South African Air Force

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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. [cite press release|url=http://www.af.mil.za/news/2007/170.htm|title=B707 retries at Swartkop|publisher=SAAF] 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

Gallery of SAAF Aircraft

South African Air Force Memorial

The South African Air Force Memorial is located at Swartkop outside Pretoria. It contains an honour roll of SAAF personnel who have been killed on duty.

In addition to the main memorial site, there are also a number of smaller memorials.
* A memorial to the 389 Royal Air Force pilots who have died in South Africa during the Joint Training Scheme between 1939 and 1945
* An olive tree planted by the South African Korean War veterans in memory of the comrades they lost during that conflict.

References

ee also

*South African Air Force Museum
*List of air forces
*List of squadrons of the South African Air Force
*Military history of South Africa

External links

* [http://www.af.mil.za/ Official South African Air Force website]
* [http://www.saairforce.co.za/ Unofficial South African Air Force website]