NEWS & EVENTS - GENERAL
30 May 2018
SAAF moving to make 21 Squadron airworthy
General
Steps are being taken to make the SA Air Force’s (SAAF) VIP transport squadron airworthy again with the latest development being a series of engineering support and procurement tenders issued by Armscor for the squadron’s three Falcon bizjets.
24 May 2018
Rooivalk DRC deployment costs revealed
General
The South African Ministry of Defence has for the first time revealed the operating and deployment costs of the three Denel Rooivalk combat support helicopters deployed to the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the DRC (MONUSCO).
19 May 2018
Taxpayers face R200m bill for Zuma aircraft bungle
General
A bungle by Department of Defence head honchos in leasing planes for the president and his deputy is set to cost taxpayers more than R200-million.
11 May 2018
SAAF shopping for spares and maintenance
General
It appears better use is being made of the minimal funding allocated to the SA Air Force (SAAF) which now wants parts for its Cessna Caravans and “ad-hoc maintenance” for its King Airs.
4 May 2018
SAAF helicopter group in DRC logging less hours
General
The home-grown South African Rooialk combat support helicopter has gained more than its fair share of admirers during its first continental deployment but the number of hours logged on missions continues to decrease and its return home appears to be immin
20 April 2018
Mapisa-Nqakula says SANDF VVIP fleet grounded
General
Six aircraft make up 21 Squadron - that’s the name for the fleet of aircraft that’s meant to fly the country’s top dignitaries. None of them can take off because no maintenance contracts are in place.
18 April 2018
Emergency landing for military helicopter in Margate, KZN
General
A military helicopter made an emergency landing near the Margate whale deck earlier today.
13 April 2018
SAAF adds new maintenance technicians
General
The South African Air Force (SAAF) has added new aircraft maintenance technicians to its ranks, with 65 artisans being reclassified during a passing out parade this morning.
9 April 2018
Shortfall of more than R7 billion for SAAF air defence programme
General
The SA Air Force (SAAF) has a shortfall in excess of R7 billion to provide “prepared and supported air defence capabilities for the defence and protection of South Africa,” according to the Department of Defence (DoD) 2018 Annual Performance Plan.
6 April 2018
Silver Falcons gearing up for 2018 season
General
Team 82 of the Silver Falcons is busy getting ready for the 2018 air show season and will perform its first display at Zwartkop next month.
1 April 2018
South African Air Force announces major basing change
General
In an effort to save costs and create better security, the South African Air Force (SAAF) has announced that as part of a radical change in its basing strategy all of its operational air bases will be closed and aircraft will be dispersed around the count
29 March 2018
No damage in Airforce cargo plane taxiway excursion
General
It would appear that the incident involving a South African Air Force (SAAF) cargo plane which ran off a taxiway in Bloemfontein this past Monday resulted in no damage to the aircraft.
28 March 2018
Mystery surrounds airforce cargo plane off taxiway
General
The circumstances surrounding the taxiing incident where a South African Air Force (SAAF) cargo plane ran off a taxiway this past week is still a mystery.
19 March 2018
SAA Technical to maintain presidential VVIP jet
General
Armscor is about to place an order with SAA Technical for the maintenance of the Presidential VVIP Boeing Business Jet, according to defence minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula. This comes as President Cyril Ramaphosa has criticised the minister for having t
8 March 2018
SANDF revises presidential flight procedures after Ramaphosa's Moti flight
General
nternal processes around the procurement of private aircraft for presidential flights have been revised following news reports that President Cyril Ramaphosa flew on an aircraft owned by the Moti company.
28 February 2018
Defence budget makes no provision for Defence Review funding – DA
General
The allocation of R47.9 billion for the 2018/18 financial year to defence by former finance minister Malusi Gigaba during his sole national budget presentation before being moved back to the home affairs portfolio is 7.24% lower than the previous year acc
24 February 2018
Rooivalks may return from the DRC
General
According to highly-placed sources in the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), Rooivalk attack helicopters deployed to the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) may end this year, following a request received fr
22 February 2018
Defence allocation from National Treasury for 2018/19 down on previous year
General
The budget unveiled by Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba on Wednesday showed again that defence is one of the poor relations in the government family. In real terms the amount of money allocated to the Department of Defence and Military Veterans (DoDMV) has
8 February 2018
DRC Rooivalks notch up a first
General
Now in its fifth year of deployment with the UN Force Intervention Brigade (FIB) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a pair of Rooivalk combat support helicopters notched up a first when manned by all-black crews on an escort mission.
8 February 2018
No maintenance contracts for several SAAF aircraft types
General
Opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) party shadow defence and military veterans minister, Kobus Marais, received unexpected extra insight into the number of serviceable aircraft types in the SA Air Force (SAAF) when he posed a Parliamentary question on air
2 February 2018
SAAF honoured during annual Prestige Day
General
The SAAF honoured its serving and fallen members and highlighted challenges and achievements during its annual Air Force Prestige Day parade and flypast at Air Force Base Zwartkop this morning.
9 January 2018
New leadership at Cape airbases and squadrons (Updated)
General
Two of the three South African Air Force bases located in the Western Cape province have received new commanding officers: AFB Overberg and AFB Ysterplaat.
8 January 2018
Armscor maintains SAAF cockpit upgrades are on track
General
What top South African military analyst Helmoed Heitman has called “political correctness gone insane” is proceeding according to plan.
31 December 2017
Holding Pattern (End of year message and Review)
General
The past year has generally seen the South African Air Force (SAAF) survive more or less intact. With no increase in budget likely anytime soon, the SAAF is in a perpetual state of waiting with suspended progress for the foreseeable future … just like las
11 December 2017
Update: Eight injured after Cape Oryx flies through wires
General
The South African Air Force (SAAF) helicopter that crashed on the N1 highway just outside Cape Town on Sunday morning was transporting a helicopter engine when if flew through newly erected wires.
SAAF moving to make 21 Squadron airworthy
General
Steps are being taken to make the SA Air Force’s (SAAF) VIP transport squadron airworthy again with the latest development being a series of engineering support and procurement tenders issued by Armscor for the squadron’s three Falcon bizjets.
Rooivalk DRC deployment costs revealed
General
The South African Ministry of Defence has for the first time revealed the operating and deployment costs of the three Denel Rooivalk combat support helicopters deployed to the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the DRC (MONUSCO).
Taxpayers face R200m bill for Zuma aircraft bungle
General
A bungle by Department of Defence head honchos in leasing planes for the president and his deputy is set to cost taxpayers more than R200-million.
SAAF shopping for spares and maintenance
General
It appears better use is being made of the minimal funding allocated to the SA Air Force (SAAF) which now wants parts for its Cessna Caravans and “ad-hoc maintenance” for its King Airs.
SAAF helicopter group in DRC logging less hours
General
The home-grown South African Rooialk combat support helicopter has gained more than its fair share of admirers during its first continental deployment but the number of hours logged on missions continues to decrease and its return home appears to be immin
Mapisa-Nqakula says SANDF VVIP fleet grounded
General
Six aircraft make up 21 Squadron - that’s the name for the fleet of aircraft that’s meant to fly the country’s top dignitaries. None of them can take off because no maintenance contracts are in place.
Emergency landing for military helicopter in Margate, KZN
General
A military helicopter made an emergency landing near the Margate whale deck earlier today.
SAAF adds new maintenance technicians
General
The South African Air Force (SAAF) has added new aircraft maintenance technicians to its ranks, with 65 artisans being reclassified during a passing out parade this morning.
Shortfall of more than R7 billion for SAAF air defence programme
General
The SA Air Force (SAAF) has a shortfall in excess of R7 billion to provide “prepared and supported air defence capabilities for the defence and protection of South Africa,” according to the Department of Defence (DoD) 2018 Annual Performance Plan.
Silver Falcons gearing up for 2018 season
General
Team 82 of the Silver Falcons is busy getting ready for the 2018 air show season and will perform its first display at Zwartkop next month.
South African Air Force announces major basing change
General
In an effort to save costs and create better security, the South African Air Force (SAAF) has announced that as part of a radical change in its basing strategy all of its operational air bases will be closed and aircraft will be dispersed around the count
No damage in Airforce cargo plane taxiway excursion
General
It would appear that the incident involving a South African Air Force (SAAF) cargo plane which ran off a taxiway in Bloemfontein this past Monday resulted in no damage to the aircraft.
Mystery surrounds airforce cargo plane off taxiway
General
The circumstances surrounding the taxiing incident where a South African Air Force (SAAF) cargo plane ran off a taxiway this past week is still a mystery.
SAA Technical to maintain presidential VVIP jet
General
Armscor is about to place an order with SAA Technical for the maintenance of the Presidential VVIP Boeing Business Jet, according to defence minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula. This comes as President Cyril Ramaphosa has criticised the minister for having t
SANDF revises presidential flight procedures after Ramaphosa's Moti flight
General
nternal processes around the procurement of private aircraft for presidential flights have been revised following news reports that President Cyril Ramaphosa flew on an aircraft owned by the Moti company.
Defence budget makes no provision for Defence Review funding – DA
General
The allocation of R47.9 billion for the 2018/18 financial year to defence by former finance minister Malusi Gigaba during his sole national budget presentation before being moved back to the home affairs portfolio is 7.24% lower than the previous year acc
Rooivalks may return from the DRC
General
According to highly-placed sources in the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), Rooivalk attack helicopters deployed to the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) may end this year, following a request received fr
Defence allocation from National Treasury for 2018/19 down on previous year
General
The budget unveiled by Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba on Wednesday showed again that defence is one of the poor relations in the government family. In real terms the amount of money allocated to the Department of Defence and Military Veterans (DoDMV) has
DRC Rooivalks notch up a first
General
Now in its fifth year of deployment with the UN Force Intervention Brigade (FIB) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a pair of Rooivalk combat support helicopters notched up a first when manned by all-black crews on an escort mission.
No maintenance contracts for several SAAF aircraft types
General
Opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) party shadow defence and military veterans minister, Kobus Marais, received unexpected extra insight into the number of serviceable aircraft types in the SA Air Force (SAAF) when he posed a Parliamentary question on air
SAAF honoured during annual Prestige Day
General
The SAAF honoured its serving and fallen members and highlighted challenges and achievements during its annual Air Force Prestige Day parade and flypast at Air Force Base Zwartkop this morning.
New leadership at Cape airbases and squadrons (Updated)
General
Two of the three South African Air Force bases located in the Western Cape province have received new commanding officers: AFB Overberg and AFB Ysterplaat.
Armscor maintains SAAF cockpit upgrades are on track
General
What top South African military analyst Helmoed Heitman has called “political correctness gone insane” is proceeding according to plan.
Holding Pattern (End of year message and Review)
General
The past year has generally seen the South African Air Force (SAAF) survive more or less intact. With no increase in budget likely anytime soon, the SAAF is in a perpetual state of waiting with suspended progress for the foreseeable future … just like las
Update: Eight injured after Cape Oryx flies through wires
General
The South African Air Force (SAAF) helicopter that crashed on the N1 highway just outside Cape Town on Sunday morning was transporting a helicopter engine when if flew through newly erected wires.
