Armed forces creak to a halt
Date: 6 October 2000
A CONFIDENTIAL defence department report has painted a grim picture of decrepit machinery and shortages of ammunition and fuel in South Africa’s armed forces.
The reports states that the airforce would have to ground 88 aircraft and 46 helicopters and be able to fly only 67% of the required flying hours. It also no longer had an in-flight refuelling or electronic warfare capability. Three airbases would have to close and the number of long range radar systems would be halved to three.
Daily Mail & Guardian
