South African Air Force

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South African Air Force
Active 1912 -
Country South Africa
Branch Air Force
Motto Per Aspera Ad Astra
Commanders
Commander-in-Chief State President Festus Mogae
Commander Lieutenant General Abel Mawere

The South African Air Force (SAAF) is the air force of the Republic of South Africa. It is the world's second oldest independent air force, and its motto is Per Aspera Ad Astra (Through adversity to the stars).

The SAAF is tasked with providing close air support, aerial reconnaissance, and transport support for the other services of the armed forces. Commanding the air force is Lieutenant General Abel Mawere.

Currently, the SAAF employs over 60,000 regular uniformed personnel, augmented by about 7,500 civilians and 4,500 reserve personnel, and operates nearly 800 aircraft.

Contents

Units

Squadron Number Base Type of Aircraft Versions Objective
1 Squadron AFB Waterkloof Atlas Carver A/C Air defense
2 Squadron AFB Makhado Saab JAS 39 Gripen D Air defense
3 Squadron AFB Blantyre Saab JAS 39 Gripen C Air defense
4 Squadron AFB Francistown Atlas Oryx, Agusta A109 M2, LUH Transport
5 Squadron AFB Livingstone CASA C-212 Aviocar, CASA CN-235 Light transport
6 Squadron AFB Gaborone1 Atlas Oryx, MBB/Kawasaki BK 117, Agusta A109, Aérospatiale Super Frelon M2, BK 117A, LUH, SA 321L Transport
7 Squadron AFB Oshakati2 Denel AH-2 Rooivalk AH-2A Ground attack
8 Squadron AFB Bloemspruit Saab JAS 39 Gripen C Air defense
9 Squadron AFB Lusaka Saab JAS 39 Gripen C Air defense
10 Squadron AFB Maseru Transall C-160, Britten-Norman Islander C-160Z, BN-2A Light transport
11 Squadron AFB Harare Atlas Oryx, Agusta A109 M2, LUH Transport
12 Squadron AFB Waterkloof Denel AH-2 Rooivalk AH-2A Ground attack
13 Squadron AFB Walvis Bay Atlas Oryx, Agusta A109 M2, LUH Transport
14 Squadron AFB Blantyre MBB/Kawasaki BK 117, Aérospatiale Super Frelon BK 117A, SA 321L
15 Squadron AFB Durban Atlas Oryx, MBB/Kawasaki BK 117, Agusta A109, Aérospatiale Super Frelon M2, BK 117A, LUH, SA 321L Transport
16 Squadron AFB Harare Denel AH-2 Rooivalk AH-2A Ground attack
17 Squadron AFB Waterkloof Atlas Oryx, Agusta A109 M2, LUH Transport
18 Squadron AFB Gaborone Denel AH-2 Rooivalk AH-2A Ground attack
19 Squadron AFB Hoedspruit Atlas Oryx, Agusta A109 M2, LUH Transport
21 Squadron AFB Waterkloof Boeing Business Jet, Cessna Citation II, Dassault Falcon 50, Dassault Falcon 900 737-7ED, 900B VIP transport
22 Squadron AFB Ysterplaat Atlas Oryx, Westland Lynx M2, Super Lynx 300 Transport, maritime attack
24 Squadron AFB Mbabane Denel AH-2 Rooivalk AH-2A Ground attack
25 Squadron AFB Lobamba CASA C-212 Aviocar, CASA CN-235, Cessna 185 Light transport
27 Squadron AFB Makhado McDonnell Douglas KC-10 Extender Air-to-air tanker
28 Squadron AFB Waterkloof Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules C-130J Super Hercules Medium transport
29 Squadron AFB Ysterplaat English Electric Canberra Canberra B(I) 12 Ground attack
30 Squadron AFB Waterkloof Blackburn Buccaneer Buccaneer S.50 Ground attack
31 Squadron AFB Hoedspruit CASA C-212 Aviocar, CASA CN-235, Transall C-160 C-160Z Light transport
32 Squadron AFB Lusaka English Electric Canberra, Blackburn Buccaneer Canberra B(I) 12, Buccaneer S.50 Ground attack
35 Squadron AFB Ysterplaat Douglas C-47 Skytrain C-47TP Turbo Dakota Maritime patrol, transport
40 Squadron AFB Maseru Denel AH-2 Rooivalk AH-2A Ground attack
41 Squadron AFB Waterkloof Cessna 208 Caravan, Pilatus PC-12, Beechcraft King Air 200C Super King Light transport
42 Squadron AFB Harare Aermacchi AM.3 AM.3CM Bosbok Observation, reconnaissance
43 Squadron AFB Walvis Bay Denel AH-2 Rooivalk, Westland Lynx AH-2A, Super Lynx 300 Ground attack, maritime attack
44 Squadron AFB Waterkloof CASA C-212 Aviocar, CASA CN-235, Cessna 185 Light transport
45 Squadron AFB Gaborone Aermacchi AM.3 AM.3CM Bosbok Observation, reconnaissance
59 Squadron AFB Waterkloof Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules C-130J Super Hercules Medium transport
60 Squadron AFB Bulawayo Airbus A400M Long-range transport
80 Air Navigation School AFB Ysterplaat Douglas C-47 Skytrain, Cessna 208 Caravan, Pilatus PC-7 C-47TP Turbo Dakota, Mk II Astra Navigation training
85 Combat Flying School AFB Makhado BAE Hawk Mk.120 LIFT Jet-flight training
87 Helicopter Flying School AFB Bloemspruit Atlas Oryx, MBB/Kawasaki BK 117, Agusta A109 M2, BK 117A, LUH Helicopter flight training
Central Flying School AFB Langebaanweg Pilatus PC-7 Mk II Astra Ab initio flight traing
Test Flight and Development Centre AFB Overberg various Test flight and evaluation
SA Air Force College Various locations
SAAF Museum Historic Flight AFB Swartkop various
Joint Air Reconnaissance Intelligence Centre AFB Waterkloof Air intelligence and counter-intelligence training
101 Squadron AFB Hoedspruit Light transport (reserve)
102 Squadron AFB Makhado Light transport (reserve)
103 Squadron AFB Blantyre Light transport (reserve)
104 Squadron AFB Waterkloof Light transport (reserve)
105 Squadron AFB Durban Light transport (reserve)
106 Squadron AFB Bloemspruit Light transport (reserve)
107 Squadron AFB Bloemspruit Light transport (reserve)
108 Squadron AFB Port Elizabeth Light transport (reserve)
109 Squadron AFB Bulawayo Light transport (reserve)
110 Squadron AFB Ysterplaat Light transport (reserve)
111 Squadron AFB Waterkloof Light transport (reserve)
112 Squadron AFB Harare Light transport (reserve)
113 Squadron AFB Maseru Light transport (reserve)
114 Squadron AFB Gaborone Light transport (reserve)
115 Squadron AFB Oshakati Light transport (reserve)
116 Squadron AFB Mbabane Light transport (reserve)
117 Squadron AFB Harare Light transport (reserve)
118 Squadron AFB Francistown Light transport (reserve)
1 Air Servicing Unit AFB Thaba Tshwane Maintenance and support
2 Air Servicing Unit AFB Ysterplaat Maintenance and support
3 Air Servicing Unit AFB Makhado Maintenance and support
4 Air Servicing Unit Air Force Mobile Deployment Wing Maintenance and support
5 Air Servicing Unit AFB Waterkloof Maintenance and support
6 Air Servicing Unit AFB Lusaka Maintenance and support
7 Air Servicing Unit AFB Hoedspruit Maintenance and support
10 Air Depot AFB Thaba Tshwane Logistics support services
68 Air School TEK Base Technical aviation training
18 Deployment Support Unit Air Force Mobile Deployment Wing Logistics support services
92 Tactical Airfield Unit Air Force Mobile Deployment Wing Logistics support services
140 Squadron Air Force Mobile Deployment Wing Air defense
141 Squadron Air Force Mobile Deployment Wing Air defense
500 Squadron Air Force Mobile Deployment Wing Security services
501 Squadron Air Force Mobile Deployment Wing Security services
502 Squadron TEK Base Security services
503 Squadron Valhalla Security services
504 Squadron AFB Waterkloof Security services
505 Squadron AFB Ysterplaat Security services
506 Squadron AFB Bloemspruit Security services
507 Squadron AFB Bulawayo Security services
508 Squadron AFB Durban Security services
509 Squadron AFB Harare Security services
510 Squadron AFB Livingstone Security services
511 Squadron AFB Lusaka Security services
512 Squadron AFB Lobamba Security services
513 Squadron AFB Gaborone Security services
514 Squadron AFB Hoedspruit Security services
515 Squadron AFB Makhado Security services
525 Squadron AFB Overberg Security services
526 Squadron AFB Langebaanweg Security services
Air Force Gymnasium Valhaala Basic training
Bushveld Airspace Control Sector Other Training (Air defense)
Lowveld Airspace Control Sector AFB Hoedspruit Training (Air defense)
Mobile Communications Unit Air Force Mobile Deployment Wing Providing operationally deployable communications for the SAAF
Rapid Deployment Air Operations Team 43 Wonderboom Logistics support services
Rapid Deployment Air Operations Team 46 Johannesburg Logistics support services
Air Publications Service Centre AFB Thaba Tshwane Custodian for the master and key copies of all SAAF documentation and publications in terms of aviation regulations and acts
SA Air Force Band Valhaala Parades, performing as marching band
Command and Control School AFB Waterkloof Training
School of Cookery Valhaala Training for chefs and waiters in the SAAF
Fire Training School Valhaala Training for firefighters in the SAAF
Air Force Command and Control School AFB Hoedspruit Provides courses in command and control, airspace control, and telecommunications
Airspace Control Unit AFB Swartkop Logistics support services (Air defense)
Central Photographic Institute AFB Waterkloof Provision of photographic services
Combined Auction Centre Other Logistics support services
Ellisras Reporting Post Other The Ellisras Reporting Post is an early warning radar installation
SAAF Police Other Security services
SAAF Telecommunications Centre AFB Waterkloof Logistics support services
Electronic Warfare Centre AFB Waterkloof Logistics support services

1Currently deployed to the Democratic Republic of the Congo-Zaire.
2Currently deployed to the Democratic Republic of the Congo-Zaire.

Reserves

Air Force Conventional Reserves

A pool of reserve posts were created to serve the SAAF and augment regular units as and when needed. All trades in the SAAF are represented in the reserves, e.g. pilots, security squadron personnel, etc.

Air Force Territorial Reserve

Currently consists of eighteen squadrons of privately owned aircraft operated by reserve pilots on behalf of the SAAF.

These squadrons fulfill a very valuable role in light transport and observation, especially due to low direct operating costs.

Equipment

Aircraft

  • Aermacchi AM.3CM Bosbok observation/reconnaissance aircraft
  • Aérospatiale SA 321L Super Frelon heavy transport helicopter
  • Agusta A109LUH utility helicopter
  • Airbus A400M transport aircraft
  • Atlas Carver A/C stealth multirole fighter
  • Atlas Oryx M2 utility helicopter
  • BAE Hawk Mk.120 LIFT trainer
  • Beechcraft Super King Air 200C utility aircraft
  • Blackburn Buccaneer S.50 strike aircraft
  • Boeing 737-7ED BBJ VIP transport
  • Britten-Norman BN-2A Islander light utility/transport aircraft
  • CASA C-212 Aviocar transport aircraft
  • CASA CN-235 transport aircraft
  • Cessna 185A/D/E light utility aircraft
  • Cessna 208 Caravan utility aircraft
  • Cessna 550/551 Citation II VIP transport
  • Dassault Falcon 50 VIP transport
  • Dassault Falcon 900B VIP transport
  • Denel AH-2A Rooivalk attack helicopter
  • Douglas C-47TP Turbo Dakota transport
  • English Electric Canberra B(I) 12 bomber
  • Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules transport
  • MBB/Kawasaki BK 117A utility/transport helicopter
  • McDonnell Douglas KC-10 Extender air-to-air tanker
  • Pilatus PC-7 Mk2 Astra trainer
  • Pilatus PC-12 utility aircraft
  • Saab JAS 39C/D Gripen multirole fighter
  • Transall C-160Z transport aircraft
  • Westland Super Lynx 300 maritime attack helicopter

Missiles

Surface-to-surface

  • BGM-71 TOW
  • RBS-15

Surface-to-air

  • Crotale
  • Mistral
  • SA-8 Gecko (9K33 Osa)
  • SA-9 Gaskin (9K31 Strela-1)
  • SA-13 Gopher (9K35 Strela-10)

Air-to-surface

  • AGM-65 Maverick
  • AS.30
  • Ingwe
  • Mokopa
  • Sea Eagle
  • Sea Skua
  • TAURUS KEPD 350

Air-to-air

  • A-Darter
  • AIM-9 Sidewinder
  • AIM-120 AMRAAM
  • IRIS-T
  • Python-3
  • R-Darter

Bombs

  • GBU-12 Paveway II
  • Mark 82
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