NEWS & EVENTS - GENERAL
18 September 1998
First Mustang Engine Runs
General
The F-51D Mustang being restored by the SAAF Museum underwent its first engine run since installation, at AFB Swartkop today. A further two engine runs were conducted the following day. First flight is due early in 1998....
26 May 1998
New Command Council Members
General
The top structure of the SAAF, the SAAF Command Council (AFCC), consists of 11 members. Its composition changed when Director Liaison Services, Brig Gen A.J. Grobbelaar, left the SAAF on 30 Apr 98. Chief of Air Force Staff, Maj Gen A Burger, retired ...
18 May 1998
Renaming of Voortrekkerhoogte
General
' ... the Minister of Defence has decided to change the name of Voortrekkerhoogte to Thaba Tswane. The renaming ceremony will take place on 19 May 98 at Voortrekkerhoogte Town Hall during which a plaque will be unveiled to commemorate the event.&...
13 May 1998
SAAF Shortlists Trainers
General
Four aircraft from three countries have been shortlisted to meet a South African Air Force (SAAF) requirement for a lead- in fighter-trainer. A final decision on the platform will not be made until the service has chosen its future fighter.News Brief...
9 May 1998
SAAFs lack of ASW Capabilities
General
In what must surely be an embarresing situation, the SANDF has had to call in the help of the UK and France in order to train new SAN submarine commanders as the SAAF apparently has no effective anti-submarine capabilities. During the past week exerc...
29 April 1998
Raptor 1 Unveiled
General
The South African Air Force has declassified its Kentron- developed Raptor 1 glide bomb. The weapon, which has a stand- off range of over 60km, is compatible with a number of airframes and is capable of engaging a range of targets.News Briefs from Ja...
29 April 1998
Kentron removes wraps from Raptor 1 weapon
General
South African guided- weapons specialist Kentron this week unveiled its previously classified Raptor 1 stand-off glide bomb at the Aerospace Africa 98 show at Waterkloof AFB, Pretoria.
1 April 1998
Gavilan 358 for the SAAF?
General
El Gavilan SA, of Colombia, is pushing to sell 32 Gavilan 358's to the SAAF during 1999. The aircraft is a seven seater single-engined aircraft and would proberly be used in the same role as the larger Cessna 208 Caravan.Air Forces Monthly...
18 March 1998
Museum Provost Crashes
General
The Percival Provost, which had only recently been restored to flying condition, crashed on Wednesday 18 March 1998 at AFB Swartkop. The pilot, Rick Culpan, sustained serious burns, but sadly died on Sunday due to respiratory problems.A test pilot fo...
3 March 1998
New Trainer RFI
General
The South African Air Force (SAAF) will shortly issue a request for information for around 24 lead-in fighter trainers to replace its Impala Mk I fleet. The new aircraft are planned to enter service from around 2005.News Briefs from Jane's...
14 February 1998
12 Turbodaks up for sale
General
The SAAF is selling 12 C-47TP Dakotas rebuilt during an upgrading programme which began seven years ago. The sale comes after criticism of the airworthiness of the upgraded aircraft and their suitability for parachute troops because turboprops have b...
10 January 1998
22 Squadron Wins Sword of Peace
General
For the sixth time in seven years 22 Squadron at AFB Ysterplaat has been awarded the SAAF Sword of Peace. The Sword of Peace, the Air Force's highest operational award, honours one unit or squadron each year for outstanding humanitarian service. ...
12 December 1997
New Rank Structure
General
Resulting from confusion with regard to the rank insignia and rank nomenclature of SANDF General/Flag Officers and Brigadiers/Commodores, especially when interacting with other Defence Forces, the Military Command Council recently decided on a new ra...
2 December 1997
Italian Equipment Proposals
General
Details of Italy's arms package offer are also now known, the package including a Super AMX to meet the light fighter requirement, this being an upgraded AMX with advanced mission avionics and radar. Two alternative jet trainers are offered, the ...
2 December 1997
French Equipment Proposals
General
France has unveiled its $2.6 billion new arms package proposal. In addition to throwing in a free Daphne-class submarine (the SAN already has three), France has offered a 'buy now, pay later' option to defer first payments until 2001 and ther...
25 November 1997
Mirage F1AZ's Retire
General
The Mirage F1AZ's of 1 Squadron were officially retired today. This leaves the Atlas Cheetah as the only strike fighter in the SAAF. No 1 Squadron, which has stood down, will hopefully be reactivated in 1999 with an as yet unidentified fighter. ...
7 November 1997
Air Force in Crisis?
General
The fiscus has reduced the national defense budget for the remainder of the 1998 financial year by hundreds of millions of Rand, the second time this year that R700m ($144.3m) has been cut from the budget. All arms of the SANDF have had to curtail th...
1 October 1997
German equipment proposals
General
A group of German manufacturers presented a R10 billion (US$2.1 billion) defense equipment proposal on 21 August 1997 involving aircraft, corvettes and submarines. Aircraft proposed for the SAAF are some 35-40 DASA AT-2000 advanced trainers...
1 October 1997
Aircraft Disposals
General
A number of surplus SAAF aircraft have recently been put up for disposal. These include 35 Mirage III's, 11 Mirage F1CZ's, 22 Mirage F1AZ's, 37 Impala MkII's, 16 Impala MkI's, nine Transall C-160Z's, three C-47 Dakot...
1 October 1997
New Situation Display System
General
Isis, a member of the Altech Group in South Africa, has developed an Air Picture Display System (APDS) for the South African Air Force and a digital recording and playback system for the country's Air Traffic and Navigation Service Company (ATNS)...
7 August 1997
Net Loss of Pilots
General
A total of 101 pilots quit the air force last year, most for better job opportunities or because the pay was too low. This was disclosed by Mr. Modise in the NCOP in reply to questions by James Selfe of the Democratic Party. However, 36 qua...
23 October 1996
Accusations fly over SAAF Mirage re-engineing deal
General
SOUTH AFRICA and Russia are involved in a bout of mutual recriminations over the abortive plan to re-engine the former's Mirages with Klimov RD-33s, part of a deal which also included the supply of the Vympel R-73 (AA-11 Archer) air-to-air missile.
1 January 1996
DACM between Russia and South African
General
The following article appears to be a direct translation from a Russian magazine article.Under the agreement on technical and military cooperation between the air forces of the South African Republic and Russia, Hoespruit AB hosted an exercise ...
1 January 1996
Python 3 in South African service
General
THE FIRST FIRM evidence that the South African Air Force (SAAF) has acquired the Israeli Rafael Python 3 short-range infra-red air-to-air missile (AAM) has emerged in photographs of an air force Dassault Mirage F-1C.
First Mustang Engine Runs
General
The F-51D Mustang being restored by the SAAF Museum underwent its first engine run since installation, at AFB Swartkop today. A further two engine runs were conducted the following day. First flight is due early in 1998....
New Command Council Members
General
The top structure of the SAAF, the SAAF Command Council (AFCC), consists of 11 members. Its composition changed when Director Liaison Services, Brig Gen A.J. Grobbelaar, left the SAAF on 30 Apr 98. Chief of Air Force Staff, Maj Gen A Burger, retired ...
Renaming of Voortrekkerhoogte
General
' ... the Minister of Defence has decided to change the name of Voortrekkerhoogte to Thaba Tswane. The renaming ceremony will take place on 19 May 98 at Voortrekkerhoogte Town Hall during which a plaque will be unveiled to commemorate the event.&...
SAAF Shortlists Trainers
General
Four aircraft from three countries have been shortlisted to meet a South African Air Force (SAAF) requirement for a lead- in fighter-trainer. A final decision on the platform will not be made until the service has chosen its future fighter.News Brief...
SAAFs lack of ASW Capabilities
General
In what must surely be an embarresing situation, the SANDF has had to call in the help of the UK and France in order to train new SAN submarine commanders as the SAAF apparently has no effective anti-submarine capabilities. During the past week exerc...
Raptor 1 Unveiled
General
The South African Air Force has declassified its Kentron- developed Raptor 1 glide bomb. The weapon, which has a stand- off range of over 60km, is compatible with a number of airframes and is capable of engaging a range of targets.News Briefs from Ja...
Kentron removes wraps from Raptor 1 weapon
General
South African guided- weapons specialist Kentron this week unveiled its previously classified Raptor 1 stand-off glide bomb at the Aerospace Africa 98 show at Waterkloof AFB, Pretoria.
Gavilan 358 for the SAAF?
General
El Gavilan SA, of Colombia, is pushing to sell 32 Gavilan 358's to the SAAF during 1999. The aircraft is a seven seater single-engined aircraft and would proberly be used in the same role as the larger Cessna 208 Caravan.Air Forces Monthly...
Museum Provost Crashes
General
The Percival Provost, which had only recently been restored to flying condition, crashed on Wednesday 18 March 1998 at AFB Swartkop. The pilot, Rick Culpan, sustained serious burns, but sadly died on Sunday due to respiratory problems.A test pilot fo...
New Trainer RFI
General
The South African Air Force (SAAF) will shortly issue a request for information for around 24 lead-in fighter trainers to replace its Impala Mk I fleet. The new aircraft are planned to enter service from around 2005.News Briefs from Jane's...
12 Turbodaks up for sale
General
The SAAF is selling 12 C-47TP Dakotas rebuilt during an upgrading programme which began seven years ago. The sale comes after criticism of the airworthiness of the upgraded aircraft and their suitability for parachute troops because turboprops have b...
22 Squadron Wins Sword of Peace
General
For the sixth time in seven years 22 Squadron at AFB Ysterplaat has been awarded the SAAF Sword of Peace. The Sword of Peace, the Air Force's highest operational award, honours one unit or squadron each year for outstanding humanitarian service. ...
New Rank Structure
General
Resulting from confusion with regard to the rank insignia and rank nomenclature of SANDF General/Flag Officers and Brigadiers/Commodores, especially when interacting with other Defence Forces, the Military Command Council recently decided on a new ra...
Italian Equipment Proposals
General
Details of Italy's arms package offer are also now known, the package including a Super AMX to meet the light fighter requirement, this being an upgraded AMX with advanced mission avionics and radar. Two alternative jet trainers are offered, the ...
French Equipment Proposals
General
France has unveiled its $2.6 billion new arms package proposal. In addition to throwing in a free Daphne-class submarine (the SAN already has three), France has offered a 'buy now, pay later' option to defer first payments until 2001 and ther...
Mirage F1AZ's Retire
General
The Mirage F1AZ's of 1 Squadron were officially retired today. This leaves the Atlas Cheetah as the only strike fighter in the SAAF. No 1 Squadron, which has stood down, will hopefully be reactivated in 1999 with an as yet unidentified fighter. ...
Air Force in Crisis?
General
The fiscus has reduced the national defense budget for the remainder of the 1998 financial year by hundreds of millions of Rand, the second time this year that R700m ($144.3m) has been cut from the budget. All arms of the SANDF have had to curtail th...
German equipment proposals
General
A group of German manufacturers presented a R10 billion (US$2.1 billion) defense equipment proposal on 21 August 1997 involving aircraft, corvettes and submarines. Aircraft proposed for the SAAF are some 35-40 DASA AT-2000 advanced trainers...
Aircraft Disposals
General
A number of surplus SAAF aircraft have recently been put up for disposal. These include 35 Mirage III's, 11 Mirage F1CZ's, 22 Mirage F1AZ's, 37 Impala MkII's, 16 Impala MkI's, nine Transall C-160Z's, three C-47 Dakot...
New Situation Display System
General
Isis, a member of the Altech Group in South Africa, has developed an Air Picture Display System (APDS) for the South African Air Force and a digital recording and playback system for the country's Air Traffic and Navigation Service Company (ATNS)...
Net Loss of Pilots
General
A total of 101 pilots quit the air force last year, most for better job opportunities or because the pay was too low. This was disclosed by Mr. Modise in the NCOP in reply to questions by James Selfe of the Democratic Party. However, 36 qua...
Accusations fly over SAAF Mirage re-engineing deal
General
SOUTH AFRICA and Russia are involved in a bout of mutual recriminations over the abortive plan to re-engine the former's Mirages with Klimov RD-33s, part of a deal which also included the supply of the Vympel R-73 (AA-11 Archer) air-to-air missile.
DACM between Russia and South African
General
The following article appears to be a direct translation from a Russian magazine article.Under the agreement on technical and military cooperation between the air forces of the South African Republic and Russia, Hoespruit AB hosted an exercise ...
Python 3 in South African service
General
THE FIRST FIRM evidence that the South African Air Force (SAAF) has acquired the Israeli Rafael Python 3 short-range infra-red air-to-air missile (AAM) has emerged in photographs of an air force Dassault Mirage F-1C.
