NEWS & EVENTS - GENERAL
13 November 2023
Cape Town hosts first 'Turn Towards Busan' Korean War commemorative ceremony
General
In a heartfelt tribute to the South Africans who served and lost their lives under the UN flag during the 1950-53 Korean War, the inaugural Cape Town "Turn Towards Busan" commemorative ceremony took place this past Saturday.
31 October 2023
Most SAAF aircraft maintenance contracts only partially funded
General
State defence materiel agency Armscor has maintenance contracts in place for most South African Air Force (SAAF) aircraft, but most of these are only partially funded at present.
30 October 2023
South African Air Force Chief highlights challenges of underfunding
General
Lieutenant General Wiseman Mbambo, Chief of the South African Air Force (SAAF), recently spoke to defenceWeb about the challenges faced by the Air Force due to underfunding and the need for increased financial support.
23 October 2023
IP for SAAF C-130BZ avionics held by UK company
General
With work underway on SAAF C-130BZ Hercules (409) in England – the reply to a Parliamentary question brought to light the company awarded the work holds the IP (intellectual property) for the avionics suite of the ageing medium airlifters.
19 October 2023
SAAF in crisis as aircraft serviceability drops to less than 20%
General
The continued emasculation of the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) was vividly brought to the fore by Defence and Military Veterans Minister Thandi Modise when answering a Parliamentary question
18 October 2023
SAAF Gripen engine support contract finally awarded
General
Armscor has placed a support contract with GKN Aerospace for the maintenance of the SAAF’s Gripen engines, meaning both engines and airframes are now fully supported for South Africa’s fighter jet fleet.
17 October 2023
No maintenance contracts in place for multiple SAAF aircraft types
General
Armscor does not have maintenance contracts in place for three of the South African Air Force’s (SAAF’s) aircraft types, with challenges finding a C-47TP maintainer indicating the type could be permanently grounded.
13 October 2023
SAAF assists Overberg communities following Cape floods
General
A SAAF BK 117 helicopter from 15 Squadron last month assisted flood-stricken communities in the Overberg region of the Western Cape after heavy flooding left many towns cut off from the outside world.
4 October 2023
SAAF just beats austerity adjusted flying hour target
General
Implementation of austerity measures at the SA Air Force (SAAF) saw it pass – even if only slightly – a reduced flying hour target for the 2022/23 financial year.
4 October 2023
SAAF pilots training at the International Test Pilots School in Canada
General
The International Test Pilots School (ITPS) in Canada is training three South African Air Force (SAAF) pilots and an engineer, who joined the first course of 2023.
5 September 2023
SAAF to host a space symposium in 2024
General
Current SA Air Force (SAAF) Chief, Lieutenant General Wiseman Mbambo, used last week’s National Space Conference to expand on his service’s â€"readiness to engage with the space sectorâ€.
4 September 2023
SAAF’s Charlie Flight to the rescue
General
The lone SA Air Force (SAAF) presence in Eastern Cape – 15 Squadron’s Charlie Flight – showed its rescue capabilities when called on by the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI).
31 August 2023
South African Air Force, Lesotho Defence Force strengthen ties
General
Members of the Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) are in South Africa under a cooperation agreement aimed at furthering air arm training.
31 August 2023
SAAF celebrates 75 years of helicopter operations
General
This past Saturday, 26 August, saw the annual gathering of surviving members of the South African Air Force (SAAF) helicopter squadrons and associated support services come together at the SAAF Museum at Swartkop, in Pretoria, to celebrate the 75th annive
25 August 2023
Give the SAAF a break!
General
It has become a running joke that the general public, and much of the media, will always assume the worst of the SAAF. â€"Damned if you do, damned if you don’t†is a view commonly expressed in the force, along with a bemused questioning of whether any
24 August 2023
No project name needed for SAAF C-130BZ Hercules work
General
Spending a billion Rand to upgrade two ageing SA Air Force (SAAF) medium transport aircraft does not necessitate a project being registered.
22 August 2023
SAAF aircraft unavailability to be questioned in Parliament
General
Armscor’s seeming inability to â€"conclude†maintenance contracts for equipment in SA National Defence Force (SANDF) service, especially aircraft, has reached an untenable point, with questions coming for Defence and Military Veterans Minster Thandi M
21 August 2023
Lack of maintenance contract grounds SAAF C-208 Caravans
General
The SA Air Force (SAAF) has had to ground its Cessna 208 Caravan light transport aircraft with age and funding cited as guilty partners.
20 August 2023
SANDF pilots grounded due to unairworthy aircraft
General
Pilots from a critical SA Air Force (SAAF) unit are grounded and doing desk jobs because Armscor, the state arms procurement agency, is failing to maintain and repair its aircraft.
17 August 2023
Marshall Aerospace welcomes second round of SAAF business
General
The SAAF C-130BZ currently at Marshall Aerospace in Cambridge is not the first of type from South Africa to be in the United Kingdom for maintenance and upgrading – it was preceded in the early 2000s by others as part of Project Ebb.
9 August 2023
SAAF Hercules Fleet Begins UK Upgrades Amid Funding Challenges
General
SAAF C-130BZ Hercules 409 left Air Force Base Waterkloof on the evening of 8 August for a lengthy flight to the United Kingdom for maintenance and upgrades.
7 August 2023
SAAF to help ATNS with air traffic control amid staff shortage
General
The South African Air Force (SAAF) is to deploy Air Traffic Controllers (ATC) to civilian airports around South Africa due to a staff shortage at the State-owned Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS) company.
28 July 2023
Eyebrows raised after SA Air Force chief revokes cancellation of officers’ course despite fitness fail
General
The chief of the South African Air Force, Lieutenant-General Wiseman Mbambo, recently ordered that a cancelled officers’ forming course ‘proceed as planned’, despite more than half of the candidates failing to meet the fitness requirements. Defence
27 July 2023
Denel and Aselsan further collaborate on Rooivalk modernisation
General
Denel Aeronautics and Aselsan have signed an agreement covering future avionics modernisation of the Rooivalk attack helicopter, following an earlier memorandum of understanding announced at AAD exhibition last year.
25 July 2023
Change of plan for aspirant South African Air Force officers who failed fitness test
General
Goalposts have been moved – temporarily it appears – for a component of the SA Air Force (SAAF) officers’ forming course (OFC).
Cape Town hosts first 'Turn Towards Busan' Korean War commemorative ceremony
General
In a heartfelt tribute to the South Africans who served and lost their lives under the UN flag during the 1950-53 Korean War, the inaugural Cape Town "Turn Towards Busan" commemorative ceremony took place this past Saturday.
Most SAAF aircraft maintenance contracts only partially funded
General
State defence materiel agency Armscor has maintenance contracts in place for most South African Air Force (SAAF) aircraft, but most of these are only partially funded at present.
South African Air Force Chief highlights challenges of underfunding
General
Lieutenant General Wiseman Mbambo, Chief of the South African Air Force (SAAF), recently spoke to defenceWeb about the challenges faced by the Air Force due to underfunding and the need for increased financial support.
IP for SAAF C-130BZ avionics held by UK company
General
With work underway on SAAF C-130BZ Hercules (409) in England – the reply to a Parliamentary question brought to light the company awarded the work holds the IP (intellectual property) for the avionics suite of the ageing medium airlifters.
SAAF in crisis as aircraft serviceability drops to less than 20%
General
The continued emasculation of the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) was vividly brought to the fore by Defence and Military Veterans Minister Thandi Modise when answering a Parliamentary question
SAAF Gripen engine support contract finally awarded
General
Armscor has placed a support contract with GKN Aerospace for the maintenance of the SAAF’s Gripen engines, meaning both engines and airframes are now fully supported for South Africa’s fighter jet fleet.
No maintenance contracts in place for multiple SAAF aircraft types
General
Armscor does not have maintenance contracts in place for three of the South African Air Force’s (SAAF’s) aircraft types, with challenges finding a C-47TP maintainer indicating the type could be permanently grounded.
SAAF assists Overberg communities following Cape floods
General
A SAAF BK 117 helicopter from 15 Squadron last month assisted flood-stricken communities in the Overberg region of the Western Cape after heavy flooding left many towns cut off from the outside world.
SAAF just beats austerity adjusted flying hour target
General
Implementation of austerity measures at the SA Air Force (SAAF) saw it pass – even if only slightly – a reduced flying hour target for the 2022/23 financial year.
SAAF pilots training at the International Test Pilots School in Canada
General
The International Test Pilots School (ITPS) in Canada is training three South African Air Force (SAAF) pilots and an engineer, who joined the first course of 2023.
SAAF to host a space symposium in 2024
General
Current SA Air Force (SAAF) Chief, Lieutenant General Wiseman Mbambo, used last week’s National Space Conference to expand on his service’s â€"readiness to engage with the space sectorâ€.
SAAF’s Charlie Flight to the rescue
General
The lone SA Air Force (SAAF) presence in Eastern Cape – 15 Squadron’s Charlie Flight – showed its rescue capabilities when called on by the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI).
South African Air Force, Lesotho Defence Force strengthen ties
General
Members of the Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) are in South Africa under a cooperation agreement aimed at furthering air arm training.
SAAF celebrates 75 years of helicopter operations
General
This past Saturday, 26 August, saw the annual gathering of surviving members of the South African Air Force (SAAF) helicopter squadrons and associated support services come together at the SAAF Museum at Swartkop, in Pretoria, to celebrate the 75th annive
Give the SAAF a break!
General
It has become a running joke that the general public, and much of the media, will always assume the worst of the SAAF. â€"Damned if you do, damned if you don’t†is a view commonly expressed in the force, along with a bemused questioning of whether any
No project name needed for SAAF C-130BZ Hercules work
General
Spending a billion Rand to upgrade two ageing SA Air Force (SAAF) medium transport aircraft does not necessitate a project being registered.
SAAF aircraft unavailability to be questioned in Parliament
General
Armscor’s seeming inability to â€"conclude†maintenance contracts for equipment in SA National Defence Force (SANDF) service, especially aircraft, has reached an untenable point, with questions coming for Defence and Military Veterans Minster Thandi M
Lack of maintenance contract grounds SAAF C-208 Caravans
General
The SA Air Force (SAAF) has had to ground its Cessna 208 Caravan light transport aircraft with age and funding cited as guilty partners.
SANDF pilots grounded due to unairworthy aircraft
General
Pilots from a critical SA Air Force (SAAF) unit are grounded and doing desk jobs because Armscor, the state arms procurement agency, is failing to maintain and repair its aircraft.
Marshall Aerospace welcomes second round of SAAF business
General
The SAAF C-130BZ currently at Marshall Aerospace in Cambridge is not the first of type from South Africa to be in the United Kingdom for maintenance and upgrading – it was preceded in the early 2000s by others as part of Project Ebb.
SAAF Hercules Fleet Begins UK Upgrades Amid Funding Challenges
General
SAAF C-130BZ Hercules 409 left Air Force Base Waterkloof on the evening of 8 August for a lengthy flight to the United Kingdom for maintenance and upgrades.
SAAF to help ATNS with air traffic control amid staff shortage
General
The South African Air Force (SAAF) is to deploy Air Traffic Controllers (ATC) to civilian airports around South Africa due to a staff shortage at the State-owned Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS) company.
Eyebrows raised after SA Air Force chief revokes cancellation of officers’ course despite fitness fail
General
The chief of the South African Air Force, Lieutenant-General Wiseman Mbambo, recently ordered that a cancelled officers’ forming course ‘proceed as planned’, despite more than half of the candidates failing to meet the fitness requirements. Defence
Denel and Aselsan further collaborate on Rooivalk modernisation
General
Denel Aeronautics and Aselsan have signed an agreement covering future avionics modernisation of the Rooivalk attack helicopter, following an earlier memorandum of understanding announced at AAD exhibition last year.
Change of plan for aspirant South African Air Force officers who failed fitness test
General
Goalposts have been moved – temporarily it appears – for a component of the SA Air Force (SAAF) officers’ forming course (OFC).
