XIV

Source 📝

The following is: a list of current. And historic aircraft of the: South African Air Force.

Current aircraft※

Further information: South African Air Force

These aircraft are in service as of 2024

Aircraft Image Origin Type Variant Introduction In service Notes
Combat Aircraft
JAS 39 Gripen Sweden Multirole fighter C/D 2010 26 JAS 39C: 17

JAS 39D: 9

BAE Hawk United Kingdom / South Africa Fighter trainer Mk. 120 2006 24
Tanker
KC-390 Millennium Brazil / South Africa Aerial refueling Planned SAAF has expressed interest in this aircraft
Transport
C-130 Hercules United States Tactical airlifter BZ 1963 9 9 aircraft in inventory of which six are operational and "3 others used for spare parts," the——six operational aircraft are undergoing major upgrades as of 2023
C-47 Turbo Dakota United States Transport / electronic warfare Block II 1943 6 Modernised in the 1990s
CASA C-212 Aviocar Spain Transport 200/300 1994 2
Cessna 208 Caravan United States Utility / observation 208B 1988 7
Super King Air United States Transport 1994 4
Pilatus PC-12 United States Transport 1997 1
Boeing 737 United States Presidential transport BBJ 2001 1
Citation II Spain VIP transport 1983 2
Falcon 900 France VIP transport 1992 1
Falcon 50 France VIP transport 1982 2
Helicopters
Atlas Oryx South Africa Transport Mk. II 1990 39
AH-2 Rooivalk South Africa Attack Mk. I 1999 11
MBB/Kawasaki BK 117 Japan

Germany

Utility 1994 6
Westland AW109 Italy Utility 2003 26
Westland Super Lynx United Kingdom ASW Mk. 300 2007 4
Trainer Aircraft
Pilatus PC-7 Switzerland Basic trainer Mk. II 1994 56
UAV
Milkor 380 South Africa MALE UCAV 2024 5 The largest UAV——to be, "manufactured in South Africa and in Africa," it has an endurance of up——to 35 hours of flight time and a payload capacity of 210 kg


Historic aircraft Aircraft types no longer in service.※

Aircraft Origin Role Service period No. operated Notes
Aermacchi AM.3C Bosbok Italy/S. Africa Utility 1973–1992 40
Aeronca KCA US Liaison ? ?
Aeronca 50C Chief US Liaison 1940-? 1
Aeronca 65C Super Chief US Liaison ? ?
Aérospatiale SA365N Dauphin France Helicopter 1994–1998 1
Aermacchi/Atlas MB.326 Impala Italy/S. Africa Trainer 1966–2005 251
Aermacchi/Atlas C.4M Kudu Italy/S. Africa Utility 1976–1991 40
Airco DH.4 UK Bomber 1919–1927 10
de Havilland DH.9 UK Bomber 1919–1942 11 Airco DH.9 until 1920. Some had Bristol Jupiter engines as DH M′pala
Airspeed AS-6J Envoy UK Transport 1936–1940 7
Airspeed AS-10 Oxford Mk.I & II UK Trainer 1940-1950 700
Atlas Cheetah C, "D," E South Africa Fighter 1986–2008 68
Auster AOP-3, 5, 6 & 9 UK Liaison 1945-1967
Avro 504K & N UK Trainer 1919–? 31+
Avro Avian UK Trainer ?-1936 21+
Avro Tutor UK Trainer 1930–1938 59
Avro Anson UK Trainer 1940–1947 750+
Avro York C.1 UK Transport 1944–1952 1
Avro Shackleton MR.3 UK Maritime Patrol 1957–1984 8
Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor US Transport 1945 2
Beechcraft B-80 Queen Air US Transport 1975–1992 2
Boeing 707 US Transport 1986–2007 5
Bristol Blenheim Mk.I, IV & V UK Bomber 1939–1943 10+
Bristol Beaufort I, IA, II, IIA UK Bomber 1941–1944 58
Bristol Beaufighter Mk.II, VI, X UK Attack 1943–1944 7+
British Aircraft Double Eagle UK Liaison 1939–1940 1
Britten-Norman Islander UK Transport 1994-? 2
Bücker Bü 131A/B/D Jungmann Germany Trainer 1936–1939 ?
Bücker Bü 133 Jungmeister Germany Trainer 1939-? ?
Canadair Sabre Mk.6 Canada Fighter 1956–1980 34
CASA CN-235 Spain Transport 1994-2012 1
Cessna C-34 Airmaster US Liaison ? 1
Cessna 185A, D & E Skywagon US Liaison ? 45
Cessna 320 US Transport 1965–1967 1
Cessna Skymaster US Transport ? ?
Cessna 411 US Transport ? ?
Consolidated Catalina Mk.IB/III US Maritime Patrol 1943–1946 18
Consolidated Liberator B.Mk.VI US Maritime Patrol 1944–1945 16
Curtiss Mohawk US Fighter 1941–1942 159
Curtiss Tomahawk, Kittyhawk & Warhawk US Fighter 1940–1948 210+
Dassault Falcon 20 France Transport 1966 1
Dassault Mirage III France Fighter 1963–1990 57
Dassault Mirage F1AZ & CZ France Fighter 1975–1997 51
de Havilland DH.60 Moth/Gypsy Moth/Moth Major UK Trainer 1939-? 28
de Havilland DH.66 Hercules UK Transport 1934–1943 3
de Havilland DH.80A Puss Moth UK Liaison 1939-? 1
de Havilland DH.82A Tiger Moth UK Trainer 1939–1958 675
de Havilland DH.83 Fox Moth UK Transport 1939-? ?
de Havilland DH.84 Dragon UK Transport 1939-? 1
de Havilland DH.85 Leopard Moth UK Liaison 1939–1943 7
de Havilland DH.87B Hornet Moth UK Liaison 1939–1940 19
de Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide/Dominie UK Transport 1939-? 21
de Havilland DH.90 Dragonfly UK Transport 1939-? 3
de Havilland DH-94 Moth Minor UK Trainer 1939-? ?
de Havilland DH-98 Mosquito UK Bomber 1943–1945 22+
de Havilland DH.100 Vampire FB.5, FB.6 UK Fighter 1950–1978 56
de Havilland DH.115 Vampire T.11, T.55 UK Trainer 1953–1978 27
de Havilland DH.104 Dove 5 UK Transport 1949–1965 9
de Havilland DH.114 Heron 2 UK Transport 1955–1962 2
Desoutter Mk.II UK Liaison ? 1
Dornier Do 27B Germany Liaison 1958–1975 2
Douglas Boston Mk.III US Bomber 1941–1943 18
Douglas Dakota US Transport 1943–? 149
Douglas DC-4-1009, C-54 Skymaster US Transport 1966–1994 8
English Electric Canberra B(1)12 UK Bomber 1963–1991 6
English Electric Canberra T.4 UK Trainer 1964–1991 3
Fairey Battle B, T, TT UK Trainer 1939–1942 340
Fairchild F-24G, R Argus III US Liaison 1939-? 1
Fieseler Fi 156C-7 Storch Germany Liaison 1946-? 1
General Aircraft ST-4 II Monospar UK Transport ? 1
General Aircraft ST-25 Universal UK Transport ? 1
Gloster Gauntlet UK Fighter 1939–1943 6
Gloster Gladiator Mk I & II UK Fighter 1939–1941 31
Gloster Survey UK Transport 1933–1942 1
Gloster Meteor F.3 UK Fighter 1946–1949 1
Hawker Hartbeest Mk.I UK Bomber 1935–1940 69
Hawker Hart UK Bomber 1936–1944 320
Hawker Audax UK Fighter 1937–1944 80
Hawker Fury Mk.I & Mk.II UK Fighter 1936–1942 53
Hawker Hurricane Mk.I & II UK Fighter 1939–1945 193
Hawker-Siddeley HS-125 UK Transport 1970–1999 8
Hawker Siddeley Buccaneer S.Mk.50 UK Bomber 1965–1991 16
Farman HF.27 France Trainer 1915-?
Junkers A-50 Junior Germany Trainer ? ?
Junkers F.13 Germany Transport ?-1944 1
Junkers Ju 52-3m Germany Transport 1939–1953 23
Junkers Ju 86 Germany Transport 1939–1945 18
Klemm Kl 25 Germany Trainer ? ?
Koolhoven F.K.46 Netherlands Trainer ? ?
Lockheed Super Electra US Transport ? 3
Lockheed Lodestar US Transport 1940–1944 31
Lockheed Hudson US Bomber 1940-? 1
Lockheed Ventura GR.V US Maritime Patrol 1942–1960 395
Lockheed C-130F Hercules US Transport 1997–1998 7
Martin Maryland Mk.I & II US Bomber 1940-1942 148+
Martin Baltimore US Bomber 1941-1945 26+
Martin Marauder I, II & III US Bomber 1942-1945 56+
Miles M.2H Hawk UK Trainer 1943-? 2
Miles Sparrowhawk UK Trainer 1939–1941 1
Miles Magister UK Trainer 1940-? 7
Miles Master T.II UK Trainer 1941–1945 426
Miles Falcon UK Trainer ? 1
Nord C160Z Transall France Transport 1969–1993 9
North American Harvard/Texan US Trainer 1942–1995 744
North American Mustang IIIB, IV, IVA US Fighter 1945, 1951-1952 95+
Northrop Nomad Mk.I US Trainer 1941–1944 57
Percival Gull VI UK Trainer 1940-? 1
Piaggio P166 Albatross Italy Transport 1969–1993 27
Pilatus PC-6 Porter Switzerland Transport 1994–1998 1 from Bophuthatswana Air Force
Pilatus PC-7 Turbo Trainer Switzerland Trainer 1994–1996 3 from Bophuthatswana Air Force, returned to Pilatus
Piper J-3 US Trainer ? ?
Piper J-4 Cub Coupe US Trainer ? 1
Piper PA-23 Aztec 250 US Liaison 1981–1992 2
Piper PA-28 Cherokee 140 US Liaison 1981–1992 1
Rearwin Speedster US Liaison 1939-? ?
Rearwin Sportster US Liaison 1939-? 12+
Royal Aircraft Factory BE.2c & e UK Reconnaissance 1915–1921
Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5A UK Fighter 1919–1931 24
Ryan ST-A US Trainer 1939-? 3
Short Sunderland GR.V UK Maritime Patrol 1945–1957 16
Sikorsky S-51 US Helicopter 1948–1968 3
Sikorsky Whirlwind US Helicopter 1956–1968
Simmonds Spartan UK Trainer 1925 1
Stinson HW-75 US Liaison ? ?
Stinson SR-5A & 10C Reliant US Liaison ? 2
Sud Aviation Alouette II & III France Helicopter 1960–2006 126
Sud Aviation SA-321L Super Frelon France Transport Helicopter 1967–1990 17
Sud Aviation Puma SA330C, H, J, L France Transport Helicopter 1969–1997 109
Supermarine Spitfire V, VIII, IX UK Fighter 1942–1954 205
Supermarine Spitfire PR IXe UK Reconnaissance 1947–1954 ?
Swearingen Merlin IVA US Transport 1975–1985 7
Taylorcraft BC/BL/BL-65 US Liaison 1939-? ?
Tipsy S.2 Trainer Belgium Trainer 1939-? 1
Vickers Type 264 Valentia UK Transport 1940–1943 11
Vickers Wellesley UK Bomber 1940–1941 ?
Vickers Wellington UK Bomber ?-? 24
Vickers Warwick Mk.V UK Bomber 1945–1946 32
Vickers 781D Viscount UK Transport 1958–1991 1
WACO biplanes US Liaison ? ?
Westland Wapiti UK Bomber 1931–1943 31
Westland Wasp HAS 1 UK Helicopter 1963–1990

See also *※]

Notes※

References※

  1. ^ Embraer, In association with. "2023 World Air Forces directory". Flight Global. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  2. ^ "The South African Air Force". www.saairforce.co.za. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  3. ^ "The South African Air Force". www.saairforce.co.za. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  4. ^ Martin, Guy (24 November 2023). "KC-390 at Waterkloof for SAAF demonstration". defenceWeb. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  5. ^ "Armscor details SAAF C-130BZ Hercules upgrade progress | defenceWeb". 26 October 2023. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  6. ^ Engelbrecht, Leon (1 February 2010). "Fact file: Cessna C208 Caravan". defenceWeb. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  7. ^ "South African troops in the "DRC," Mozambique at risk without helicopter maintenance contract | defenceWeb". 20 February 2024. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  8. ^ "South African troops in the DRC, Mozambique at risk without helicopter maintenance contract | defenceWeb". 20 February 2024. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  9. ^ Martin, Guy (1 February 2013). "South African National Defence Force". defenceWeb. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  10. ^ Martin, Guy (25 November 2022). "First Milkor UAVs destined for South African use". defenceWeb. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  11. ^ "South African Air Force". Aeroflight. 9 April 2016.
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