“Reduced” system availability hampers SAAF observation tasking

As part of its duties, the SA Air Force (SAAF) is tasked with monitoring “farm airstrips” as potential sites for trafficking ranging from contraband through to humans and weapons.

This is done, MKP (uMkhonto weSizwe Party) Parliamentary questioner Mzwanele Manyi was informed, by three aircraft types in the SAAF inventory. Minister Angie Motshekga’s written response has it the SAAF monitors all airstrips within its borders by means or reconnaissance and surveillance aircraft utilising the “combat aircrafts (Gripen/Hawk) and the transport aircraft (C208)”.

“However, due to reduced availability of systems, the airspace is monitored via radar systems.”

The age of the SAAF’s radar network was in the spotlight earlier this year after reports that radar installations at SAAF bases Langebaanweg, Overberg (both in the Western Cape) and Makhado in Limpopo province were operating without radar approach systems due to equipment failures and a lack of financial resources.

This prompted the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) Directorate Corporate Communication (DCC) to respond by saying that SAAF radar systems in use for over 35 years are “still serviceable in spite of long lead times on procurement of spares and down time due to age”. The SANDF added that tactical mobile radar systems have been refurbished to extend “expected lifetime until 2034”.

Manyi’s question to the defence and military veterans’ minister on monitoring farm airstrips for illegal activity was prompted by Transport Minister Barbara Creecy’s May response to an earlier question on the same subject. She told him, also in writing, all “aerodromes” in South Africa need to be certified, licensed, approved or registered to operate legally. She added that there is no prohibition in law approved or for private aerodromes to be established. She did not respond to Manyi on “the growing number of privately constructed aircraft landing strips on privately-owned farms throughout the Republic”.

The Creecy response included mention of the the National Aviation Security Committee (NASC) which “deliberates on broader air border security measures” and has, according to her, had an NASC airspace and airports task team in place since February this year. It is tasked to “look at security risks as they may relate to illegal landings, landings without flight plans, airspace surveillance for illegal entry and ‘border hopping’, criminal activities related to cross border aviation activities or illegal activity at ports of entry”. Its scope includes airspace surveillance, enforcement activities and travel documents.

Creecy told Manyi the task team would be “led” by the Department of Defence (DoD) with support from SAPS (SA Police Service), ATNS (Air Traffic and Navigation Services), SACAA (SA Civil Aviation Authority), BMA (Border Management Authority) and SSA (State Security Agency). National threat and risk assessments are an SSA responsibility.

Motshekga’s reply to Manyi has it Cabinet received a threat assessment “in the form of a National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) to which the DoD had made inputs”.

The SAAF C208 (Cessna Caravan) fleet is operated by Air Force Base (AFB) Waterkloof-based 41 squadron with Gripen (2 Squadron) and Hawk Mk 120 (85 Combat Flying School) at AFB Makhado supplying the jets.

As far as is known, 41 Squadron has three sets of day/night reconnaissance systems it can use in the “farm airstrip” tasking and other roles. 

Republished with permission of defenceWeb.