NEWS & EVENTS - GENERAL
13 April 2012
SAAF Mobile Deployment Wing
General
The aircraft may get all the attention, and they may be the reason for the existence of the SAAF, but the flying squadrons could not function effectively or efficiently without the support of a wide variety of ground units.
12 April 2012
Airborne undercurrent at naval symposium
General
One may be forgiven for thinking that the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium concluding in Cape Town today was all about surface ships and other naval matters. However, at least two stands displaying naval hardware had another agenda up their sleeves.
9 April 2012
SA pilots 'shot down nine aircraft'
General
The South African Air Force has trained four fighter pilots during the past year.
3 April 2012
SA's Gripen pilots to get more flying hours
General
The SAAF is hopeful that the pilots of its Gripen fighters will be granted significantly more flying hours during the financial year, which started on April 1.
1 April 2012
Swatkop to undergo name and title changes
General
Ministerial approval is presently being sought for the official change of both title and name from the present 'Swartkop' to 'Air Force Base Zwartkop'.
30 March 2012
SAAF Gripens taking part in Exercise Lion Effort
General
The SAAF is for the first time taking part in Exercise Lion Effort in Sweden, a tactical exercise intended to enhance interoperability between Gripen user countries.
29 March 2012
SAAF signs maintenance agreement with Denel
General
Denel Aviation has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the SAAF to promote the maintenance on a wide range of aircraft flown by the Air Force.
28 March 2012
Navy support for new patrol aircraft
General
The South African Navy has expressed strong support for the Airforce to acquire new maritime patrol aircraft.
26 March 2012
Lt Gen Gagiano to remain as CAF for a while longer
General
There will be no change of command parade at Swartkop Airfield on Friday to welcome a new Chief of the SA Air Force - Lt Gen Carlo Gagiano is staying on for at least another six months.
23 March 2012
Rooivalk upgrades almost complete; final deliveries pending
General
By Guy MartinDenel Aviation will shortly delivery the last five Rooivalk attack helicopters to the South African Air Force (SAAF), allowing the upgraded aircraft to enter operational service. The first five upgraded machines were handed over...
23 March 2012
SA triumphs during joint SA/German naval exercises
General
A South African submarine has once again come up trumps during recent naval exercises between the navies of South Africa and Germany.
20 March 2012
Flight Test Centre readies for airshow
General
AFB Overberg, home of the airforce's Test Flight and Development Centre near Bredasdorp in the southern Cape, is getting ready to wow the public with its own distinctive brand of airshow on Saturday 21 April 2012.
16 March 2012
SA Airforce's Gripen to flex wings in Sweden
General
The SAAF will participate for the first time in a multi-national air exercise with its Gripen fighter aircraft in Sweden the Air Force announced today.
8 March 2012
Sisulu stalls SA Air Force meeting
General
Defence Minister Lindiwe Sisulu on Thursday suggested a meeting with SA Air Force top brass be held behind closed doors.
7 March 2012
A-Darter January flight tests successful
General
The Denel Dynamics A-Darter 5th generation infra-red guided short range air-to-air missile is a step closer to production following a successful series of undisclosed guided launches in January. The joint R1 billion missile programme betwe...
2 March 2012
Air Force budget hovers at inflation rate
General
The South African Air Force's budget will modestly increase in the next three years, after falling from 2008.
22 February 2012
Defence budget up
General
The defence budget is up. The Estimates of National Expenditure document released this afternoon with Minister of Finance Pravin Gordhan's annual budget speech shows R37 492 954 allocated for the year beginning April 1.
17 February 2012
Museum acquires new helicopter exhibits
General
The SAAF Museum has acquired two new exhibits that symbolise the technological prowess of the South African aeronautical industry in the late twentieth century.
10 February 2012
Joint South African / German naval exercises set for next month
General
A German navy frigate is due in South Africa at the end of the month to partake in Exercise Good Hope V, a series of naval and air exercises between Germany and South Africa.
1 February 2012
SAAF Museum boss full of new marketing plans for 2012
General
The new man in charge of South Africa's military aviation history knows full well how difficult his task is, especially with "austerity" the current buzzword, rather than force preparedness.
30 January 2012
SAAF reveals cause of A109 crashes
General
The three A109 Light Utility Helicopter crashes were caused by mechanical failure and pilot error, but all technical problems have been resolved, the chief of the SAAF has said.
29 January 2012
New VIP transport management unit formed
General
Ageing and insufficient government-owned aircraft to meet the increasing demand for South African leaders' presence at international forums is now the sole responsibility of a dedicated support management unit.
28 January 2012
Lack of funds grounds SA airforce
General
Hundreds of millions of rands in cash injections are needed to keep the SA Air Force (SAAF) flying. That was the stark message delivered by air force chief Lt Gen Carlo Gagiano in Pretoria yesterday.
27 January 2012
CAF Speech at AF Day Parade
General
Address by the Chief of the Airforce, Lt Gen Carlo Gagiano, at the Air Force Day Parade held at Swartkop.
25 January 2012
Air Force to keep using standby planes for Zuma
General
The SA Air Force has stuck to its guns on the use of standby planes when President Jacob Zuma travels abroad.
SAAF Mobile Deployment Wing
General
The aircraft may get all the attention, and they may be the reason for the existence of the SAAF, but the flying squadrons could not function effectively or efficiently without the support of a wide variety of ground units.
Airborne undercurrent at naval symposium
General
One may be forgiven for thinking that the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium concluding in Cape Town today was all about surface ships and other naval matters. However, at least two stands displaying naval hardware had another agenda up their sleeves.
SA pilots 'shot down nine aircraft'
General
The South African Air Force has trained four fighter pilots during the past year.
SA's Gripen pilots to get more flying hours
General
The SAAF is hopeful that the pilots of its Gripen fighters will be granted significantly more flying hours during the financial year, which started on April 1.
Swatkop to undergo name and title changes
General
Ministerial approval is presently being sought for the official change of both title and name from the present 'Swartkop' to 'Air Force Base Zwartkop'.
SAAF Gripens taking part in Exercise Lion Effort
General
The SAAF is for the first time taking part in Exercise Lion Effort in Sweden, a tactical exercise intended to enhance interoperability between Gripen user countries.
SAAF signs maintenance agreement with Denel
General
Denel Aviation has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the SAAF to promote the maintenance on a wide range of aircraft flown by the Air Force.
Navy support for new patrol aircraft
General
The South African Navy has expressed strong support for the Airforce to acquire new maritime patrol aircraft.
Lt Gen Gagiano to remain as CAF for a while longer
General
There will be no change of command parade at Swartkop Airfield on Friday to welcome a new Chief of the SA Air Force - Lt Gen Carlo Gagiano is staying on for at least another six months.
Rooivalk upgrades almost complete; final deliveries pending
General
By Guy MartinDenel Aviation will shortly delivery the last five Rooivalk attack helicopters to the South African Air Force (SAAF), allowing the upgraded aircraft to enter operational service. The first five upgraded machines were handed over...
SA triumphs during joint SA/German naval exercises
General
A South African submarine has once again come up trumps during recent naval exercises between the navies of South Africa and Germany.
Flight Test Centre readies for airshow
General
AFB Overberg, home of the airforce's Test Flight and Development Centre near Bredasdorp in the southern Cape, is getting ready to wow the public with its own distinctive brand of airshow on Saturday 21 April 2012.
SA Airforce's Gripen to flex wings in Sweden
General
The SAAF will participate for the first time in a multi-national air exercise with its Gripen fighter aircraft in Sweden the Air Force announced today.
Sisulu stalls SA Air Force meeting
General
Defence Minister Lindiwe Sisulu on Thursday suggested a meeting with SA Air Force top brass be held behind closed doors.
A-Darter January flight tests successful
General
The Denel Dynamics A-Darter 5th generation infra-red guided short range air-to-air missile is a step closer to production following a successful series of undisclosed guided launches in January. The joint R1 billion missile programme betwe...
Air Force budget hovers at inflation rate
General
The South African Air Force's budget will modestly increase in the next three years, after falling from 2008.
Defence budget up
General
The defence budget is up. The Estimates of National Expenditure document released this afternoon with Minister of Finance Pravin Gordhan's annual budget speech shows R37 492 954 allocated for the year beginning April 1.
Museum acquires new helicopter exhibits
General
The SAAF Museum has acquired two new exhibits that symbolise the technological prowess of the South African aeronautical industry in the late twentieth century.
Joint South African / German naval exercises set for next month
General
A German navy frigate is due in South Africa at the end of the month to partake in Exercise Good Hope V, a series of naval and air exercises between Germany and South Africa.
SAAF Museum boss full of new marketing plans for 2012
General
The new man in charge of South Africa's military aviation history knows full well how difficult his task is, especially with "austerity" the current buzzword, rather than force preparedness.
SAAF reveals cause of A109 crashes
General
The three A109 Light Utility Helicopter crashes were caused by mechanical failure and pilot error, but all technical problems have been resolved, the chief of the SAAF has said.
New VIP transport management unit formed
General
Ageing and insufficient government-owned aircraft to meet the increasing demand for South African leaders' presence at international forums is now the sole responsibility of a dedicated support management unit.
Lack of funds grounds SA airforce
General
Hundreds of millions of rands in cash injections are needed to keep the SA Air Force (SAAF) flying. That was the stark message delivered by air force chief Lt Gen Carlo Gagiano in Pretoria yesterday.
CAF Speech at AF Day Parade
General
Address by the Chief of the Airforce, Lt Gen Carlo Gagiano, at the Air Force Day Parade held at Swartkop.
Air Force to keep using standby planes for Zuma
General
The SA Air Force has stuck to its guns on the use of standby planes when President Jacob Zuma travels abroad.
