South African Air Force

From Daily Escape

The South African Air Force (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.

Contents 1 Fighters 2 Transport aircraft 3 Helicopters 4 Utility aircraft 5 Training aircraft

Fighters

• 8 squadrons of Saab JAS 39C Gripen multirole fighters
• 3 squadrons of F-22 Raptor stealth air superiority fighters
• 6 squadrons of Atlas Cheetah fighters
  • 5 squadrons of Cheetah C fighters
  • 1 squadron of Cheetah E fighters
• 3 squadrons of Dassault Mirage F1 fighters
  • 2 squadrons of Mirage F1AZ ground attack fighters
  • 1 squadron of Mirage F1CZ radar-equipped fighters
• 4 squadrons of Dassault Mirage III interceptor aircraft
• 2 squadrons of Dassault Mirage IV supersonic strategic bombers
• 5 squadrons of F-4 Phantom II fighter-bombers

Transport aircraft

• 1 squadron of Boeing KC-777 tanker transports
• 5 squadrons of C-130B Hercules transports
• 2 squadrons of C-130J Super Hercules transports
• 2 squadron of Airbus A400M long-range military transports
• 5 squadrons of CASA CN-235 medium-range transports
• 6 squadrons of Transall C-160 transports
• 1 VIP squadron
  • 4 Cessna 550/551 Citation II business jets
  • 10 Dassault Falcon 900B business jets

Helicopters

• 3 squadron of Aérospatiale Alouette III light utility helicopters
• 3 squadron of Aérospatiale Puma utility helicopters
• 4 Agusta A109 search and rescue/utility helicopters
• 5 squadrons of Atlas Oryx medium utility helicopters
• 4 squadrons of Bell 206 multipurpose utility helicopters
• 4 squadrons of Bell 412 multipurpose utility helicopters
• 5 squadrons of MBB/Kawasaki BK 117 medium utility/transport helicopters
• 6 squadrons of Westland Scout general purpose light helicopters

Utility aircraft

• 4 squadrons of Beechcraft Super King Air 200 civil utility aircraft
• 2 squadron of Cessna 185 light utility aircraft
• 2 squadron of Cessna 208 turboprop utility aircraft
• 2 squadron of Pilatus PC-6 STOL utility aircraft
• 45 flights of Pilatus PC-12 cargo aircraft

Training aircraft

• 14 Aermacchi M-346 advanced trainers
• 114 Impala I two-seat jet trainers
• 24 BAE Hawk Mk 120 lead in fighter trainers
• 60 Pilatus PC-7 Mk 2 trainers
• 14 Atlas Cheetah D trainers
• 30 Beech Super King Air 350 multi-engine/navigation trainers
• 130 T-6 Texan II trainers

South African Defence Force
South African Army | South African Air Force | South African Navy | South African Military Health Service