Air Force budget hovers at inflation rate
Date: 2 March 2012
The South African Air Force's budget will modestly increase in the next three years, after falling from 2008. National Treasury says it is expected to increase to R7.7 billion over the medium term, at an average annual rate of 6.6 percent. Inflation in January was 6.3 percent.
The budget for FY2011/12 was R6.4 billion while the FY2008/09 budget stood at around R8 billion.
The Estimates of National Expenditure (ENE) document (Vote 22, Defence and Military Veterans) explains expenditure in the Helicopter Capability subprogramme is expected to decrease from R747.5 million in 2011/12 to R693.5 million in 2014/15, at an average annual rate of 2.5 percent, due to the completion of the Rooivalk combat support helicopter project (Impose) and the Oryx operational helicopter project upgrade (Drummer II).
The projected 17.7 percent increase in spending in this subprogramme in 2012/13 is for the backlog in terms of maintenance and repair on the helicopter systems. The 54.9 percent decrease in spending in the Training Capability subprogramme in 2012/13 is due to the finalisation of the replacement of the Astra training aircraft avionic suite project (Ithambo). Expenditure in the Transport and Maritime Capability subprogramme is expected to decrease from R711.3 million in 2011/12 to R495.5 million in 2012/13 due to the finalisation of the replacement of the Astra training aircraft avionic suite project, and is expected to increase to R1.3 billion in 2013/14 due to the operationalisation of the acquisition project of the light/medium transport aircraft (Saucepan).
Treasury adds the SAAF's task is to defend and protect South Africa and its territory by providing:
- 4 helicopter squadrons and 1 combat support squadron per year; 3 medium transport squadrons
(including one VIP squadron), 1 maritime and transport squadron, 1 light transport squadron and 9
reserve squadrons at the required readiness levels per year;
- 1 air combat squadron per year;
- 24-hour air command and control capability.
The document explains the flying service as follows:
· Strategic Direction provides strategic direction to the Air Defence programme by formulating and controlling strategies, policies and plans via the air force office to prepare and provide the capabilities required by the Chief of the South African National Defence Force. This subprogramme had a staff complement of 40 and a total budget of R14.7 million in 2011/12, of which 66 percent was used for compensation of employees. The air force provides support to the people by executing flights during border safeguarding tasks, authorised safety and security support commitments, disaster aid and disaster relief ordered commitments and authorised search and rescue commitments.
• Operational Direction provides operational direction to the Air Defence programme by means of an air command. This subprogramme had a total budget of R129.9 million in 2011/12, of which 98 per cent was used for goods and services. The air force ensures that the planned daily availability of aircraft can be achieved and that the planned flying hours can be flown. There is no staff complement in this subprogramme.
• Helicopter Capability provides and sustains operationally ready light utility helicopters, medium transport helicopters and combat support helicopters, crewed by appropriately qualified personnel. This subprogramme had a staff complement of 508 and a total budget of R747.5 million in 2011/12, of which 52.4 percent was used for goods and services.
• Transport and Maritime Capability provides and sustains operationally ready transport and maritime aircraft, crewed by appropriately qualified personnel. This subprogramme had a staff complement of 395 and a total budget of R711.3 million in 2011/12, of which 75.7 percent was used for goods and services.
• Air Combat Capability provides and sustains operationally ready advanced light fighter aircraft, crewed by appropriately qualified personnel. This subprogramme had a staff complement of 185 and a total budget of R1.3 billion in 2011/12, of which 81 percent was transferred to the special defence account (for the Gripen programme, Project Ukhozi).
• Operational Support and Intelligence Capability prepares, develops, provides and supports protection, intelligence systems and counter intelligence support to the South African Air Force through protection squadrons, intelligence subsystems and air force unique intelligence training. This subprogramme had a staff complement of 1 200 and a total budget of R287.1 million, of which 59.9 per cent was used for compensation of employees.
• Command and Control Capability supplies and maintains operationally ready command and control elements in support of air battle space operations. This subprogramme had a staff complement of 503 and a total budget of R343.4 million, of which 34.4 percent was used for compensation of employees and 36.9 percent was transferred to the special defence account. The air force and air traffic and navigation services deploy and integrate a network of radars, observation posts and electronic warfare sensors across South Africa to detect and monitor compliance of published restrictions and to monitor and control the defence force's air traffic.
• Base Support Capability provides air base infrastructure facilities to squadrons and resident units on bases, including the maintenance of all relevant systems and personnel to support flying operations. This subprogramme had a staff complement of 5621 and a total budget of R1.4 billion, of which 84.3 percent was used for compensation of employees.
• Command Post renders command and control over all missions flown. This subprogramme had a staff complement of 120 and a total budget of R49.8 million in 2011/12, of which 78.8 percent was used for compensation of employees.
• Training Capability provides for the general education, training and development of South African Air Force personnel. This subprogramme had a staff complement of 601 and a total budget of R688.3 million, of which 49.8 percent was used for compensation of employees.
• Technical Support Services establishes, maintains and prepares optimised technical and tactical logistic support capabilities to provide support to system groups and manage air service units. This subprogramme had a staff complement of 2183 and a total budget of R646.5 million, of which 50.3 percent was used for compensation of employees.
Source: defenceWeb
