NEWS & EVENTS - ACQUISITIONS
1 July 2005
First SA Gripens only months away
Acquisitions
The first Saab Gripen advanced multirole fighter for the South African Air Force (SAAF) should be completed and rolled out in the last quarter of this year and is scheduled to make its first flight this November."This aircraft is in final assemb...
30 June 2005
A-400M contract signed
Acquisitions
It was reported on SAAF News that the contract to acquire the A-400M's was awarded to Airbus by Armscor on 30 June 2005. The contract value is R7 438 200 001.88.The initial order is for 8 aircrat, with another six on option....
24 May 2005
New airbus 'for peacekeeping'
Acquisitions
Deflecting criticism of the government's new multimillion-rand aircraft acquisition as "myopic", Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota said the planes were vital for peacekeeping operations. "This criticism fails to take account of the f...
1 May 2005
Going To The Tanker
Acquisitions
Gripen is cleared for air-to-air refuelling after a successful joint Swedish and South African test program. Air-to-Air refuelling (AAR) is one of the key capabilities available to Gripen export customers and for Sweden's own JAS 39C/D aircraft. ...
28 April 2005
SA joins Airbus' A400M plan
Acquisitions
Government signed a contract with Airbus Military on Thursday, under which South Africa will become a partner in the A400M airlifter programme and acquire at least eight of the transport aircraft. This confirmed the confidence placed in the programme...
25 April 2005
SA moves closer to Airbus deal
Acquisitions
South Africa is to move closer to purchasing between eight and 14 A400M military transport aircraft this week by signing a further agreement with Airbus to that effect. SA Air Force chief Lieutenant-General Carlo Gagiano has confirmed the agreement w...
23 April 2005
How underfunding is hurting SA Air Force
Acquisitions
Media reports that underfunding of the South African Air Force (SAAF) has caused the service to run down are correct, SAAF chief Lieutenant General Carlo Gagiano said on Friday."In view of recent media reports and in line with SAAF Vision 2012, ...
13 April 2005
A-Darter preferred option for Gripen
Acquisitions
The South African Air Force (SAAF) will arm its future Gripen multirole fighters with the Denel Aerospace A-Darter (Agile Darter) close-range air-to-air missile if its development can be completed in time, according to SAAF chief Lieutenant General C...
5 April 2005
Arms deal - Those Hawk jets cost us double
Acquisitions
"In a new bombshell over South Africa's multibillion-rand arms deal it has emerged that the government paid more than double for its Hawk/Gripen fighter-trainer jets - they cost R10 billion - than the price of Italian jets preferred by defen...
5 April 2005
SAAF Chief appears to pour cold water on military Airbus plans
Acquisitions
New SA Air Force chief Lieutenant-General Carlo Gagiano has seemingly poured cold water on South Africa's plans to purchase Airbus Military's A400M. Meeting the press during a visit by US Third Air Force commander Major-General Michael Gould,...
31 March 2005
SAAF Boeing 707 Re-fuelling Tanker Arrives in Sweden for Gripen Trials
Acquisitions
Saturday 19 March saw the arrival of a South African Air Force (SAAF) Boeing 707 re-fuelling tanker aircraft, at Saab's facility in Linköping, Sweden.After a 15 hour flight from South Africa, the tanker and its team of 20 SAAF aircrew and gr...
18 March 2005
Defence Dept lacks capacity to use arms deal hardware: DA
Acquisitions
The Democratic Alliance expressed its opinion on Thursday last week that the South African National Defence Force does not have the capacity to use the new military hardware being acquired. "The (defence force) is beginning to feel the consequen...
9 March 2005
Lekota defends aircraft deal
Acquisitions
Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota has defended government's green light to the procurement of military transport aircraft from Europe's Airbus Military. He divulged that South Africa would have a 5% stake in the A400M programme with spin-offs f...
10 February 2005
New deliveries of the A109 and Hawk slip
Acquisitions
It was mentioned on the SAAF News group that it was announcement at the Air Force Day Parade at Bays Hill, Zwartkop, on 1 February 2005, that it was the last occasion that the Alouette III and Impala would participate in a formation flypast at an Air...
8 February 2005
SA defence department faces a budget noose
Acquisitions
The South African Department of Defence is struggling in the face of increasing commitments and an indifferent Treasury. The department must find a further R80 million within its budget to fund an unexpected commitment of an infantry company to Darfu...
31 January 2005
Taxan system qualified on the Hawk
Acquisitions
BAE Systems, with the technical collaboration of Secapem, has qualified the South African Hawk Mk 120 with the Secapem Taxan target system.The Taxan target drogue is towed behind the aircraft and used for gunnery practice....
13 January 2005
Maiden Flight for SA's first locally assembled Hawk
Acquisitions
South Africa's first locally-assembled Hawk fighter trainer aircraft successfully completed its maiden flight earlier today.The aircraft, a BAE SYSTEMS Hawk Mk.120, was flown by South African industry test pilot, Dave Stock, together with Gordon ...
11 January 2005
First Gripen fighter for the SAAF enters final assembly stage
Acquisitions
On 11 January 2005, an important step was taken in the Gripen for South Africa program, when the first aircraft - a dual seat - entered the final assembly stage at Saab's factory in Sweden. "Today's marks an important milestone in the pr...
10 January 2005
Defence analysts slam state's 'rushed' ?1.2bn Airbus deal
Acquisitions
Defence analysts last week blamed the apparently rushed and even "secretive" deal by government late last year to buy into the new Airbus A400M project on a belated realisation of the full implications of the increased military and humanita...
3 January 2005
SAAF issues request for Oryx update
Acquisitions
It has been reported that Armscor issued a Request for Information in late December 2004 to Denel and ATE to submit information on an Oryx Mid-life update. Closing date for the submissions is end February 2005. SAAF News...
14 December 2004
Govt defends aircraft deal
Acquisitions
The government's main intention in the R8bn A400M Airbus programme is not to acquire aircraft but to participate in their design and manufacture, says the secretary for defence.The secretary, January Masilela, said in an affidavit filed in the Ca...
10 December 2004
Pennant to supply further Training Systems to support
Acquisitions
Pennant Training Systems has been contracted by BAE SYSTEMS to design, produce and supply a Virtual Aircraft Training System (VATS) for the Hawk Training Suite for the South African Air Force, production work for which has been ongoing this year.An a...
9 December 2004
SA, Airbus to sign a deal
Acquisitions
South Africa is committed to buying at least €837m worth of military aircraft in exchange for investment, technological knowledge and jobs, the transport department said on Thursday. The country has agreed to participate in the A400M multi-role ...
25 October 2004
Status of new aircraft acquisitions
Acquisitions
At an Armscor Financial Year 2003/04 presentation to the parliamentary Defence Portfolio Committee on 12 October 2004, the status of the new aircraft acquisition programmes were indicated as:Maritime Patrol Helicopters (Super Lynx)- 4 helicopters pur...
22 October 2004
Pilot training for Agusta helicopters underway
Acquisitions
The SA Air Force has started training pilots, air- and ground crew for its new fleet of Agusta A109 light utility helicopters (LUHs). The South African Department of Defence says the training is taking place at 87 Helicopter Flying school at Air Forc...
First SA Gripens only months away
Acquisitions
The first Saab Gripen advanced multirole fighter for the South African Air Force (SAAF) should be completed and rolled out in the last quarter of this year and is scheduled to make its first flight this November."This aircraft is in final assemb...
A-400M contract signed
Acquisitions
It was reported on SAAF News that the contract to acquire the A-400M's was awarded to Airbus by Armscor on 30 June 2005. The contract value is R7 438 200 001.88.The initial order is for 8 aircrat, with another six on option....
New airbus 'for peacekeeping'
Acquisitions
Deflecting criticism of the government's new multimillion-rand aircraft acquisition as "myopic", Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota said the planes were vital for peacekeeping operations. "This criticism fails to take account of the f...
Going To The Tanker
Acquisitions
Gripen is cleared for air-to-air refuelling after a successful joint Swedish and South African test program. Air-to-Air refuelling (AAR) is one of the key capabilities available to Gripen export customers and for Sweden's own JAS 39C/D aircraft. ...
SA joins Airbus' A400M plan
Acquisitions
Government signed a contract with Airbus Military on Thursday, under which South Africa will become a partner in the A400M airlifter programme and acquire at least eight of the transport aircraft. This confirmed the confidence placed in the programme...
SA moves closer to Airbus deal
Acquisitions
South Africa is to move closer to purchasing between eight and 14 A400M military transport aircraft this week by signing a further agreement with Airbus to that effect. SA Air Force chief Lieutenant-General Carlo Gagiano has confirmed the agreement w...
How underfunding is hurting SA Air Force
Acquisitions
Media reports that underfunding of the South African Air Force (SAAF) has caused the service to run down are correct, SAAF chief Lieutenant General Carlo Gagiano said on Friday."In view of recent media reports and in line with SAAF Vision 2012, ...
A-Darter preferred option for Gripen
Acquisitions
The South African Air Force (SAAF) will arm its future Gripen multirole fighters with the Denel Aerospace A-Darter (Agile Darter) close-range air-to-air missile if its development can be completed in time, according to SAAF chief Lieutenant General C...
Arms deal - Those Hawk jets cost us double
Acquisitions
"In a new bombshell over South Africa's multibillion-rand arms deal it has emerged that the government paid more than double for its Hawk/Gripen fighter-trainer jets - they cost R10 billion - than the price of Italian jets preferred by defen...
SAAF Chief appears to pour cold water on military Airbus plans
Acquisitions
New SA Air Force chief Lieutenant-General Carlo Gagiano has seemingly poured cold water on South Africa's plans to purchase Airbus Military's A400M. Meeting the press during a visit by US Third Air Force commander Major-General Michael Gould,...
SAAF Boeing 707 Re-fuelling Tanker Arrives in Sweden for Gripen Trials
Acquisitions
Saturday 19 March saw the arrival of a South African Air Force (SAAF) Boeing 707 re-fuelling tanker aircraft, at Saab's facility in Linköping, Sweden.After a 15 hour flight from South Africa, the tanker and its team of 20 SAAF aircrew and gr...
Defence Dept lacks capacity to use arms deal hardware: DA
Acquisitions
The Democratic Alliance expressed its opinion on Thursday last week that the South African National Defence Force does not have the capacity to use the new military hardware being acquired. "The (defence force) is beginning to feel the consequen...
Lekota defends aircraft deal
Acquisitions
Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota has defended government's green light to the procurement of military transport aircraft from Europe's Airbus Military. He divulged that South Africa would have a 5% stake in the A400M programme with spin-offs f...
New deliveries of the A109 and Hawk slip
Acquisitions
It was mentioned on the SAAF News group that it was announcement at the Air Force Day Parade at Bays Hill, Zwartkop, on 1 February 2005, that it was the last occasion that the Alouette III and Impala would participate in a formation flypast at an Air...
SA defence department faces a budget noose
Acquisitions
The South African Department of Defence is struggling in the face of increasing commitments and an indifferent Treasury. The department must find a further R80 million within its budget to fund an unexpected commitment of an infantry company to Darfu...
Taxan system qualified on the Hawk
Acquisitions
BAE Systems, with the technical collaboration of Secapem, has qualified the South African Hawk Mk 120 with the Secapem Taxan target system.The Taxan target drogue is towed behind the aircraft and used for gunnery practice....
Maiden Flight for SA's first locally assembled Hawk
Acquisitions
South Africa's first locally-assembled Hawk fighter trainer aircraft successfully completed its maiden flight earlier today.The aircraft, a BAE SYSTEMS Hawk Mk.120, was flown by South African industry test pilot, Dave Stock, together with Gordon ...
First Gripen fighter for the SAAF enters final assembly stage
Acquisitions
On 11 January 2005, an important step was taken in the Gripen for South Africa program, when the first aircraft - a dual seat - entered the final assembly stage at Saab's factory in Sweden. "Today's marks an important milestone in the pr...
Defence analysts slam state's 'rushed' ?1.2bn Airbus deal
Acquisitions
Defence analysts last week blamed the apparently rushed and even "secretive" deal by government late last year to buy into the new Airbus A400M project on a belated realisation of the full implications of the increased military and humanita...
SAAF issues request for Oryx update
Acquisitions
It has been reported that Armscor issued a Request for Information in late December 2004 to Denel and ATE to submit information on an Oryx Mid-life update. Closing date for the submissions is end February 2005. SAAF News...
Govt defends aircraft deal
Acquisitions
The government's main intention in the R8bn A400M Airbus programme is not to acquire aircraft but to participate in their design and manufacture, says the secretary for defence.The secretary, January Masilela, said in an affidavit filed in the Ca...
Pennant to supply further Training Systems to support
Acquisitions
Pennant Training Systems has been contracted by BAE SYSTEMS to design, produce and supply a Virtual Aircraft Training System (VATS) for the Hawk Training Suite for the South African Air Force, production work for which has been ongoing this year.An a...
SA, Airbus to sign a deal
Acquisitions
South Africa is committed to buying at least €837m worth of military aircraft in exchange for investment, technological knowledge and jobs, the transport department said on Thursday. The country has agreed to participate in the A400M multi-role ...
Status of new aircraft acquisitions
Acquisitions
At an Armscor Financial Year 2003/04 presentation to the parliamentary Defence Portfolio Committee on 12 October 2004, the status of the new aircraft acquisition programmes were indicated as:Maritime Patrol Helicopters (Super Lynx)- 4 helicopters pur...
Pilot training for Agusta helicopters underway
Acquisitions
The SA Air Force has started training pilots, air- and ground crew for its new fleet of Agusta A109 light utility helicopters (LUHs). The South African Department of Defence says the training is taking place at 87 Helicopter Flying school at Air Forc...
