NEWS & EVENTS - GENERAL
11 June 2025
Armed Forces and SAAF Prestige days will be back
General
Events and deaths in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) earlier this year contributed in no small measure to the postponement of two major annual SA National Defence Force (SANDF) events.
9 June 2025
15 Squadron’s Charlie Flight sets the standard for SAAF rotorcraft display flying
General
A show stopper at the South African Presidential inauguration last June was a breathtaking display by two BK117 helicopters operated by 15 Squadron’s Charlie Flight.
3 June 2025
National security at threat as alarm bells rung over SANDF Air Force Engineer shortage
General
A brewing crisis within the SAAF is putting national security at risk, as a shortage of Flight Engineers cripples the operational capacity of the SANDF’s most vital aircraft.
29 May 2025
Old but still working " SAAF responds to claims of radar net failure
General
South African Air Force (SAAF) “radar sensor 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”.
23 May 2025
South African seas and skies “vulnerable”
General
Gaps in the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) radar net are reportedly the newest addition to the “broken, damaged or unusable” list of equipment putting security under threat, a National Assembly (NA) parliamentarian warns.
20 May 2025
Two hundred thousand plus apply for five thousand MSDS slots
General
The proverbial jury is and probably will remain out on whether patriotism or a need for gainful employment drives the massive number of applications to become SANDF Military Skills Development System (MSDS) recruits.
11 April 2025
SAAF King Air loses door on take-off
General
The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) can confirm that a SAAF King Air aircraft was involved in an aviation-related incident upon take off from the Lanseria airport during its maintenance flight from Lanseria airport to Air Force Base Waterkloo
3 April 2025
SAAF urgently seeking spares for four types in its fleet
General
The SA Air Force (SAAF) is, via Armscor, urgently looking for spare and replacement parts for four types in its fleet.
1 April 2025
SANDF Says South Africa Can Conquer Any Nation With Fewer Than Six Working Aircrafts
General
The SANDF has issued a bold statement, claiming it is now capable of conquering any nation with an air force that has fewer than six working aircraft. Military analysts are still trying to determine which, if any, nations meet this strict criterion.
28 March 2025
SAAF VVIP squadron logs minimal flying hours
General
21 Squadron, the SAAF’s dedicated VVIP and VIP transport unit, fell far short of allocated flying hours in the 2023/24 financial year " its prime asset, the Presidential Boeing 737-7ED, logged just 123 of an allocated 540 hours amid wider serviceability p
27 March 2025
Setting the record straight on SAAF aircraft availability
General
The SAAF is facing a severe operational crisis, with aircraft availability at critically low levels across all divisions. A recent assessment covering the six-month period from September 2024 to March 2025, which defenceWeb has seen, lays bare the extent
17 March 2025
Helicopter remains anyone?
General
Armscor, via its Defence Disposal Services (DDS), plans to dispose of the remains of an Agusta A109 light utility helicopter that crashed in 2016, by way of a contract issued this month (March).
12 March 2025
New SA Defence budget for 2025/26 released
General
The new SA Defence budget for 2025/26 has been released! Herewith a few comments upon initial (and very quick) review. The total Dept of Defence budget for 2025/26 budget is R58.52 bn, an increase from R55.94 bn in 2024/25. What does this mean?
18 February 2025
SANDF makes 2026 MSDS application forms available
General
The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has opened its Military Skills Development System (MSDS) applications for 2026, allowing young and deserving South Africans the chance to join the military on a two-year contract.
31 January 2025
Shrinking SAAF budget puts Denel’s aircraft maintenance and repair facilities in jeopardy
General
Answering a Parliamentary question regarding Denel aircraft maintenance capabilities, Defence and Military Veterans Minister Angie Motshekga acknowledged the State-owned defence and technology conglomerate faced a skilled personnel shortage as well as hav
31 January 2025
SAAF explains golf day held amid DRC fighting
General
All revenue generated by this week’s SA Air Force (SA) golf day " better known as the CAF (Chief Air Force) golf day " will go to support the families of 13 soldiers killed in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
7 January 2025
South African delegation visits Embraer as interest remains high in its C-390 transport
General
South African Air Force (SAAF) representatives were among a high-level government delegation that was recently given a tour of Embraer’s facilities in Brazil, including C-390 Millenium and A-29 Super Tucano production lies.
27 December 2024
New SAAF Deputy Chief
General
Come Wednesday 1 January Major General Lancelot Mathebula will add the post of SA Air Force (SAAF) Deputy Chief to his current duties as project leader of the fledgling SA National Defence Force (SANDF) Space Command.
22 December 2024
SA Air Force clips wings of local cadets training in Cuba
General
Air force cadets will no longer be trained in Cuba after the SA Air Force (SAAF) officially terminated its agreement with the government of that country.
10 December 2024
A year’s worth of work ahead to make three Rooivalks airworthy after DRC return
General
December next year is when three Rooivalk combat support helicopters now back in South Africa are expected to return to service.
5 December 2024
Successful Hawk weapons camp at AFB Overberg
General
November was a good month for some SA Air Force (SAAF) personnel, particularly those involved in the jet line, with a 19 day weapons camp at Air Force Base (AFB) Overberg.
2 December 2024
SAAF Rooivalks return from the DRC
General
The three South African Air Force (SAAF) Rooivalk attack helicopters serving with the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have been flown back to South Africa after years of inactivity.
28 November 2024
SAAF adds 40 technical ground crew to personnel strength
General
The ground crew component of the SA Air Force (SAAF) is 40 artisans better off following official reclassification as artisans.
22 November 2024
Nod of approval for Ex Eagle Eye II
General
The SA Air Force (SAAF) force preparation exercise Eagle Eye finished with an all-round thumbs-up for mission accomplishment at the Alldays airport (ADY/FAAL) two weeks after teams moved in for preparatory work.
21 November 2024
Air Force and Navy ‘hardly operational’ as SANDF performance declines
General
The South African Navy and Air Force have, due to a lack of maintenance and funding, seen key assets become less productive, resulting in a decline in time at sea and hours flown. This has resulted in a Navy and Air Force that are hardly operational, SCOP
Armed Forces and SAAF Prestige days will be back
General
Events and deaths in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) earlier this year contributed in no small measure to the postponement of two major annual SA National Defence Force (SANDF) events.
15 Squadron’s Charlie Flight sets the standard for SAAF rotorcraft display flying
General
A show stopper at the South African Presidential inauguration last June was a breathtaking display by two BK117 helicopters operated by 15 Squadron’s Charlie Flight.
National security at threat as alarm bells rung over SANDF Air Force Engineer shortage
General
A brewing crisis within the SAAF is putting national security at risk, as a shortage of Flight Engineers cripples the operational capacity of the SANDF’s most vital aircraft.
Old but still working " SAAF responds to claims of radar net failure
General
South African Air Force (SAAF) “radar sensor 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”.
South African seas and skies “vulnerable”
General
Gaps in the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) radar net are reportedly the newest addition to the “broken, damaged or unusable” list of equipment putting security under threat, a National Assembly (NA) parliamentarian warns.
Two hundred thousand plus apply for five thousand MSDS slots
General
The proverbial jury is and probably will remain out on whether patriotism or a need for gainful employment drives the massive number of applications to become SANDF Military Skills Development System (MSDS) recruits.
SAAF King Air loses door on take-off
General
The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) can confirm that a SAAF King Air aircraft was involved in an aviation-related incident upon take off from the Lanseria airport during its maintenance flight from Lanseria airport to Air Force Base Waterkloo
SAAF urgently seeking spares for four types in its fleet
General
The SA Air Force (SAAF) is, via Armscor, urgently looking for spare and replacement parts for four types in its fleet.
SANDF Says South Africa Can Conquer Any Nation With Fewer Than Six Working Aircrafts
General
The SANDF has issued a bold statement, claiming it is now capable of conquering any nation with an air force that has fewer than six working aircraft. Military analysts are still trying to determine which, if any, nations meet this strict criterion.
SAAF VVIP squadron logs minimal flying hours
General
21 Squadron, the SAAF’s dedicated VVIP and VIP transport unit, fell far short of allocated flying hours in the 2023/24 financial year " its prime asset, the Presidential Boeing 737-7ED, logged just 123 of an allocated 540 hours amid wider serviceability p
Setting the record straight on SAAF aircraft availability
General
The SAAF is facing a severe operational crisis, with aircraft availability at critically low levels across all divisions. A recent assessment covering the six-month period from September 2024 to March 2025, which defenceWeb has seen, lays bare the extent
Helicopter remains anyone?
General
Armscor, via its Defence Disposal Services (DDS), plans to dispose of the remains of an Agusta A109 light utility helicopter that crashed in 2016, by way of a contract issued this month (March).
New SA Defence budget for 2025/26 released
General
The new SA Defence budget for 2025/26 has been released! Herewith a few comments upon initial (and very quick) review. The total Dept of Defence budget for 2025/26 budget is R58.52 bn, an increase from R55.94 bn in 2024/25. What does this mean?
SANDF makes 2026 MSDS application forms available
General
The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has opened its Military Skills Development System (MSDS) applications for 2026, allowing young and deserving South Africans the chance to join the military on a two-year contract.
Shrinking SAAF budget puts Denel’s aircraft maintenance and repair facilities in jeopardy
General
Answering a Parliamentary question regarding Denel aircraft maintenance capabilities, Defence and Military Veterans Minister Angie Motshekga acknowledged the State-owned defence and technology conglomerate faced a skilled personnel shortage as well as hav
SAAF explains golf day held amid DRC fighting
General
All revenue generated by this week’s SA Air Force (SA) golf day " better known as the CAF (Chief Air Force) golf day " will go to support the families of 13 soldiers killed in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
South African delegation visits Embraer as interest remains high in its C-390 transport
General
South African Air Force (SAAF) representatives were among a high-level government delegation that was recently given a tour of Embraer’s facilities in Brazil, including C-390 Millenium and A-29 Super Tucano production lies.
New SAAF Deputy Chief
General
Come Wednesday 1 January Major General Lancelot Mathebula will add the post of SA Air Force (SAAF) Deputy Chief to his current duties as project leader of the fledgling SA National Defence Force (SANDF) Space Command.
SA Air Force clips wings of local cadets training in Cuba
General
Air force cadets will no longer be trained in Cuba after the SA Air Force (SAAF) officially terminated its agreement with the government of that country.
A year’s worth of work ahead to make three Rooivalks airworthy after DRC return
General
December next year is when three Rooivalk combat support helicopters now back in South Africa are expected to return to service.
Successful Hawk weapons camp at AFB Overberg
General
November was a good month for some SA Air Force (SAAF) personnel, particularly those involved in the jet line, with a 19 day weapons camp at Air Force Base (AFB) Overberg.
SAAF Rooivalks return from the DRC
General
The three South African Air Force (SAAF) Rooivalk attack helicopters serving with the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have been flown back to South Africa after years of inactivity.
SAAF adds 40 technical ground crew to personnel strength
General
The ground crew component of the SA Air Force (SAAF) is 40 artisans better off following official reclassification as artisans.
Nod of approval for Ex Eagle Eye II
General
The SA Air Force (SAAF) force preparation exercise Eagle Eye finished with an all-round thumbs-up for mission accomplishment at the Alldays airport (ADY/FAAL) two weeks after teams moved in for preparatory work.
Air Force and Navy ‘hardly operational’ as SANDF performance declines
General
The South African Navy and Air Force have, due to a lack of maintenance and funding, seen key assets become less productive, resulting in a decline in time at sea and hours flown. This has resulted in a Navy and Air Force that are hardly operational, SCOP
