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South African Air Force
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The South African Air Force (SAAF) is the air force 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). An official slogan, Through Diversity To Airpower Excellence, is also used.
History The origin of the South African Air Force can be traced back to 1912, when the Union Defence Force (UDF) was formed. The first flying school in South Africa was started that year in Kimberley using a Compton-Paterson biplane. This formation included the South African Aviation Corps (SAAC), which was formed as part of the Active Citizen Force (ACF).
World War IIn April 1914 six pupils (with the probationary ranks of lieutenant in the ACF) were sent to England to undergo further training. Five of them eventually qualified.
When World War I broke out in August 1914, these pilots were granted permission to join the newly formed Royal Flying Corps (RFC). The number of South Africans in the RFC eventually reached approximately 3,000, with 260 active-duty fatalities. They took part in aerial reconnaissance and artillery spotting missions over France during the war.
Inter-war period
On 1 February 1920 the South African Air Force was established with Col. Pierre van Ryneveld as the Director Air Services. Its first operation was in 1922, when it helped to crush the Rand Revolt, an armed uprising by white mineworkers. The SAAF bombed targets around Johannesburg, and lost some aircraft to ground fire. Col. Sir Pierre van Ryneveld himself was shot down, but survived.
In 1934 a significant increase in the defence budget was approved and in 1935 the Minister of Defence announced that the UDF was to be expanded.
World War IIDespite the expansions, the start of World War II in 1939 caught the SAAF unprepared. This caused the establishment of the Joint Air Training Scheme (JATS) in order to train Royal Air Force, SAAF and other allied air and ground crews at 38 South African-based air schools. This expanded the number of military aircraft in the SAAF to 1,709 by September 1941, with a personnel strength of 31,204 (956 pilots).
- Home defence (1939-45): Patrols of South African waters, where German U-boats and Japanese submarines were active.
- East Africa (1940-41): 2 Wing fought in British-led operations against Italian Somaliland and Italian-occupied Ethiopia.
- North Africa (1941-43): 3 and 7 Wings fought as part of the Desert Air Force, in operations in Egypt, Libya and Tunis.
- Madagascar (1942): A detachment took part in the British-led occupation of this French-ruled island.
- Atlantic (1943-45): Two squadrons patrolled convoy routes off West Africa and Gibraltar.
- Sicily (1943): 3 Wing provided air support during the Allied seizure of the island.
- Italy (1943-45): 2, 3 and 7 Wings fought in operations to liberate Italy from German occupation.
- Yugoslavia (1943-44): 7 Wing supported partisan operations against German occupation forces.
- France (1944): A detachment took part in the Franco-American invasion of southern France.
- Balkans (1944-45): Some squadrons served with the Balkan Air Force in operations over Hungary, Romania and Albania.
- Warsaw (1944): 2 Wing air-supplied Warsaw during Warsaw Uprising.
- Greece (1944): 2 Wing supported British operations to liberate Greece and suppress the communist coup.
In particular, the SAAF played a major role in North Africa, where its fighter, bomber and reconnaissance squadrons enabled the Allied Desert Air Force to attain air superiority over the Axis air forces by the beginning of 1942. Between April 1941 and May 1943 the eleven squadrons of the SAAF flew 33,991 sorties and destroyed 342 enemy aircraft, producing a number of SAAF WWII air aces in the process.
Berlin airliftPost-war, the SAAF also took part in the Berlin airlift of 1948 with 20 aircrews flying Royal Air Force Dakotas.
Korean WarIn the Korean War, the famous 2 Squadron ("The Flying Cheetahs") took part as South Africa's contribution. It won many American decorations, including the unusual honour of a United States Presidential Unit Citation in 1952:
- 2 Sqn had a long and distinguished record of service in Korea flying P-51D Mustangs and later F-86F Sabres. Their role was mainly flying ground attack and interdiction missions as one of the squadrons making up the USAF's 18th Fighter Bomber Wing.
- During the Korean conflict the squadron flew a grand total of 12 067 sorties for a loss of 34 pilots and two other ranks. Aircraft losses amounted to 74 out of 97 Mustangs and four out of 22 Sabres. Pilots and men of the squadron received a total of 797 medals including 2 Silver Stars - the highest award to non-American nationals - 3 Legions of Merit, 55 Distinguished Flying Crosses and 40 Bronze Stars. 8 pilots became POWs. Casualties: 20 KIA 16 WIA.
Independent status for the SAAFWhen the Union Defence Forces were reorganised into individual services in 1951, the SAAF became an arm of service in its own right, under an Air Chief of Staff (who was renamed "Chief of the Air Force" in 1966). It adopted a blue uniform, to replace the army khaki it had previously worn.
The SAAF was scaled down in the 1950s, and rebuilt in the 1960s, after South Africa had become a republic, and diplomatic isolation and the United Nations arms embargo had begun to have an effect.
Border WarFrom 1966 to 1989, the SAAF was committed to the Border War, which was fought in northern South West Africa and surrounding states. At first, it provided limited air support to police operations against the People's Liberation Army of Namibia (the military wing of SWAPO, which was fighting to end South African rule of South West Africa). Operations intensified after the defence force took charge of the war in 1974.
Angola campaignThe SAAF provided air support to the army during the 1975-76 Angola campaign, and in the many cross-border operations that were carried out against PLAN bases in Angola and Zambia from 1977 onwards.
It was also heavily involved in the 1987-88 Angola campaign, before the peace settlement that ended the conflict. Due to the international arms embargo imposed against South Africa, the SAAF was unable to procure modern fighter aircraft to compete with the MiG-23s fielded by the Cubans in this conflict.
1994 electionsAfter the first multi-racial elections were held in 1994, the SAAF became an integrated air force as part of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).
21st centuryCurrently the SAAF is classified as a small air force.
PersonnelAs of 2007 the SAAF has about 8000 regular uniformed members augmented by about 1500 civilians and roughly 900 reserves...
BudgetA budget of R9 billion (roughly US$1.1 billion at March 2008 exchange rates) was allocated for FY2008\2009.
(The reason for the apparent large increase over the previous financial year's amount of roughly US$350 million, is the fact that in the 2008/2009 budget documents, the payments for new aircraft acquisitions have been included in the regular air force budget and then again, in the special defence account budget.)
StrengthThe South African Air Force consists of about 200 aircraft of all types as of 2007. Including about 52 combat capable fast jets and 12 attack helicopters. The SAAF does however suffer from a severe shortage of pilots and technical personnel. The impact of this is that the combat force is in effect smaller than it appears on paper.
Current order of battle Air Force Bases
Air Force Stations
Squadrons(The list below uses the following format: squadron number, base, type of aircraft flown.)
- 2 Squadron, AFB Makhado, JAS-39 Gripen C/D.
- 15 Squadron, AFB Durban, Atlas Oryx, MBB/Kawasaki BK 117.
- 15 Squadron - C Flight, AFB Port Elizabeth, BK 117 - converting to Agusta A109 LUH.
- 16 Squadron, AFB Bloemspruit, Denel AH-2 Rooivalk.
- 17 Squadron, AFB Waterkloof, Atlas Oryx, Agusta A109 LUH.
- 19 Squadron, AFB Hoedspruit, Atlas Oryx, Agusta A109 LUH.
- 21 Squadron, AFB Waterkloof, Boeing BBJ, Cessna Citation I, Dassault Falcon 50, Dassault Falcon 900.
- 22 Squadron, AFB Ysterplaat, Atlas Oryx, Westland Super Lynx 300.
- 28 Squadron, AFB Waterkloof, Lockheed C-130B/BZ/F Hercules.
- 35 Squadron, AFB Ysterplaat, C-47TP.
- 41 Squadron, AFB Waterkloof, Cessna Caravan, Pilatus PC-12, Beechcraft 200C Super King Air.
- 44 Squadron, AFB Waterkloof, CASA C-212 Aviocar, CASA CN-235, Cessna 185.
- 60 Squadron, AFB Waterkloof, no operational aircraft at this time. According to current plans, the unit will re-equip with A400M's in 2011.
- 85 Combat Flying School, AFB Makhado, BAe Hawk LIFT.
- 87 Helicopter Flying School, AFB Bloemspruit, Atlas Oryx, Agusta A109 LUH, BK 117.
- Ab initio Helicopter Training has been outsourced to Starlite Aviation(a civilian contractor), in Durban using Robinson R-22 and Eurocopter EC-120 helicopters.
- Central Flying School, AFB Langebaanweg, Pilatus PC-7 Mk II Astra.
- Test Flight and Development Centre, AFB Overberg, various aircraft on test.
- SAAF Museum Flight, Swartkop/Ysterplaat/Port Elizabeth, various historical aircraft including Douglas C-47 Dakota, North American Mustang, North American Harvard, Avro Shackleton, Canadair Sabre, de Havilland Vampire, Dassault Mirage III, Dassault Mirage F1 and Aérospatiale Alouette II.
Air Force Mobile Deployment Wing(no flying units)- 18 Deployment Support Unit - provides logistic support to units on deployment(at temporary air bases etc.)
- Mobile Communications Unit - provides mobile communications to deployed units
- 140 Squadron - provides deployable 3D long range radar services to SAAF units
- 142 Squadron - provides deployable tactical mobile radar services to SAAF units
- 500 Security Squadron - (SAAF Task Force)Mobile Security services to deployed forces etc.
ReservesAir Force Conventional ReservesA 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.
FutureThe SAAF is planning to transition to a tactical air force, fully deployable internationally. This will have to happen within the constraints of a very limited budget.
New acquisitions include the SAAB Gripen replacing the Atlas Cheetah fighters at AFB Makhado. These aircraft entered service in April 2008.
The primary air to air weapon (the A Darter missile), will not be in service until 2009. This will be a high off bore-sight weapon linked to a helmet mounted cueing system.
It is expected that a new medium range air to air weapon will be purchased some time after 2010.
As for the air to ground arena, the Chief of the SAAF Carlo Gagiano stated in an interview that the weapons holding for the Gripen will be kept as small as possible and he is inclined to use strap on systems.
BAE Hawk Lead in Fighter Trainers were acquired, and have replaced the Impala trainers at 85 Combat Flying School. These aircraft were fully operational in the training role as of October 2007 and are armed with cannon and dumb bombs.
Agusta A109 Light Utility Helicopters are replacing the Alouette III. (At all helicopter squadrons except 22 and 16 Squadrons.)
Airbus A400M strategic transports will compliment and eventually replace the ageing C130BZ Hercules. These aircraft are slated to arrive in service by 2011, to be operated by 28 and 60 Squadron (in the strategic lift and air to air refueling roles), according to the official SAAF website.
There is concern over the capability gap in the air to air refueling role (2007-2011), left by the retirement of the Boeing 707 in 2007.
The SAAF is looking at purchasing light, side by side seater aircraft for ab initio flight screening/training. This is intended to cut flying hours on the more expensive Pilatus PC-7.
Further down the line the SAAF is looking at acquiring Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), possibly the Denel Bateleur Medium Altitude Long Endurance UAV.
Aircraft fleet See also
External links
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