NEWS & EVENTS - GENERAL
17 May 2012
Defence Force to take over Umtata airport
General
The South African Defence Force is preparing to take over the running of the under-utilised Umtata airport in the Eastern Cape.
11 May 2012
Ysterplaat Honours the Fallen
General
AFB Ysterplaat held its annual Air Force Memorial Service today in which the airforce recalls the memory of thousands of its members who gave their lives in service for their country in times of war and in times of peace.
11 May 2012
Last four Gripens to arrive in South Africa in September
General
The SAAF’s last four Gripens, currently in Sweden, will be delivered in August/September this year.
3 May 2012
Flying School might move from Langebaan
General
An acute shortage of money may forced the Air Force to move the flight school from Langebaan in the Western Cape to Hoedspruit in Limpopo.
1 May 2012
International air exercise to be held in South Africa?
General
Apart from planning and training with the three other current Gripen user countries, the SAAF\'s new generation of jet pilots were able to demonstrate their flying skills in an environment far different to that they are used to at the just concluded Exerc
21 April 2012
TFDC Fly-In 2012
General
The TFDC Fly-in took place on 20 April 2012 at its usual place on AFB Overberg. Each year the dedicated organisation team go one step further to make the day better than the previous show and this year was no exception.
17 April 2012
Airbus Military offers C-295 for South African requirements
General
Airbus Military is demonstrating its C-295 transport aircraft to the SAAF in the hopes of receiving an order to fulfil its transport and maritime patrol requirements.
12 April 2012
Airborne undercurrent at naval symposium
General
One may be forgiven for thinking that the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium concluding in Cape Town today was all about surface ships and other naval matters. However, at least two stands displaying naval hardware had another agenda up their sleeves.
9 April 2012
SA pilots 'shot down nine aircraft'
General
The South African Air Force has trained four fighter pilots during the past year.
3 April 2012
SA's Gripen pilots to get more flying hours
General
The SAAF is hopeful that the pilots of its Gripen fighters will be granted significantly more flying hours during the financial year, which started on April 1.
1 April 2012
Swatkop to undergo name and title changes
General
Ministerial approval is presently being sought for the official change of both title and name from the present \'Swartkop\' to \'Air Force Base Zwartkop\'.
30 March 2012
SAAF Gripens taking part in Exercise Lion Effort
General
The SAAF is for the first time taking part in Exercise Lion Effort in Sweden, a tactical exercise intended to enhance interoperability between Gripen user countries.
29 March 2012
SAAF signs maintenance agreement with Denel
General
Denel Aviation has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the SAAF to promote the maintenance on a wide range of aircraft flown by the Air Force.
28 March 2012
Navy support for new patrol aircraft
General
The South African Navy has expressed strong support for the Airforce to acquire new maritime patrol aircraft.
26 March 2012
Lt Gen Gagiano to remain as CAF for a while longer
General
There will be no change of command parade at Swartkop Airfield on Friday to welcome a new Chief of the SA Air Force - Lt Gen Carlo Gagiano is staying on for at least another six months.
23 March 2012
SA triumphs during joint SA/German naval exercises
General
A South African submarine has once again come up trumps during recent naval exercises between the navies of South Africa and Germany.
23 March 2012
Rooivalk upgrades almost complete; final deliveries pending
General
By Guy MartinDenel Aviation will shortly delivery the last five Rooivalk attack helicopters to the South African Air Force (SAAF), allowing the upgraded aircraft to enter operational service. The first five upgraded machines were handed over...
20 March 2012
Flight Test Centre readies for airshow
General
AFB Overberg, home of the airforce\'s Test Flight and Development Centre near Bredasdorp in the southern Cape, is getting ready to wow the public with its own distinctive brand of airshow on Saturday 21 April 2012.
16 March 2012
SA Airforce's Gripen to flex wings in Sweden
General
The SAAF will participate for the first time in a multi-national air exercise with its Gripen fighter aircraft in Sweden the Air Force announced today.
8 March 2012
Sisulu stalls SA Air Force meeting
General
Defence Minister Lindiwe Sisulu on Thursday suggested a meeting with SA Air Force top brass be held behind closed doors.
7 March 2012
A-Darter January flight tests successful
General
The Denel Dynamics A-Darter 5th generation infra-red guided short range air-to-air missile is a step closer to production following a successful series of undisclosed guided launches in January. The joint R1 billion missile programme betwe...
2 March 2012
Air Force budget hovers at inflation rate
General
The South African Air Force\'s budget will modestly increase in the next three years, after falling from 2008.
22 February 2012
Defence budget up
General
The defence budget is up. The Estimates of National Expenditure document released this afternoon with Minister of Finance Pravin Gordhan\'s annual budget speech shows R37 492 954 allocated for the year beginning April 1.
17 February 2012
Museum acquires new helicopter exhibits
General
The SAAF Museum has acquired two new exhibits that symbolise the technological prowess of the South African aeronautical industry in the late twentieth century.
10 February 2012
Joint South African / German naval exercises set for next month
General
A German navy frigate is due in South Africa at the end of the month to partake in Exercise Good Hope V, a series of naval and air exercises between Germany and South Africa.
Defence Force to take over Umtata airport
General
The South African Defence Force is preparing to take over the running of the under-utilised Umtata airport in the Eastern Cape.
Ysterplaat Honours the Fallen
General
AFB Ysterplaat held its annual Air Force Memorial Service today in which the airforce recalls the memory of thousands of its members who gave their lives in service for their country in times of war and in times of peace.
Last four Gripens to arrive in South Africa in September
General
The SAAF’s last four Gripens, currently in Sweden, will be delivered in August/September this year.
Flying School might move from Langebaan
General
An acute shortage of money may forced the Air Force to move the flight school from Langebaan in the Western Cape to Hoedspruit in Limpopo.
International air exercise to be held in South Africa?
General
Apart from planning and training with the three other current Gripen user countries, the SAAF\'s new generation of jet pilots were able to demonstrate their flying skills in an environment far different to that they are used to at the just concluded Exerc
TFDC Fly-In 2012
General
The TFDC Fly-in took place on 20 April 2012 at its usual place on AFB Overberg. Each year the dedicated organisation team go one step further to make the day better than the previous show and this year was no exception.
Airbus Military offers C-295 for South African requirements
General
Airbus Military is demonstrating its C-295 transport aircraft to the SAAF in the hopes of receiving an order to fulfil its transport and maritime patrol requirements.
Airborne undercurrent at naval symposium
General
One may be forgiven for thinking that the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium concluding in Cape Town today was all about surface ships and other naval matters. However, at least two stands displaying naval hardware had another agenda up their sleeves.
SA pilots 'shot down nine aircraft'
General
The South African Air Force has trained four fighter pilots during the past year.
SA's Gripen pilots to get more flying hours
General
The SAAF is hopeful that the pilots of its Gripen fighters will be granted significantly more flying hours during the financial year, which started on April 1.
Swatkop to undergo name and title changes
General
Ministerial approval is presently being sought for the official change of both title and name from the present \'Swartkop\' to \'Air Force Base Zwartkop\'.
SAAF Gripens taking part in Exercise Lion Effort
General
The SAAF is for the first time taking part in Exercise Lion Effort in Sweden, a tactical exercise intended to enhance interoperability between Gripen user countries.
SAAF signs maintenance agreement with Denel
General
Denel Aviation has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the SAAF to promote the maintenance on a wide range of aircraft flown by the Air Force.
Navy support for new patrol aircraft
General
The South African Navy has expressed strong support for the Airforce to acquire new maritime patrol aircraft.
Lt Gen Gagiano to remain as CAF for a while longer
General
There will be no change of command parade at Swartkop Airfield on Friday to welcome a new Chief of the SA Air Force - Lt Gen Carlo Gagiano is staying on for at least another six months.
SA triumphs during joint SA/German naval exercises
General
A South African submarine has once again come up trumps during recent naval exercises between the navies of South Africa and Germany.
Rooivalk upgrades almost complete; final deliveries pending
General
By Guy MartinDenel Aviation will shortly delivery the last five Rooivalk attack helicopters to the South African Air Force (SAAF), allowing the upgraded aircraft to enter operational service. The first five upgraded machines were handed over...
Flight Test Centre readies for airshow
General
AFB Overberg, home of the airforce\'s Test Flight and Development Centre near Bredasdorp in the southern Cape, is getting ready to wow the public with its own distinctive brand of airshow on Saturday 21 April 2012.
SA Airforce's Gripen to flex wings in Sweden
General
The SAAF will participate for the first time in a multi-national air exercise with its Gripen fighter aircraft in Sweden the Air Force announced today.
Sisulu stalls SA Air Force meeting
General
Defence Minister Lindiwe Sisulu on Thursday suggested a meeting with SA Air Force top brass be held behind closed doors.
A-Darter January flight tests successful
General
The Denel Dynamics A-Darter 5th generation infra-red guided short range air-to-air missile is a step closer to production following a successful series of undisclosed guided launches in January. The joint R1 billion missile programme betwe...
Air Force budget hovers at inflation rate
General
The South African Air Force\'s budget will modestly increase in the next three years, after falling from 2008.
Defence budget up
General
The defence budget is up. The Estimates of National Expenditure document released this afternoon with Minister of Finance Pravin Gordhan\'s annual budget speech shows R37 492 954 allocated for the year beginning April 1.
Museum acquires new helicopter exhibits
General
The SAAF Museum has acquired two new exhibits that symbolise the technological prowess of the South African aeronautical industry in the late twentieth century.
Joint South African / German naval exercises set for next month
General
A German navy frigate is due in South Africa at the end of the month to partake in Exercise Good Hope V, a series of naval and air exercises between Germany and South Africa.
