NEWS & EVENTS - GENERAL
8 June 2007
What went wrong with the Rooivalk?
General
By: Keith CampbellEagle or turkey? Should it be saved or slaughtered? These are the questions exercising the minds of the South African government, parliamentarians, journalists, interested taxpayers (and they should all be interested, given the amou...
1 June 2007
Delay in delivery of new Super Lynx
General
Although the first of the new Super Lynx aircraft was due to be delivered last week, the delivery has been delayed as formal acceptance is still awaited for one piece of equipment.It is hoped that the aircraft will arrive in Cape Town in mid-July. ...
31 May 2007
Who needs radar?
General
The Radar Simulation System was tested at the SAAF`s Test Flight Development Centre last year and is now in use. Looking at the Head-Up Display (Hud) and the screens making up the SA Air Force`s Hawk 120 Lead-in Fighter Trainer`s (Lift) ‘glass ...
23 May 2007
Rooivalk may have a modified future - Erwin
General
Linda Ensor, y, Cape Town, May 23 : Negotiations were taking place about the continuation of the Rooivalk attack helicopter project in a "modified" form, which would be markedly different from the past, said Public Enterprises Minister Alec...
19 May 2007
AFB Makhado - Rehabilitation of the environment due to fuel leak
General
In a briefing by the Department of Public Works to the Department of Defence on the Repair & Maintenance Programme (RAMP) of military bases, further information was revealed relating the the leakage of jet A1 fuel at AFB Makhado (SeeNews article ...
18 May 2007
Denel gets R8bn shot in the arm, ditches Rooivalk
General
Struggling arms maker Denel has been given an R8bn vehicle contract lifeline by Armscor. This comes hard on the heels of its failure to win a bid to supply Turkey with Rooivalk helicopters. Denel has now decided that the Rooivalk, on whose developmen...
18 May 2007
Denel now allowed to upgrade the Oryx
General
The following is a (very) rough extract from an Afrikaans article that appeared in Beeld:The long-awaited upgrading of the airforces Orys helicopters, which should have commenced last year, is now on course after Denel Aerospace received official cer...
10 May 2007
Acquisition of Secapem taxan tow target system
General
Armscor has announced that a R10 073 801,97 contract has been awarded to Secapem for the Taxan tow target system....
6 May 2007
Chocks away! Air Force puts bases out for commercial use
General
We have long held the belief that those who read tender advertisements have a pretty good idea of what the news headlines will contain several months into the future. Consider one along these lines: "Cash-strapped air force lets out facilities t...
1 May 2007
SAAF Boeing 707 problems
General
For some time now, only two Bowing 707s of the five originaly acquired have been flying with the SAAF's 60 Squadron at AFB Waterkloof. These are primary used for logistical transport rather than their previous in-flight refuelling and electronic ...
1 May 2007
SAAF opts for Argos military airborne observation system
General
Armscor awarded Denel Optronics a contract for the supply of the Argos 410-Z military airborne observation system to the SA Air Force (SAAF) for its Cessna Caravan aircraft in March 2007.The Argos 410-Z enhances and expands the ability of the aircraf...
26 April 2007
Denel scoops missile deal with Brazilians
General
Local arms manufacturer Denel has scooped a R1bn air-to-air missile joint- venture contract with the Brazilian air force. This is seen as the coming to fruition of the south-south co-operation agreement recently initiated by President Thabo Mbeki and...
12 April 2007
SAAF aircraft set new observation system
General
A new observation system is to be fitted in SA Air Force Cessna Caravan aircraft, defence product supplier Denel said on Thursday.The Argos 410-Z military airborne observation system would enhance and expand the aircraft's ability to perform long...
31 March 2007
Goodbye Alouette III!
General
After 45 years of service, the verable Alouette III finally bowed out of service with the SAAF without any further ceremony.A formal ceremony was held at 87 Helicopter flying School at AFB Bloemspruit on 30 June 2006 to mark the withdrawal of the Alo...
27 March 2007
DA reacts to Department of Defence Budget
General
Following the Defence budget speech tabled by Mr Mosiuoa Lekota, Minister of Defence, in Parliament today, the DA responded with speeches of their own. Only those items relating specifically to the SAAF are noted below.The following is an extract fro...
23 March 2007
Department of Defence recommends less flying hours
General
At a presentation of the 2007/08 Defence Budget to the Defence Portfolio Committee by the Department of Defence today, the following slide regarding Air Defence was shown:Outputs:Air Defence Capabilities.Risks:Operating budget insufficient to meet co...
23 March 2007
SANDF cuts flying hours while training pilots
General
The SANDF's plan to build a new training facility for fighter pilots while at the same time rationing flying hours did not make sense, according to an opposition MP.A new facility for the training of fighter pilots was to be constructed at the Ma...
16 March 2007
Is the SANDF properly equipped for its expanding peacekeeping role?
General
In his State of the Nation address last month, President Thabo Mbeki stated, "[A]mong the greatest achievements of the peoples of Africa in the past two-and-a-half years has been the restoration of peace in the Great Lakes region. We are proud, ...
13 March 2007
DoD briefing to the Defence portfolio Committee reveals new projects and plans
General
The Department of Defence presented its annual report briefing to the Portfolio Committeeon on Defence (PCD) today.The Department of Defence briefing focused on its integrated management system, its efforts to address the lack of capacity within the ...
12 March 2007
Air Force revamps navigation technology
General
SA's Air Force is sinking money into its navigation infrastructure in support of the 2010 Soccer World Cup. Chief of the Air Force Lt-Gen Carlo Gagiano was, on Friday, cagey about putting figures to the project, but the looming contracts are said...
12 March 2007
Cessna 150 for the SAAF Museum
General
In a constant endeavour to display a balanced history, which would represent the full facet of its rich aviation heritage, the SAAF Museum recently obtained a CESSNA 150 for static display purposes. Many would frown upon this latest arrival, it not b...
10 March 2007
Waterkloof air force base grounded
General
Waterkloof air force base - the country's most prominent air force base - is closing all flying operations for 18 months, said Chief of the SA Air Force (SAAF) Lieutenant-General Carlo Gagiano on Friday.Repairs and an upgrade of the base's ma...
9 March 2007
Update on major SAAF acquisition projects
General
The SAAF has released details of the program status for a number of aircraft acquisition projects.Gripen program updateThe Air Force is due to receive 26 Gripen Advanced Light Fighter Aircraft (ALFA) - the first of 9 dual-seater aircraft will be deli...
9 March 2007
State of the SAAF briefing
General
The Chief of the SA Air Force, Lt Gen Carlo Gagiano, hosted a Media Day at AFB Makhado to brief the press on the state of the airforce.While the current status of the various aircraft acquisition programs are dealt with in a separate News entry, here...
7 March 2007
Airforce mark bungle exposed
General
The following is a (very) rough extract from an Afrikaans article that appeared in Beeld:Low admission marks and certain student pilots who did not take science as subject to matric level may mean that students may be withdrawn from flying training.L...
What went wrong with the Rooivalk?
General
By: Keith CampbellEagle or turkey? Should it be saved or slaughtered? These are the questions exercising the minds of the South African government, parliamentarians, journalists, interested taxpayers (and they should all be interested, given the amou...
Delay in delivery of new Super Lynx
General
Although the first of the new Super Lynx aircraft was due to be delivered last week, the delivery has been delayed as formal acceptance is still awaited for one piece of equipment.It is hoped that the aircraft will arrive in Cape Town in mid-July. ...
Who needs radar?
General
The Radar Simulation System was tested at the SAAF`s Test Flight Development Centre last year and is now in use. Looking at the Head-Up Display (Hud) and the screens making up the SA Air Force`s Hawk 120 Lead-in Fighter Trainer`s (Lift) ‘glass ...
Rooivalk may have a modified future - Erwin
General
Linda Ensor, y, Cape Town, May 23 : Negotiations were taking place about the continuation of the Rooivalk attack helicopter project in a "modified" form, which would be markedly different from the past, said Public Enterprises Minister Alec...
AFB Makhado - Rehabilitation of the environment due to fuel leak
General
In a briefing by the Department of Public Works to the Department of Defence on the Repair & Maintenance Programme (RAMP) of military bases, further information was revealed relating the the leakage of jet A1 fuel at AFB Makhado (SeeNews article ...
Denel gets R8bn shot in the arm, ditches Rooivalk
General
Struggling arms maker Denel has been given an R8bn vehicle contract lifeline by Armscor. This comes hard on the heels of its failure to win a bid to supply Turkey with Rooivalk helicopters. Denel has now decided that the Rooivalk, on whose developmen...
Denel now allowed to upgrade the Oryx
General
The following is a (very) rough extract from an Afrikaans article that appeared in Beeld:The long-awaited upgrading of the airforces Orys helicopters, which should have commenced last year, is now on course after Denel Aerospace received official cer...
Acquisition of Secapem taxan tow target system
General
Armscor has announced that a R10 073 801,97 contract has been awarded to Secapem for the Taxan tow target system....
Chocks away! Air Force puts bases out for commercial use
General
We have long held the belief that those who read tender advertisements have a pretty good idea of what the news headlines will contain several months into the future. Consider one along these lines: "Cash-strapped air force lets out facilities t...
SAAF Boeing 707 problems
General
For some time now, only two Bowing 707s of the five originaly acquired have been flying with the SAAF's 60 Squadron at AFB Waterkloof. These are primary used for logistical transport rather than their previous in-flight refuelling and electronic ...
SAAF opts for Argos military airborne observation system
General
Armscor awarded Denel Optronics a contract for the supply of the Argos 410-Z military airborne observation system to the SA Air Force (SAAF) for its Cessna Caravan aircraft in March 2007.The Argos 410-Z enhances and expands the ability of the aircraf...
Denel scoops missile deal with Brazilians
General
Local arms manufacturer Denel has scooped a R1bn air-to-air missile joint- venture contract with the Brazilian air force. This is seen as the coming to fruition of the south-south co-operation agreement recently initiated by President Thabo Mbeki and...
SAAF aircraft set new observation system
General
A new observation system is to be fitted in SA Air Force Cessna Caravan aircraft, defence product supplier Denel said on Thursday.The Argos 410-Z military airborne observation system would enhance and expand the aircraft's ability to perform long...
Goodbye Alouette III!
General
After 45 years of service, the verable Alouette III finally bowed out of service with the SAAF without any further ceremony.A formal ceremony was held at 87 Helicopter flying School at AFB Bloemspruit on 30 June 2006 to mark the withdrawal of the Alo...
DA reacts to Department of Defence Budget
General
Following the Defence budget speech tabled by Mr Mosiuoa Lekota, Minister of Defence, in Parliament today, the DA responded with speeches of their own. Only those items relating specifically to the SAAF are noted below.The following is an extract fro...
Department of Defence recommends less flying hours
General
At a presentation of the 2007/08 Defence Budget to the Defence Portfolio Committee by the Department of Defence today, the following slide regarding Air Defence was shown:Outputs:Air Defence Capabilities.Risks:Operating budget insufficient to meet co...
SANDF cuts flying hours while training pilots
General
The SANDF's plan to build a new training facility for fighter pilots while at the same time rationing flying hours did not make sense, according to an opposition MP.A new facility for the training of fighter pilots was to be constructed at the Ma...
Is the SANDF properly equipped for its expanding peacekeeping role?
General
In his State of the Nation address last month, President Thabo Mbeki stated, "[A]mong the greatest achievements of the peoples of Africa in the past two-and-a-half years has been the restoration of peace in the Great Lakes region. We are proud, ...
DoD briefing to the Defence portfolio Committee reveals new projects and plans
General
The Department of Defence presented its annual report briefing to the Portfolio Committeeon on Defence (PCD) today.The Department of Defence briefing focused on its integrated management system, its efforts to address the lack of capacity within the ...
Air Force revamps navigation technology
General
SA's Air Force is sinking money into its navigation infrastructure in support of the 2010 Soccer World Cup. Chief of the Air Force Lt-Gen Carlo Gagiano was, on Friday, cagey about putting figures to the project, but the looming contracts are said...
Cessna 150 for the SAAF Museum
General
In a constant endeavour to display a balanced history, which would represent the full facet of its rich aviation heritage, the SAAF Museum recently obtained a CESSNA 150 for static display purposes. Many would frown upon this latest arrival, it not b...
Waterkloof air force base grounded
General
Waterkloof air force base - the country's most prominent air force base - is closing all flying operations for 18 months, said Chief of the SA Air Force (SAAF) Lieutenant-General Carlo Gagiano on Friday.Repairs and an upgrade of the base's ma...
Update on major SAAF acquisition projects
General
The SAAF has released details of the program status for a number of aircraft acquisition projects.Gripen program updateThe Air Force is due to receive 26 Gripen Advanced Light Fighter Aircraft (ALFA) - the first of 9 dual-seater aircraft will be deli...
State of the SAAF briefing
General
The Chief of the SA Air Force, Lt Gen Carlo Gagiano, hosted a Media Day at AFB Makhado to brief the press on the state of the airforce.While the current status of the various aircraft acquisition programs are dealt with in a separate News entry, here...
Airforce mark bungle exposed
General
The following is a (very) rough extract from an Afrikaans article that appeared in Beeld:Low admission marks and certain student pilots who did not take science as subject to matric level may mean that students may be withdrawn from flying training.L...
