NEWS & EVENTS - GENERAL
22 February 2019
Ramaphosa highlights the importance of the SANDF at Armed Forces Day
General
President Cyril Ramaphosa has emphasised the importance of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and its roles in disaster relief, peacekeeping and border safeguarding at the 2019 Armed Forces Day commemorations in Cape Town.
21 February 2019
Fifty-nine percent of defence budget is salaries
General
The need to reduce the number of people working in government service, including the national defence force, was forcibly brought home by Finance Minister Tito Mboweni during his budget address to the House of Assembly.
12 February 2019
No rush to move AFB Durban as dig-out port delayed
General
Portnet delaying plans for a dig-out port on what was previously a major international airport and currently still home to a single SA Air Force (SAAF) flying squadron has eased pressure on air force management to relocate the helicopter unit.
12 February 2019
ThoroughTec delivering more simulators to the SANDF
General
South African simulation house ThoroughTec Simulation is delivering simulators to the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) as part of several broader equipment acquisition programmes. These include Tactical Crew Training Simulators forthe Army's B
1 February 2019
SAAF celebrates Prestige Day
General
he South African Air Force (SAAF) today celebrated Air Force Prestige Day, marking the 99th year of the establishment of the Air Force and a quarter century of a democratic air force.
29 January 2019
Defence Force reaps benefits of Armed Forces Day activities
General
The South African Navy, hosts of the 2019 iteration of Armed Forces Day, is planning a huge spectacle in and around Cape Town.
25 January 2019
Cambridge Pixel supporting SAAF radar upgrade
General
The South African Air Force (SAAF) is upgrading its secondary surveillance radars (SSRs) at six airfield across the country, with help from Tellumat and Cambridge Pixel.
4 January 2019
SAAF seeking support services for its Falcons
General
Nothing having been made public to the contrary, the SA Air Force (SAAF) is still operating in austerity mode with acquisition replaced by maintenance and product support for the existing fleet.
10 December 2018
SAAF pilot numbers boosted by 17
General
The SA Air Force (SAAF) has 17 newly minted pilots in its ranks, along with 10 new navigators and flight engineers.
21 November 2018
Inkwazi flying again
General
President Cyril Ramaphosa had to wait 10 months before he could make use of the South African Air Force's presidential aircraft for the first time.
13 November 2018
21 Squadron apparently didn't transport VVIPs in 2017/18
General
The latest Department of Defence (DoD) annual report has it the SA Air Force (SAAF) logged 496.3 hours flying government VVIPs and VIPs.
12 November 2018
15 Squadron integral part of rescue technician training
General
The only SA Air Force (SAAF) helicopter squadron on the east coast – 15 in Durban – recently provided airborne platforms for professional rescue technicians to fine-tune their skills.
9 November 2018
"Critical maintenance events" impact on SAAF maritime patrol capabilities
General
Aircraft used by the SA Air Force (SAAF) for the maritime patrol tasking are not only in short supply - they are also more than 80 years old.
8 November 2018
SAAF can only put two C-130s into the air at any one time
General
Ever-increasing demands coupled to diminishing resources are putting what was once called "The Pride of the Nation" into an unenviable situation.
1 November 2018
Reserves to be "classified" for better utilisation
General
The revamp of the Reserve Force service system will see changes for South Africa's part-time soldiers with among others, a classification system creating different levels of soldier.
26 October 2018
SAAF on firefighting duty in Southern Cape
General
A SA Air Force (SAAF) Oryx medium transport helicopter again showed its worth this week in a single day of firefighting operations in the southern Cape.
22 October 2018
A-Darter ready for launch
General
Denel Dynamics recently completed its V3E Agile Darter (A-Darter) air-to-air missile qualification tests, making deliveries to the South African Air Force (SAAF) a step closer.
19 October 2018
SAAF uses majority of allocated flying hours
General
In the 2017/18 financial year the SA Air Force (SAAF) achieved 81% of its targeted five thousand flying hours.
4 October 2018
Saab puts senior executive in SA to push for Gripen MS20 upgrade
General
Saab has placed a senior executive in South Africa to try and persuade the South African Air Force (SAAF) to buy into the Gripen's latest upgrade progamme.
2 October 2018
SANDF officer falls to his death during training demonstration
General
An investigation has been launched into the circumstances leading up to the death of a Sergeant who fell out of a helicopter during a roping demonstration at the weekend.
27 September 2018
SAAF CHU medal parade in DR Congo
General
The cloud hanging over the future of the SAAF composite helicopter unit (CHU) deployed in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) was nowhere to be seen during a medal parade this month addressed by the MONUSCO Force Commander.
19 September 2018
SAAF helicopter damaged during capability demonstration
General
A South African Air Force (SAAF) Oryx medium-transport helicopter was damaged when it landed hard during an Air Capability Demonstration yesterday.
19 September 2018
Air power capability display marred by Oryx "hard landing"
General
Tuesday's SA Air Force (SAAF) air power capability display in Limpopo was marred by an Oryx emergency landing, fortunately with no injuries.
12 September 2018
SAAF Museum Spitfire fighter project at 'critical point'
General
The South African Air Force (SAAF) Museum project to rebuild, into flying condition, one of only two Supermarine Spitfires in South Africa has reached a critical point, requiring significant investment to be able to effectively proceed.
5 September 2018
SAAF helicopter damaged in DRC evading ground fire
General
A SAAF helicopter was slightly damaged whilst evading ground fire in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Tuesday.
Ramaphosa highlights the importance of the SANDF at Armed Forces Day
General
President Cyril Ramaphosa has emphasised the importance of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and its roles in disaster relief, peacekeeping and border safeguarding at the 2019 Armed Forces Day commemorations in Cape Town.
Fifty-nine percent of defence budget is salaries
General
The need to reduce the number of people working in government service, including the national defence force, was forcibly brought home by Finance Minister Tito Mboweni during his budget address to the House of Assembly.
No rush to move AFB Durban as dig-out port delayed
General
Portnet delaying plans for a dig-out port on what was previously a major international airport and currently still home to a single SA Air Force (SAAF) flying squadron has eased pressure on air force management to relocate the helicopter unit.
ThoroughTec delivering more simulators to the SANDF
General
South African simulation house ThoroughTec Simulation is delivering simulators to the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) as part of several broader equipment acquisition programmes. These include Tactical Crew Training Simulators forthe Army's B
SAAF celebrates Prestige Day
General
he South African Air Force (SAAF) today celebrated Air Force Prestige Day, marking the 99th year of the establishment of the Air Force and a quarter century of a democratic air force.
Defence Force reaps benefits of Armed Forces Day activities
General
The South African Navy, hosts of the 2019 iteration of Armed Forces Day, is planning a huge spectacle in and around Cape Town.
Cambridge Pixel supporting SAAF radar upgrade
General
The South African Air Force (SAAF) is upgrading its secondary surveillance radars (SSRs) at six airfield across the country, with help from Tellumat and Cambridge Pixel.
SAAF seeking support services for its Falcons
General
Nothing having been made public to the contrary, the SA Air Force (SAAF) is still operating in austerity mode with acquisition replaced by maintenance and product support for the existing fleet.
SAAF pilot numbers boosted by 17
General
The SA Air Force (SAAF) has 17 newly minted pilots in its ranks, along with 10 new navigators and flight engineers.
Inkwazi flying again
General
President Cyril Ramaphosa had to wait 10 months before he could make use of the South African Air Force's presidential aircraft for the first time.
21 Squadron apparently didn't transport VVIPs in 2017/18
General
The latest Department of Defence (DoD) annual report has it the SA Air Force (SAAF) logged 496.3 hours flying government VVIPs and VIPs.
15 Squadron integral part of rescue technician training
General
The only SA Air Force (SAAF) helicopter squadron on the east coast – 15 in Durban – recently provided airborne platforms for professional rescue technicians to fine-tune their skills.
"Critical maintenance events" impact on SAAF maritime patrol capabilities
General
Aircraft used by the SA Air Force (SAAF) for the maritime patrol tasking are not only in short supply - they are also more than 80 years old.
SAAF can only put two C-130s into the air at any one time
General
Ever-increasing demands coupled to diminishing resources are putting what was once called "The Pride of the Nation" into an unenviable situation.
Reserves to be "classified" for better utilisation
General
The revamp of the Reserve Force service system will see changes for South Africa's part-time soldiers with among others, a classification system creating different levels of soldier.
SAAF on firefighting duty in Southern Cape
General
A SA Air Force (SAAF) Oryx medium transport helicopter again showed its worth this week in a single day of firefighting operations in the southern Cape.
A-Darter ready for launch
General
Denel Dynamics recently completed its V3E Agile Darter (A-Darter) air-to-air missile qualification tests, making deliveries to the South African Air Force (SAAF) a step closer.
SAAF uses majority of allocated flying hours
General
In the 2017/18 financial year the SA Air Force (SAAF) achieved 81% of its targeted five thousand flying hours.
Saab puts senior executive in SA to push for Gripen MS20 upgrade
General
Saab has placed a senior executive in South Africa to try and persuade the South African Air Force (SAAF) to buy into the Gripen's latest upgrade progamme.
SANDF officer falls to his death during training demonstration
General
An investigation has been launched into the circumstances leading up to the death of a Sergeant who fell out of a helicopter during a roping demonstration at the weekend.
SAAF CHU medal parade in DR Congo
General
The cloud hanging over the future of the SAAF composite helicopter unit (CHU) deployed in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) was nowhere to be seen during a medal parade this month addressed by the MONUSCO Force Commander.
SAAF helicopter damaged during capability demonstration
General
A South African Air Force (SAAF) Oryx medium-transport helicopter was damaged when it landed hard during an Air Capability Demonstration yesterday.
Air power capability display marred by Oryx "hard landing"
General
Tuesday's SA Air Force (SAAF) air power capability display in Limpopo was marred by an Oryx emergency landing, fortunately with no injuries.
SAAF Museum Spitfire fighter project at 'critical point'
General
The South African Air Force (SAAF) Museum project to rebuild, into flying condition, one of only two Supermarine Spitfires in South Africa has reached a critical point, requiring significant investment to be able to effectively proceed.
SAAF helicopter damaged in DRC evading ground fire
General
A SAAF helicopter was slightly damaged whilst evading ground fire in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Tuesday.
