SOUTH AFRICAN AIR FORCE (SAAF) • Suid-Afrikaanse Lugmag Air Force
ε10,000 personnel. Nine air bases and regional commands
Forces by Role & Equipment by Type
Tactical Air Command (Air Defense and Strike)
• AIRCRAFT ε48 combat capable Total ε200+ Aircraft
Interceptor & Fighter Ground Attack 2 sqn with 26 Ftr/FGA ac:
17 Saab Gripen C (Single-seat; most non-operational/in storage);
9 Saab Gripen D (Two-seat; combat/training).
Transport & Special Mission 3 sqn with 18 Tpt ac:
4 Lockheed C-130BZ Hercules;
2 Lockheed C-130B Hercules;
3 Douglas C-47TP Turbo Dakota (Maritime patrol/transport);
3 CASA C-212 Aviocar; 1 CASA CN235;
4 Beechcraft King Air 200/300; 1 Pilatus PC-12.
• Helicopters 5 sqn with ε87 Hel:
10 Denel Rooivalk (Attack helicopter);
43 Oryx (Local production medium transport);
24 AgustaWestland AW109 (Light utility/reconnaissance);
6 MBB/Kawasaki BK117;
4 Super Lynx 300 (Naval operations).
Training Command with 78 Trg ac:
23 BAE Systems Hawk 120 (Lead-in fighter trainer);
55 Pilatus PC-7 Mk II Astra (Basic trainer).
• Air-Launched Missiles:
AAM: AIM-9L Sidewinder, IRIS-T, Python 3, V-3C Darter.
ASM: AGM-65 Maverick
LGB: GBU-12 Paveway II.
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Strategic Context and Industry Notes:
• Operational Readiness: A significant portion of the Gripen C/D fleet is currently designated as non-operational due to budget and maintenance constraints.
• Domestic Industry (Denel): South Africa maintains a sophisticated domestic defense industry through the Denel Group, which has historically developed platforms like the Rooivalk and Oryx, and participated in licensed production of the AW109.
• Regional Dominance: The SAAF is described as the largest and most advanced air force in the Sub-Saharan region, though its share of regional defense spending has decreased from 27% in 2011 to 15% in 2022.
4/5 Generation Fighters 
