Summary of SAAF plans
Date: 18 July 2001
In line with the previously released Defence Review, the active fleet will be reduced by cutting the Impala fleet from the current 48 Mk I and Mk IIs operated to 24 airframes, while the number of Cheetah C/Ds is to be reduced to 28 from 39. The Pilatus PC-7 Mk II Astra fleet will be shrunk to from 58 airframes to 40.
AFB Ysterplaat is to be drastically scaled down, with the ultimate aim of closing the base, while the SAAF will move out of AFB Swartkop as soon as possible. AFB Ysterplaat Detached, situated at Cape Town IAP, will be upgraded to Air Force Station (AFS) Cape Town. AFB Durban will be scaled back to become an AFS with some of its helicopters based at AFS Port Elizabeth. Commercial operations will also be allowed at AFB Waterkloof.
The new Hawk squadron will be based at AFB Hoedspruit. The first is due to fly in March 2003, with delivery to TFDC scheduled for July 2003. The full fleet is expected by June 2006, six months after the release to operational service. The first Gripen, a two-seater, is due to arrive at TFDC in mid 2006. They will be based at AFB Louis Trichardt, replacing the Cheetahs. The first single seater will be delivered following nine two-seaters in November 2009. The first of 30 Agusta A 109Ms will be arriving in early 2003, with the first squadron operational by 2004.
The fleet of five Boeing 707 tanker/EW and 12 C-130 Hercules aircraft will be retained for the foreseeable future.
