NEWS & EVENTS - GENERAL
20 November 2006
Super Lynx Maritime Helicopters operational training
General
Armscor has issued a request to Westland Helicopters Limited to tender for the provision of operational training for the new Super Lynx maritime helicopters.Closing date is 11 December 2006....
19 November 2006
SANDF demonstrates and assesses its airborne tactics
General
Bloemfontein - The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) demonstrated its airborne capabilities on Friday and used the opportunity to assess how it could improve in order to better equip the army.The annual "Exercise Young Eagle" dem...
16 November 2006
SAAF hit by 'racial transfer' row
General
Graeme Hosken A row has blown up over the transfer of three white trainee fighter pilots at the South African Air Force's flight training school.But during the announcement at South African Air Force's Langebaanweg Flight Training School in t...
16 November 2006
HMS Edinburgh in Cape Town
General
The Royal Navy Destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97) arrived in Cape Town yesterday and is moored at the V&A Waterfront until 21 November when she will depart for Simons Town. On board was Lynx HAS.3S XZ229 (EB/411) from 815 Sqn, Edinburgh Flt, RN, Yeovi...
15 November 2006
SA needs fighter pilots
General
Pretoria - The SA air force needed to improve the quality of its new recruits, Major General Mandla Mangethe, the force's new chief of Air Command said on Wednesday. "We need more young people wanting to join the air force so that we can hav...
15 November 2006
General Officer Commanding Says Farewell
General
Article by J.P. van VuurenMajor General Frans J. Labuschagne SM, MMM who bid the SA Air Force farewell on 15 November 2006 at the Air Force Gymnasium in Valhalla. He said that he was satisfied with his career and his achievements and that he felt he ...
13 November 2006
Lekota misleading whites - FF Plus
General
Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota is misleading whites when he asks them to join the SA National Defence Force, the Freedom Front Plus spokesperson Pieter Groenewald said on Monday.This follow a report in the Beeld newspaper on Monday that the top stud...
12 November 2006
Hawks reserved for Black pilots
General
The following is a (very) rough extract from an Afrikaans article that appeared in Beeld:Affirmative action will ensure that the top three student pilots in the airforce will not get the chance to qualify as fighter pilots on the brand new Hawk aircr...
9 November 2006
Gripen Mission Planning System
General
Armscor has announced that it has awarded a R121 060,00 contract to SAAB Grintek Defence (Pty) Ltd (t/a SAAB GrIDS) for the development and testing of the interface between the Gripen Mission Planning System and the SAAF Intelligence System....
8 November 2006
Air force hampered by exodus
General
Erika GibsonPretoria - The brand new jet-fighters, sea- and land helicopters and giant transport aircraft recently delivered to South Africa could be languishing in hangars - if the current wave of resignations of technicians and pilots continues. Re...
8 November 2006
Warning of staff crisis at air force
General
THE South African Air Force (SAAF) faces a crisis over not having enough pilots to fly, and technicians to service, the aircraft it intends to acquire over the next few years due to the mass resignation of "white staff", says Democratic All...
31 October 2006
Student pilot: Forefathers said he would not make an aircraft accident
General
The following is a (very) rough extract from an Afrikaans article that appeared in Beeld:An airforce student pilot, who failed various tests since 2003 but was allowed to continue with his training, has finally been declared unfit by a Zimbabwean fly...
20 October 2006
SAAF boosts digital training capability
General
The South African Air Force (SAAF) yesterday introduced into service the Hawk Mk120 fighter trainer, an aircraft so packed with technology as to constitute a flying computer.The plane's manufacturer, BAE Systems, says it provides "the ideal ...
19 October 2006
Airlines could take airforces cream
General
The following is a (very) rough extract from an Afrikaans article that appeared in Beeld:The commercial airline industry could shortly deprive the airforces most modern squadron of personnel.85 Combat flying School (CFS), the home of the new Hawk lea...
19 October 2006
SA's Top Gun trainees take off in Makhado
General
South Africa's version of Top Gun is running again with the first 10 Hawk lead-in fighter-trainer aircraft officially handed over to 85 Combat Flying School at the Makhado air-force base on Thursday.Minister of Defence Mosiuoa Lekota also officia...
11 October 2006
South Africa eyes new missile for Gripen fighter
General
Denel Aerospace is developing a new active-radar beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) to meet a future South African Air Force (SAAF) requirement for a weapon in this class.Under existing plans the SAAF will not have a BVRAAM for its Saab ...
9 October 2006
ATE releases additional details on South African Army Vulture UAV order
General
South African-based Advanced Technologies and Engineering (ATE) has revealed that production orders signed last month with the South African Armscor state armaments corporation for its Vulture artillery spotting and reconnaissance UAV are based on de...
7 October 2006
Still no delivery eight years after signing
General
By Mzwandile JacksThe South African defence and air forces are still waiting to take delivery of most of the equipment bought - eight years after the arms deal was signed.The first completed Gripen fighter plane was only unveiled in October 2005 in a...
6 October 2006
South Africa eyes new missile for Gripen fighter
General
Under existing plans the SAAF will not have a BVRAAM for its Saab Gripen fighter force when it enters service at the end of the decade. The R-Darter missile, currently fielded on SAAF Cheetah C fighters, is to be retired along with the Cheetahs aroun...
6 October 2006
Underfunded Air Force Battles to Get Full Value From New Craft
General
Wyndham HartleyIn the most dire warning yet, the chief of the South African Air Force, Lt-Gen Carlo Gagiano, has said almost all the main air force systems are in decline as far as conducting and sustaining operations are concerned.He said the force&...
29 September 2006
SA Air Force / Chilean Air Force Declaration of Intent
General
The South African Air Force (SAAF) and the Chilean Air Force signed a Declaration of Intent in Pretoria on 29 September 2006 to intensify the long-standing bilateral relationship between the two Air Forces.The agreement which was signed by the Chief ...
21 September 2006
BAE Systems inertial measurement unit selected for new air-to-air missile
General
PLYMOUTH, U.K. - A new solid-state inertial measurement unit (SiIMU®02) developed by BAE Systems has been selected to provide mid-course guidance for the new A-Darter air-to-air missile produced by Denel Aerospace Systems of South Africa. A fifth...
20 September 2006
Staus of Hawk deliveries
General
In a press release, BAE Systems have confirmed that the South African Department of Defence had received its first 10 Hawk Mk120 lead-in fighter trainers....
20 September 2006
Mirage F1 package acquired by the Paramount Group and Aerosud
General
In a media statement, the Paramount Group and Aerosud have announced that they have acquired the full complement of French designed Mirage F1 fighter aircraft from the SANDF.As part of the deal the Paramount Group and South African based Aerosud have...
20 September 2006
Africa Aerospace and Defence 2006
General
Africa Aerospace and Defence 2006 was a first in many respects: the first time the show was held in Cape Town and the first time many military and commercial aircraft had been displayed in South Africa.Due to continued rehabilitation of AFB Waterkloo...
Super Lynx Maritime Helicopters operational training
General
Armscor has issued a request to Westland Helicopters Limited to tender for the provision of operational training for the new Super Lynx maritime helicopters.Closing date is 11 December 2006....
SANDF demonstrates and assesses its airborne tactics
General
Bloemfontein - The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) demonstrated its airborne capabilities on Friday and used the opportunity to assess how it could improve in order to better equip the army.The annual "Exercise Young Eagle" dem...
SAAF hit by 'racial transfer' row
General
Graeme Hosken A row has blown up over the transfer of three white trainee fighter pilots at the South African Air Force's flight training school.But during the announcement at South African Air Force's Langebaanweg Flight Training School in t...
HMS Edinburgh in Cape Town
General
The Royal Navy Destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97) arrived in Cape Town yesterday and is moored at the V&A Waterfront until 21 November when she will depart for Simons Town. On board was Lynx HAS.3S XZ229 (EB/411) from 815 Sqn, Edinburgh Flt, RN, Yeovi...
SA needs fighter pilots
General
Pretoria - The SA air force needed to improve the quality of its new recruits, Major General Mandla Mangethe, the force's new chief of Air Command said on Wednesday. "We need more young people wanting to join the air force so that we can hav...
General Officer Commanding Says Farewell
General
Article by J.P. van VuurenMajor General Frans J. Labuschagne SM, MMM who bid the SA Air Force farewell on 15 November 2006 at the Air Force Gymnasium in Valhalla. He said that he was satisfied with his career and his achievements and that he felt he ...
Lekota misleading whites - FF Plus
General
Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota is misleading whites when he asks them to join the SA National Defence Force, the Freedom Front Plus spokesperson Pieter Groenewald said on Monday.This follow a report in the Beeld newspaper on Monday that the top stud...
Hawks reserved for Black pilots
General
The following is a (very) rough extract from an Afrikaans article that appeared in Beeld:Affirmative action will ensure that the top three student pilots in the airforce will not get the chance to qualify as fighter pilots on the brand new Hawk aircr...
Gripen Mission Planning System
General
Armscor has announced that it has awarded a R121 060,00 contract to SAAB Grintek Defence (Pty) Ltd (t/a SAAB GrIDS) for the development and testing of the interface between the Gripen Mission Planning System and the SAAF Intelligence System....
Air force hampered by exodus
General
Erika GibsonPretoria - The brand new jet-fighters, sea- and land helicopters and giant transport aircraft recently delivered to South Africa could be languishing in hangars - if the current wave of resignations of technicians and pilots continues. Re...
Warning of staff crisis at air force
General
THE South African Air Force (SAAF) faces a crisis over not having enough pilots to fly, and technicians to service, the aircraft it intends to acquire over the next few years due to the mass resignation of "white staff", says Democratic All...
Student pilot: Forefathers said he would not make an aircraft accident
General
The following is a (very) rough extract from an Afrikaans article that appeared in Beeld:An airforce student pilot, who failed various tests since 2003 but was allowed to continue with his training, has finally been declared unfit by a Zimbabwean fly...
SAAF boosts digital training capability
General
The South African Air Force (SAAF) yesterday introduced into service the Hawk Mk120 fighter trainer, an aircraft so packed with technology as to constitute a flying computer.The plane's manufacturer, BAE Systems, says it provides "the ideal ...
Airlines could take airforces cream
General
The following is a (very) rough extract from an Afrikaans article that appeared in Beeld:The commercial airline industry could shortly deprive the airforces most modern squadron of personnel.85 Combat flying School (CFS), the home of the new Hawk lea...
SA's Top Gun trainees take off in Makhado
General
South Africa's version of Top Gun is running again with the first 10 Hawk lead-in fighter-trainer aircraft officially handed over to 85 Combat Flying School at the Makhado air-force base on Thursday.Minister of Defence Mosiuoa Lekota also officia...
South Africa eyes new missile for Gripen fighter
General
Denel Aerospace is developing a new active-radar beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) to meet a future South African Air Force (SAAF) requirement for a weapon in this class.Under existing plans the SAAF will not have a BVRAAM for its Saab ...
ATE releases additional details on South African Army Vulture UAV order
General
South African-based Advanced Technologies and Engineering (ATE) has revealed that production orders signed last month with the South African Armscor state armaments corporation for its Vulture artillery spotting and reconnaissance UAV are based on de...
Still no delivery eight years after signing
General
By Mzwandile JacksThe South African defence and air forces are still waiting to take delivery of most of the equipment bought - eight years after the arms deal was signed.The first completed Gripen fighter plane was only unveiled in October 2005 in a...
South Africa eyes new missile for Gripen fighter
General
Under existing plans the SAAF will not have a BVRAAM for its Saab Gripen fighter force when it enters service at the end of the decade. The R-Darter missile, currently fielded on SAAF Cheetah C fighters, is to be retired along with the Cheetahs aroun...
Underfunded Air Force Battles to Get Full Value From New Craft
General
Wyndham HartleyIn the most dire warning yet, the chief of the South African Air Force, Lt-Gen Carlo Gagiano, has said almost all the main air force systems are in decline as far as conducting and sustaining operations are concerned.He said the force&...
SA Air Force / Chilean Air Force Declaration of Intent
General
The South African Air Force (SAAF) and the Chilean Air Force signed a Declaration of Intent in Pretoria on 29 September 2006 to intensify the long-standing bilateral relationship between the two Air Forces.The agreement which was signed by the Chief ...
BAE Systems inertial measurement unit selected for new air-to-air missile
General
PLYMOUTH, U.K. - A new solid-state inertial measurement unit (SiIMU®02) developed by BAE Systems has been selected to provide mid-course guidance for the new A-Darter air-to-air missile produced by Denel Aerospace Systems of South Africa. A fifth...
Staus of Hawk deliveries
General
In a press release, BAE Systems have confirmed that the South African Department of Defence had received its first 10 Hawk Mk120 lead-in fighter trainers....
Mirage F1 package acquired by the Paramount Group and Aerosud
General
In a media statement, the Paramount Group and Aerosud have announced that they have acquired the full complement of French designed Mirage F1 fighter aircraft from the SANDF.As part of the deal the Paramount Group and South African based Aerosud have...
Africa Aerospace and Defence 2006
General
Africa Aerospace and Defence 2006 was a first in many respects: the first time the show was held in Cape Town and the first time many military and commercial aircraft had been displayed in South Africa.Due to continued rehabilitation of AFB Waterkloo...
