NEWS & EVENTS - GENERAL
30 November 2019
SAAF Hostile Fire Indicator successfully demonstrated
General
A successful demonstration of the Armscor-sourced hostile fire indicator (HOSFIN) capability is rated as one of the 2018/19 financial year's highlights by the State-owned defence and security acquisition agency.
30 October 2019
Retracting mechanism coming for Rooivalk chin gun
General
Work is underway on a retracting mechanism for the Rooivalk attack helicopter's chin mounted 20 mm cannon as part of efforts to make the weapon more reliable.
29 October 2019
No new SAAF aircraft acquisition until budget changes
General
New aircraft will only be acquired for the South African Air Force (SAAF) when budget allocations from National Treasury change.
21 September 2019
No SAAF air capability demo this year
General
Officers on this year's Security and Defence Studies Programme (SDSP) will not see the SA Air Force (SAAF) in action at what has been an annual showcase of its abilities.
15 September 2019
Parliament hears of parlous state of the Air Force
General
The South African Air Force is in dire straits and operating in survival mode. With less than 49% of the required budget funded, it is in a state of perpetual decline due to chronic underfunding and industry performance.
9 September 2019
Could the SAAF become an air wing?
General
Parliamentarians were given six reasons for the decline in the airborne arm of service of the SANDF which could eventually see the "air force" becoming an "air wing".
8 September 2019
2020: Airforce looks to celebrate centenary through 25 years of Democracy
General
The South African Air Force (SAAF) is planning on hosting a number of activities during 2020 to celebrate the official founding of what is commonly referred to as the second oldest Commonwealth air force.
2 September 2019
Regular SAN exercises postponed by mutual consent
General
Two of the regular international exercises the SA Navy (SAN) is part of have been postponed by mutual agreement.
26 August 2019
SAAF graduates 44 new maintenance technicians
General
The South African Air Force (SAAF) has graduated 44 new artisans, who will help address the skills shortage facing the airborne arm of service.
10 August 2019
Historical hangar damaged in AFB Swartkop fire
General
A hangar fire at AFB Swartkop, home to the SAAF Museum, was contained on the morning of Saturday 10 August.
3 July 2019
Another new date for SAAF Museum air show
General
The SAAF Museum air show at Swartkop will now be held on 7 September, and not 31 August as previously reported.
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.
SAAF Hostile Fire Indicator successfully demonstrated
General
A successful demonstration of the Armscor-sourced hostile fire indicator (HOSFIN) capability is rated as one of the 2018/19 financial year's highlights by the State-owned defence and security acquisition agency.
Retracting mechanism coming for Rooivalk chin gun
General
Work is underway on a retracting mechanism for the Rooivalk attack helicopter's chin mounted 20 mm cannon as part of efforts to make the weapon more reliable.
No new SAAF aircraft acquisition until budget changes
General
New aircraft will only be acquired for the South African Air Force (SAAF) when budget allocations from National Treasury change.
No SAAF air capability demo this year
General
Officers on this year's Security and Defence Studies Programme (SDSP) will not see the SA Air Force (SAAF) in action at what has been an annual showcase of its abilities.
Parliament hears of parlous state of the Air Force
General
The South African Air Force is in dire straits and operating in survival mode. With less than 49% of the required budget funded, it is in a state of perpetual decline due to chronic underfunding and industry performance.
Could the SAAF become an air wing?
General
Parliamentarians were given six reasons for the decline in the airborne arm of service of the SANDF which could eventually see the "air force" becoming an "air wing".
2020: Airforce looks to celebrate centenary through 25 years of Democracy
General
The South African Air Force (SAAF) is planning on hosting a number of activities during 2020 to celebrate the official founding of what is commonly referred to as the second oldest Commonwealth air force.
Regular SAN exercises postponed by mutual consent
General
Two of the regular international exercises the SA Navy (SAN) is part of have been postponed by mutual agreement.
SAAF graduates 44 new maintenance technicians
General
The South African Air Force (SAAF) has graduated 44 new artisans, who will help address the skills shortage facing the airborne arm of service.
Historical hangar damaged in AFB Swartkop fire
General
A hangar fire at AFB Swartkop, home to the SAAF Museum, was contained on the morning of Saturday 10 August.
Another new date for SAAF Museum air show
General
The SAAF Museum air show at Swartkop will now be held on 7 September, and not 31 August as previously reported.
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.
