaying plans for a dig-out port on what was previously a major international airport and currently still home to a single SA Air Force (SAAF) flying squadron has eased pressure on air force management to relocate the helicopter unit.
ThoroughTec delivering more simulators to the SANDF
General
South African simulation house ThoroughTec Simulation is delivering simulators to the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) as part of several broader equipment acquisition programmes. These include Tactical Crew Training Simulators forthe Army’s B
SAAF celebrates Prestige Day
General
he South African Air Force (SAAF) today celebrated Air Force Prestige Day, marking the 99th year of the establishment of the Air Force and a quarter century of a democratic air force.
Defence Force reaps benefits of Armed Forces Day activities
General
The South African Navy, hosts of the 2019 iteration of Armed Forces Day, is planning a huge spectacle in and around Cape Town.
Cambridge Pixel supporting SAAF radar upgrade
General
The South African Air Force (SAAF) is upgrading its secondary surveillance radars (SSRs) at six airfield across the country, with help from Tellumat and Cambridge Pixel.
SAAF seeking support services for its Falcons
General
Nothing having been made public to the contrary, the SA Air Force (SAAF) is still operating in austerity mode with acquisition replaced by maintenance and product support for the existing fleet.
SAAF pilot numbers boosted by 17
General
The SA Air Force (SAAF) has 17 newly minted pilots in its ranks, along with 10 new navigators and flight engineers.
Inkwazi flying again
General
President Cyril Ramaphosa had to wait 10 months before he could make use of the South African Air Force’s presidential aircraft for the first time.
21 Squadron apparently didn’t transport VVIPs in 2017/18
General
The latest Department of Defence (DoD) annual report has it the SA Air Force (SAAF) logged 496.3 hours flying government VVIPs and VIPs.
15 Squadron integral part of rescue technician training
General
The only SA Air Force (SAAF) helicopter squadron on the east coast – 15 in Durban – recently provided airborne platforms for professional rescue technicians to fine-tune their skills.
“Critical maintenance events” impact on SAAF maritime patrol capabilities
General
Aircraft used by the SA Air Force (SAAF) for the maritime patrol tasking are not only in short supply - they are also more than 80 years old.
SAAF can only put two C-130s into the air at any one time
General
Ever-increasing demands coupled to diminishing resources are putting what was once called “The Pride of the Nation” into an unenviable situation.
