NEWS & EVENTS - GENERAL
11 April 2025
SAAF King Air loses door on take-off
General
The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) can confirm that a SAAF King Air aircraft was involved in an aviation-related incident upon take off from the Lanseria airport during its maintenance flight from Lanseria airport to Air Force Base Waterkloo
3 April 2025
SAAF urgently seeking spares for four types in its fleet
General
The SA Air Force (SAAF) is, via Armscor, urgently looking for spare and replacement parts for four types in its fleet.
1 April 2025
SANDF Says South Africa Can Conquer Any Nation With Fewer Than Six Working Aircrafts
General
The SANDF has issued a bold statement, claiming it is now capable of conquering any nation with an air force that has fewer than six working aircraft. Military analysts are still trying to determine which, if any, nations meet this strict criterion.
28 March 2025
SAAF VVIP squadron logs minimal flying hours
General
21 Squadron, the SAAF’s dedicated VVIP and VIP transport unit, fell far short of allocated flying hours in the 2023/24 financial year " its prime asset, the Presidential Boeing 737-7ED, logged just 123 of an allocated 540 hours amid wider serviceability p
27 March 2025
Setting the record straight on SAAF aircraft availability
General
The SAAF is facing a severe operational crisis, with aircraft availability at critically low levels across all divisions. A recent assessment covering the six-month period from September 2024 to March 2025, which defenceWeb has seen, lays bare the extent
17 March 2025
Helicopter remains anyone?
General
Armscor, via its Defence Disposal Services (DDS), plans to dispose of the remains of an Agusta A109 light utility helicopter that crashed in 2016, by way of a contract issued this month (March).
12 March 2025
New SA Defence budget for 2025/26 released
General
The new SA Defence budget for 2025/26 has been released! Herewith a few comments upon initial (and very quick) review. The total Dept of Defence budget for 2025/26 budget is R58.52 bn, an increase from R55.94 bn in 2024/25. What does this mean?
18 February 2025
SANDF makes 2026 MSDS application forms available
General
The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has opened its Military Skills Development System (MSDS) applications for 2026, allowing young and deserving South Africans the chance to join the military on a two-year contract.
31 January 2025
Shrinking SAAF budget puts Denel’s aircraft maintenance and repair facilities in jeopardy
General
Answering a Parliamentary question regarding Denel aircraft maintenance capabilities, Defence and Military Veterans Minister Angie Motshekga acknowledged the State-owned defence and technology conglomerate faced a skilled personnel shortage as well as hav
31 January 2025
SAAF explains golf day held amid DRC fighting
General
All revenue generated by this week’s SA Air Force (SA) golf day " better known as the CAF (Chief Air Force) golf day " will go to support the families of 13 soldiers killed in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
7 January 2025
South African delegation visits Embraer as interest remains high in its C-390 transport
General
South African Air Force (SAAF) representatives were among a high-level government delegation that was recently given a tour of Embraer’s facilities in Brazil, including C-390 Millenium and A-29 Super Tucano production lies.
27 December 2024
New SAAF Deputy Chief
General
Come Wednesday 1 January Major General Lancelot Mathebula will add the post of SA Air Force (SAAF) Deputy Chief to his current duties as project leader of the fledgling SA National Defence Force (SANDF) Space Command.
22 December 2024
SA Air Force clips wings of local cadets training in Cuba
General
Air force cadets will no longer be trained in Cuba after the SA Air Force (SAAF) officially terminated its agreement with the government of that country.
10 December 2024
A year’s worth of work ahead to make three Rooivalks airworthy after DRC return
General
December next year is when three Rooivalk combat support helicopters now back in South Africa are expected to return to service.
5 December 2024
Successful Hawk weapons camp at AFB Overberg
General
November was a good month for some SA Air Force (SAAF) personnel, particularly those involved in the jet line, with a 19 day weapons camp at Air Force Base (AFB) Overberg.
2 December 2024
SAAF Rooivalks return from the DRC
General
The three South African Air Force (SAAF) Rooivalk attack helicopters serving with the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have been flown back to South Africa after years of inactivity.
28 November 2024
SAAF adds 40 technical ground crew to personnel strength
General
The ground crew component of the SA Air Force (SAAF) is 40 artisans better off following official reclassification as artisans.
22 November 2024
Nod of approval for Ex Eagle Eye II
General
The SA Air Force (SAAF) force preparation exercise Eagle Eye finished with an all-round thumbs-up for mission accomplishment at the Alldays airport (ADY/FAAL) two weeks after teams moved in for preparatory work.
21 November 2024
Air Force and Navy ‘hardly operational’ as SANDF performance declines
General
The South African Navy and Air Force have, due to a lack of maintenance and funding, seen key assets become less productive, resulting in a decline in time at sea and hours flown. This has resulted in a Navy and Air Force that are hardly operational, SCOP
18 November 2024
All SAAF rotary wing maintenance contracts underfunded
General
None of the maintenance contracts in place for the South African Air Force’s (SAAF’s) five helicopter types are fully funded.
14 November 2024
Most SAAF fixed wing maintenance contracts underfunded
General
Most of the maintenance contracts state defence materiel agency Armscor has in place for the South African Air Force’s (SAAF’s) fixed wing aircraft are only partially funded at present.
5 November 2024
SAAF Ex Eagle Eye II underway in Limpopo
General
The SAAF is honing and evaluating the various skills that make up the force’s combat readiness by way of Exercise Eagle Eye II, working from a remote location in the Limpopo province.
5 November 2024
Lack of SAAF aircraft a huge impediment to SA’s search and rescue capabilities
General
The limited to no availability of SAAF aircraft for search and rescue (SAR) operations “is a huge challenge,” the South African Search and Rescue (SASAR) organisation has said in its latest annual report, adding that funding shortfalls and resource limita
28 October 2024
SAAF personnel hear force is asset rich but cash poor
General
Four weeks after AFB Waterkloof hosted a successful Africa Aerospace and Defence (AAD) exhibition, SAAF Chief Lt Gen Wiseman Mbambo called on the force’s transport centre of excellence to update base personnel on the state of the SAAF.
22 October 2024
Surprise Skies: SAAF Steals the Show at AFB Ysterplaat Outdoor Event
General
The South African Air Force (SAAF) delivered an unexpected treat to Cape Town's aviation enthusiasts with a stealthy air display at AFB Ysterplaat, during the South African 4x4 & Outdoor Show (Western Cape), held on the weekend of 19 and 20 October 2024.
SAAF King Air loses door on take-off
General
The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) can confirm that a SAAF King Air aircraft was involved in an aviation-related incident upon take off from the Lanseria airport during its maintenance flight from Lanseria airport to Air Force Base Waterkloo
SAAF urgently seeking spares for four types in its fleet
General
The SA Air Force (SAAF) is, via Armscor, urgently looking for spare and replacement parts for four types in its fleet.
SANDF Says South Africa Can Conquer Any Nation With Fewer Than Six Working Aircrafts
General
The SANDF has issued a bold statement, claiming it is now capable of conquering any nation with an air force that has fewer than six working aircraft. Military analysts are still trying to determine which, if any, nations meet this strict criterion.
SAAF VVIP squadron logs minimal flying hours
General
21 Squadron, the SAAF’s dedicated VVIP and VIP transport unit, fell far short of allocated flying hours in the 2023/24 financial year " its prime asset, the Presidential Boeing 737-7ED, logged just 123 of an allocated 540 hours amid wider serviceability p
Setting the record straight on SAAF aircraft availability
General
The SAAF is facing a severe operational crisis, with aircraft availability at critically low levels across all divisions. A recent assessment covering the six-month period from September 2024 to March 2025, which defenceWeb has seen, lays bare the extent
Helicopter remains anyone?
General
Armscor, via its Defence Disposal Services (DDS), plans to dispose of the remains of an Agusta A109 light utility helicopter that crashed in 2016, by way of a contract issued this month (March).
New SA Defence budget for 2025/26 released
General
The new SA Defence budget for 2025/26 has been released! Herewith a few comments upon initial (and very quick) review. The total Dept of Defence budget for 2025/26 budget is R58.52 bn, an increase from R55.94 bn in 2024/25. What does this mean?
SANDF makes 2026 MSDS application forms available
General
The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has opened its Military Skills Development System (MSDS) applications for 2026, allowing young and deserving South Africans the chance to join the military on a two-year contract.
Shrinking SAAF budget puts Denel’s aircraft maintenance and repair facilities in jeopardy
General
Answering a Parliamentary question regarding Denel aircraft maintenance capabilities, Defence and Military Veterans Minister Angie Motshekga acknowledged the State-owned defence and technology conglomerate faced a skilled personnel shortage as well as hav
SAAF explains golf day held amid DRC fighting
General
All revenue generated by this week’s SA Air Force (SA) golf day " better known as the CAF (Chief Air Force) golf day " will go to support the families of 13 soldiers killed in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
South African delegation visits Embraer as interest remains high in its C-390 transport
General
South African Air Force (SAAF) representatives were among a high-level government delegation that was recently given a tour of Embraer’s facilities in Brazil, including C-390 Millenium and A-29 Super Tucano production lies.
New SAAF Deputy Chief
General
Come Wednesday 1 January Major General Lancelot Mathebula will add the post of SA Air Force (SAAF) Deputy Chief to his current duties as project leader of the fledgling SA National Defence Force (SANDF) Space Command.
SA Air Force clips wings of local cadets training in Cuba
General
Air force cadets will no longer be trained in Cuba after the SA Air Force (SAAF) officially terminated its agreement with the government of that country.
A year’s worth of work ahead to make three Rooivalks airworthy after DRC return
General
December next year is when three Rooivalk combat support helicopters now back in South Africa are expected to return to service.
Successful Hawk weapons camp at AFB Overberg
General
November was a good month for some SA Air Force (SAAF) personnel, particularly those involved in the jet line, with a 19 day weapons camp at Air Force Base (AFB) Overberg.
SAAF Rooivalks return from the DRC
General
The three South African Air Force (SAAF) Rooivalk attack helicopters serving with the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have been flown back to South Africa after years of inactivity.
SAAF adds 40 technical ground crew to personnel strength
General
The ground crew component of the SA Air Force (SAAF) is 40 artisans better off following official reclassification as artisans.
Nod of approval for Ex Eagle Eye II
General
The SA Air Force (SAAF) force preparation exercise Eagle Eye finished with an all-round thumbs-up for mission accomplishment at the Alldays airport (ADY/FAAL) two weeks after teams moved in for preparatory work.
Air Force and Navy ‘hardly operational’ as SANDF performance declines
General
The South African Navy and Air Force have, due to a lack of maintenance and funding, seen key assets become less productive, resulting in a decline in time at sea and hours flown. This has resulted in a Navy and Air Force that are hardly operational, SCOP
All SAAF rotary wing maintenance contracts underfunded
General
None of the maintenance contracts in place for the South African Air Force’s (SAAF’s) five helicopter types are fully funded.
Most SAAF fixed wing maintenance contracts underfunded
General
Most of the maintenance contracts state defence materiel agency Armscor has in place for the South African Air Force’s (SAAF’s) fixed wing aircraft are only partially funded at present.
SAAF Ex Eagle Eye II underway in Limpopo
General
The SAAF is honing and evaluating the various skills that make up the force’s combat readiness by way of Exercise Eagle Eye II, working from a remote location in the Limpopo province.
Lack of SAAF aircraft a huge impediment to SA’s search and rescue capabilities
General
The limited to no availability of SAAF aircraft for search and rescue (SAR) operations “is a huge challenge,” the South African Search and Rescue (SASAR) organisation has said in its latest annual report, adding that funding shortfalls and resource limita
SAAF personnel hear force is asset rich but cash poor
General
Four weeks after AFB Waterkloof hosted a successful Africa Aerospace and Defence (AAD) exhibition, SAAF Chief Lt Gen Wiseman Mbambo called on the force’s transport centre of excellence to update base personnel on the state of the SAAF.
Surprise Skies: SAAF Steals the Show at AFB Ysterplaat Outdoor Event
General
The South African Air Force (SAAF) delivered an unexpected treat to Cape Town's aviation enthusiasts with a stealthy air display at AFB Ysterplaat, during the South African 4x4 & Outdoor Show (Western Cape), held on the weekend of 19 and 20 October 2024.
