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Index of Report: Assessment \| Regional Air Force Strengths \| Chain of Command \| Organisation \| Role and Deployment \| Search and rescue and evacuation \| Regional intervention and assistance \| Regional training \| UN Contributions \| Deployment \| Operational Art and Tactical Doctrine \| Training \| Training Areas \| Air Force Bases AIR FORCE, SOUTH AFRICA Date Posted: 19 March 2001 Jane's Sentinel Security Assessment - Southern Africa - 09 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SOUTH AFRICA - AIR FORCE AIR FORCE SUMMARY STRENGTH 9,500 (uniformed, full time) 450 (part-time reserves) FIGHTER Cheetah C/D ATTACK Impala II TRANSPORT C-130B/F, C-47TP, C-212, CN-235M-100 Assessment The South African Air Force (SAAF) lacks any real long-range interdiction capability. It is questionable as to whether the replacement of the Cheetah by the BAE Systems/Saab Gripen aircraft will change this situation. The Impala Mk II is no longer regarded as having any real combat utility in the face of modern air defences. It will be retained in a lead-in role until it is replaced by BAe Hawk 100 aircraft, deliveries of which are due to start in 2005. A major gap in the SAAF's capability is the lack of any long-range maritime patrol aircraft. This will become even more of a problem as South Africa takes on more significant regional roles, one of which is going to be the protection of regional marine assets and coastal shipping. The need was to be partly addressed with the entry into service from 1998 of the new full-scale maritime version of the C-47TP, which was to have a surface search radar and TV/FLIR, GPS navigation and a sono-buoy capability. This project has, however, been cancelled, as the ending of the arms embargo made nonsense of spending limited funds on a 1940s era aircraft. The Pilatus PC-7 Mk 2, which is now fully in service, will serve the SAAF effectively in the primary trainer role for the next few decades. In October 1999, 16 Squadron was reactivated as the official unit for the CSH-2 Rooivalk attack helicopter. This unit is based at Bloemspruit air force base. Continuing funding shortfalls have meant that the SAAF had to restrict some of its missions in 2000. A number of flood relief flights in Mozambique were curtailed due to pilot shortages and the use of C-130B/F transport aircraft of 28 Squadron has been limited to only 800 flying hours. One Cessna 185 was lost in Mozambique during April 2000, while on a border patrol sortie. The five Boeing 707 electronic warfare and tanker aircraft, which had provided the SAAF with a force multiplier, have been grounded due in part to electronic and documentation problems. Regional Air Force Strengths The SAAF remains the most effective air force south of the Sahara, despite some loss of capability to defence cuts since 1989. It is a very experienced and highly trained air force that takes a thoroughly practical approach to operations and training. The result has been a solid record of successful operations and a very low loss rate. Its approach is well illustrated by its view of several larger air forces and their training as being `hopelessly academic'. Chain of Command The air force's command structure has been reorganised to match the hand-over of operational control to Joint Operations and the hand-over of other functions to the Secretariat. The new structure consists of two divisions - an Air Office and an Air Command. The Air Office is responsible for the strategic operation of the air force and for policy, planning and control. The Air Command is the executive arm of the service, having responsibility for the preparation of combat-ready air forces. Chief of the Air Force: Lieutenant General Roelf Boekes Inspector General: Brigadier General G Gagiano Sergeant-Major of the Air Force: WO1 C P M Nortje Chief Director, Air Policy and Plans: vacant Deputy Chief of the Air Force and GOC Air Command: Major General J J Botha Chief Director, Force Development and Support: Major General P R Müller Chief Director, Force Preparation: Brigadier General F J Labuschange Chairperson, Integration Committee: Brigadier General T A Ntsibande Chairperson, Transformation Committee: Brigadier General R Salojee Base OC Representative: Brigadier General N L J Ngema Chairperson EO, AA Committee: Brigadier General Z A Temba AFO Representative on Transformation Policy: Brigadier General M K Mokoena PSSO to CAF and Secretary: Colonel C J Delport Chairperson Air Force Gender Forum: Colonel S van der Bank Senior Finance Officer: F Koegelenberg Organisation The air force is a highly centralised organisation, enabling it to employ its relatively small number of aircraft most efficiently in this large theatre. Air force headquarters is in Pretoria, and incorporates the main Air Force Command Post (AFCP). The AFCP handles the overall air picture collation by means of a real-time Air Picture and Command System (APACS) that allows direct control of aircraft on the ground and in flight. The APACS system is being extended to allow air force operations to be controlled from any of its command posts. The southern air force command post, co-located with the navy's maritime co-ordination centre at Silvermine outside Cape Town, has responsibility for all maritime air operations. It also has control over a forward air command post at Port Elizabeth, which will normally control operations off the southeast coast. There are also forward air command posts (FACP) at Durban, Pietersburg, Nelspruit, Johannesburg and Potchefstroom, which co-ordinate air support for the regional army commands, as well as at the army battle school at Lohatla. Other FACPs are to be established in the remaining provinces. Mobile air operations teams (MAOT) are deployed as necessary for independent air force operations outside South Africa, and with army forces when deployed for training or operations. Air defence is co-ordinated through two air space control sector headquarters: the Bushveld Air Space Control Sector which is co-located with the Command Post in Pretoria, and the Lowveld Air Space Control Sector at Air Force Base Hoedspruit in Mpumalanga. Both sectors have fixed and mobile radar systems, which automatically feed data to their own command posts and to the Command Post. The future approved force design and major equipment needs for the air force are detailed below, although when funding or how much is to be allocated in presently unknown. Current major equipment needs are: From 2000: A replacement for the Mirage F1AZ and Cheetah C and D aircraft. At the DEXSA exhibition held in Pretoria, South Africa, in late 1998 it was announced that BAE Systems/Saab will supply the SAAF with 28 Gripen multi-role fighters in a R10.8 billion contract. Negotiations are underway as to how many two-seat models will be included in the package. By 2002: A replacement for the Alouette III (60 aircraft). The SAAF will buy 30 Agusta A119 light utility helicopters for R2.2 billion. From 2005: A replacement for the Impala jet trainer (Project LIFT (Lead-In Fighter Trainer), 24 aircraft). Also at the DEXSA exhibition it was announced that Bae will supply 24 Hawk 100 LIFT aircraft in a contract worth R4.7 billion. All final assembly and flight-testing will take place in South Africa. Longer term requirements include: 8 medium transports (50 seat) (possibly CN-235) 8 medium-light transports (25 seat) (possibly CASA 212) 12 light transports (10 seat) (probably acquire additional King Airs) 16 light reconnaissance aircraft (Cessan 185 replacement) (probably re-role the Caravans and acquire four additional aircraft) 6 long-range maritime patrol aircraft 10 short-range maritime patrol aircraft (probably the same airframe as the light transport) 1 `inter-continental range' presidential aircraft 1 `ministerial' VIP aircraft for operations in Africa 2 `departmental' VIP aircraft for operations in Southern Africa For further details of the ongoing reorganisation of the SANDF, the effect of which will be felt in the air force, see the Armed Forces section, Type Formations. Role and Deployment The SAAF is mandated by the government to provide all of the state's air requirements except those provided by the police air wing and the specialised services provided by the department of transport (airfield calibration flights, etc). The SAAF is, thus, the sole operator of military aircraft in South Africa and has responsibility for the full range of air operations. The primary mission in time of war is to ensure a favourable air situation over the territory and coastal waters of South Africa and over any area in which South African ground forces are to be deployed. Given the size of the African theatre, the terrain, and the very low force densities that characterise operations in the region, the air force is seen as a key element in any operation. Its inherent flexibility enables it to intervene anywhere in an operational area at short notice, providing interdiction, ground attack, reconnaissance, trooping and supply support as needed. In time of peace the air force provides a range of services for other government departments, ranging from deploying helicopters and light aircraft to support army and police elements carrying out border protection and internal security operations, to flying government officials around Africa. The growing regional role of South Africa in Southern Africa is also going to bring new and expanding regional roles for the air force. These will fall mainly on the transport and helicopter forces and to a lesser extent on the maritime patrol force. The former will be asked to take on a greater role in disaster and emergency relief operations, and to transport and support forces involved in regional peace support operations. The latter will be expected to assist other countries of the region with the protection of their marine resources and in search and rescue work. Search and rescue and evacuation South Africa already has responsibility for maritime search and rescue for much of the South Atlantic, Indian and Southern Oceans, delegated by the ICAO and the IMO. This task is handled by the Maritime Rescue Co-Ordination Centre (MRCC) and the South African Search and Rescue organisation (SASAR). The MRCC is co-located with the Southern Air Force Command Post at Silvermine. The capabilities of this organisation, and of the SAAF and South African Navy (SAN), have been thoroughly demonstrated by several rescue operations. One operation saw all passengers and crew rescued from the cruise ship Oceanos when she sank in very heavy weather off the east coast of South Africa in 1991. An orbiting C-160 served as an on-site command and co-ordination post, C-47s searched for passengers and lifeboats that might have drifted away from the scene, Alouette IIIs searched along the coast, and Pumas lifted off survivors and put a team of divers on the ship to assist the survivors and search for any trapped below. More recently, a SAAF Boeing 707 evacuated 100 South African and other civilians from Kinshasa on 15 August 1998. The SAAF then deployed two Boeing 707s and a C-130 to evacuate a 616-man Tanzanian training team from Kamina in the DRC. The Tanzanian government decided to withdraw the team because of the deteriorating security situation but lacked the necessary airlift capability. A joint SAAF/army advance party was deployed to Kamina and a liaison team to Dar es Salaam, and the troops and their equipment were airlifted out on 23 and 24 August. The Standing Aviation Sub-Committee of the Inter-State Defence and Security Committee has proposed extending the present SASAR rescue region to include the waters off Angola, Mozambique and Tanzania. Regional intervention and assistance The SAAF has also played a role in South Africa's armed intervention in Lesotho. Air support for the troops forming part of Operation `Boleas' will vary according to requirements but may include between four and six Oryx helicopters for trooping and casualty evacuation missions, between four and six Alouette III gunships, an Alouette III for command and liaison tasks, a Cessna Caravan light transport, a `Skyshout' aircraft and a Seeker UAV detachment. In December 1999 and again in February 2000, the SAAF was deployed to Mozambique. During the December 1999 national elections the SAAF provided aircraft to help collect ballot boxes from remote areas. Two months later, during early 2000, heavy flooding in southern Mozambique prompted the SAAF into deploying six Oryx helicopters, one CASA and one Cessna to help disaster relief operations as far north as Beira. In March 2001 South Africa again help the Mozambique authorities with flood disaster relief efforts. President Mbeki authorised the use of SAAF aircraft on temporary deployment to Beira, Mozambique. Eight helicopters (Oryx and Agusta), two heavy cargo aircraft (Hercules), and a light transport aircraft (CASA212) were authorised for the operation. In Mozambique they joined two helicopters funded by British charities to move flood victims and supply food and other aid materials. Regional training The air force is also set to take on a growing training role in the region. It has long trained personnel for Lesotho, Malawi and Swaziland. In 1996 it presented a first flying safety course for officers from nine African air forces, and it will continue to present such courses in South Africa and in other countries of the region. Angola and Zambia have also expressed interest in flying and technical training in South Africa, and Zimbabwe has undergone training already. Deployment The remaining operational elements of the air force are deployed as follows: 2 Squadron with Cheetah C (air defence and attack) and Cheetah D (operational conversion unit, OCU) aircraft based at AFB Louis Trichardt in Northern Province. 8 Squadron with Impala Mk II (light attack) at AFB Bloemspruit in the Free State; The Impalas are being phased out. 10 Squadron with Seeker unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). 15 Squadron with Oryx and BK-117 utility transport helicopters at Durban Airport. 16 Squadron with the CSH-2 Rooivalk in the attack role af AFB Bloemspruit. 17 Squadron with Oryx and Alouette III helicopters (utility transport) at AFB Waterkloof. 19 Squadron with Oryx and Alouette III helicopters (utility transport) at AFB Louis Trichardt. 21 Squadron with Falcon 50, Falcon 900 and Citation aircraft (VIP transport) at AFB Waterkloof, outside Pretoria. The squadron no longer operates the HS-125, all of which have been put up for disposal. 22 Squadron with Oryx and Alouette IIIs (utility transport) at AFB Ysterplaat at Cape Town. 28 Squadron with C-130 Hercules aircraft (transport) at AFB Waterkloof. 35 Squadron with C-47TP 00C aircraft (transport and maritime patrol) at Cape Town Airport. 41 Squadron with Cessna Caravan I, King Air 200/300 and PC-12 aircraft (communications) at AFB Waterkloof. 44 Squadron with C-212 and CN-235 transports and Cessna 185 twin conversion trainers at AFB Waterkloof. 60 Squadron with Boeing 707 at AFB Waterkloof (tanker, transport, electronic intelligence, signals intelligence and airborne early warning). The Test Flight and Development Centre flies various aircraft, including Islanders, from Bredasdorp on trials and communications missions. Nine volunteer air squadrons, which fly liaison and utility missions using civil aircraft owned by the members of the squadrons. The Mirage F1AZ squadron formerly based at AFB Hoedspruit has now been phased out. UN Contributions The SAAF has participated in UN operations in Angola and Mozambique, providing both fixed-wing and helicopter transport capability during the run-up to the election in the former, and during the actual election in the latter country. Operational Art and Tactical Doctrine The air force retains command of its aircraft at all times. When they are employed in support of the other services, this is done in co-ordination with their operational commanders, and that is handled by the relevant FACP or MAOT. These will normally form a planning cell with the staff of the formation being supported. The preferred tactic in the air superiority role is to execute offensive counter-air operations, to make the most efficient use of the available fighters. When this approach is not politically permissible or militarily practicable, the fighters will fly Combat Air Patrol (CAP) missions if necessary, or otherwise be held at a state of readiness on the ground, to scramble when needed. The emphasis is on the use of smart systems and smart weapons to make the most of the small fighter force. Targets will whenever possible be engaged by flying stand-off profiles and using smart stand-off weapons against high-value point targets, or long toss attacks with pre-fragmented bombs against area targets. The pre-fragmented bombs are held in both standard and boosted form, and with different ball sizes for soft or semi-hard targets. The boosted bombs give stand-off ranges of around 14 km, depending on the attack profile. Direct close air support will only be given in critical situations or where the opposing force has no effective air defence systems. This doctrine was proven during the last operations in Angola, when Mirage F1AZs and Buccaneers were able to fly all assigned missions with minimal losses, despite MiG-23s flying combat air patrols for the opposing forces under control of radars covering the entire area of operations and despite ground-based air defence systems that included SA-6, SA-8, SA-9, SA-13 and manportable surface-to-air missiles (SAMs), as well as 23 mm and 57 mm guns, including the ZSU-23-4 `Shilka' system. The air strikes inflicted major losses on the opposing ground forces and were instrumental in breaking their resistance on several occasions. Most of these strikes were flown using long-toss profiles. Buccaneers also flew several precision strikes against the bridge at Cuito Cuinavale, which they hit with a still-classified locally developed stand-off weapon. Only one Mirage was lost to a SAM; another was damaged in an air-to-air clash with a MiG-23 and then seriously damaged in a rough landing. One Bosbok spotter was also lost to a SAM. Helicopters are expected to provide the closest possible support for the ground forces, be it by Alouette III gunships or by Oryx in the trooping role. The SAAF developed a body of tactics for such operations over some 15 years of operations in the north of Namibia and southern Angola, where it flew extensively with no losses to manportable SAMs and ZU-23-2s, and only limited losses to lighter weapons. Helicopters will make use of helicopter administrative areas (HAAs) to refuel and rearm between sorties. Such HAAs will be established very far forward, or even behind the opposing ground forces if the situation suggests this. A new doctrine will be developed for the employment of the Rooivalk. This may involve a rethink of the traditional South African approach which shies away from close air support missions, preferring to leave such tasks to the army's artillery. Transport aircraft are also expected to provide support very far forward, limited only by their vulnerability. Training The SAAF makes use of the following training bases: Air Force Gymnasium, Pretoria: junior leader training and some basic training. School for Logistics Training, Pretoria: technical and logistics training of all ranks. Central Flying School (CFS), Langebaanweg: pilot ground school and ab initio flying training on the Astra and training of flying instructors. 80 Air Navigation School (ANS), D F Malan Airport; the squadron has no aircraft of its own but `borrows' aircraft from other units. It flies C-47TP aircraft for basic navigation training and Caravan I aircraft for tactical navigation training. 85 Central Flying School, AFB Hoedspruit: jet and combat flying training on the Impala Mk I and Impala Mk II. 87 Helicopter Flying School, AFB Bloemspruit: helicopter flying training on Alouette III and mountain flying training on all the types in service. Airspace Control School, AFB Waterkloof: training of air and fighter controllers and related personnel. Air Force College: management and staff courses for junior and middle ranking officers. Note: 86 Multiengine Flying School has been decommissioned. The C-212s, the single CN-235 and the multiengine flying training role have passed to 44 Squadron. Selected junior officers attend the Military Academy at Saldanha Bay for three years to read for the B.Mil degree offered by the University of Stellenbosch. Some junior officers are selected to study engineering at civilian universities after initial service in the SAAF as pilots or as technical officers. Selected middle-ranking officers attend the staff courses of the other services. Some middle-ranking and senior officers are also selected to study for advanced degrees and diplomas (such as the MBA) at civilian universities. Selected senior officers attend the Joint Staff Course of the Defence College in Pretoria. Training Areas There are two main air-to-air training areas, off the west coast near Langebaan northwest of Cape Town, and off Durban. Both are promulgated as necessary. The respective home bases for them are the CFS at Langebaanweg and 15th Squadron at Durban. Air-to-ground training is conducted at the Roodewal range, with aircraft flying out of AFB Hoedspruit, and at the De Wet Bomb Range near Bloemfontein, with the aircraft flying out of AFB Bloemspruit. Live air-to-ground attacks are also flown as part of co-operation training with the army at the Army Battle School near Postmasburg in the Northern Cape. The SAAF also uses the Army's Vastrap range in the Northern Cape and the Hammanskraal range in Gauteng. Flying training is conducted in the area around all air bases, and particularly around the flying schools at CFS Langebaanweg, AFB Bloemspruit and AFB Hoedspruit. Air Force Bases The SAAF operates from the following bases: AFB Bloemspruit at Bloemfontein AFB Hoedspruit in Mpumalanga (former Eastern Transvaal) CFS Langebaanweg (northwest of Cape Town); AFB Louis Trichardt in the Northern Province; AFB Swartkop outside Pretoria; AFB Waterkloof outside Pretoria; AFB Ysterplaat at Cape Town; The SAAF also operates aircraft from the following two air stations which share major airports: Durban Airport D F Malan (Cape Town Airport) 7.12.12 Garrisons The SAAF maintains no garrisons. 7.12.13 Inventory: Fixed-Wing Type Role Quantity In Service Cheetah C Multi-Role Fighter 38 36 Cheetah D Combat Trainer 16 13(1) Impala Mk II Close Air Support 100 24(2) Boeing 707 Tanker/Transport/ELINT/AEW 5 4(3) C-130B Hercules Transport 9 9 C-130F Hercules Transport 3 3(6) C-47TP Transport/Maritime Patrol 39(4) 15 CN-235 Medium Transport 1 1 C-212 Light Transport 4 4 King Air 200C Communications 5 3 King Air 300 Communications 1 1 Cessna 185A Communications 24 7 Cessna 185E Communications 9 5 Cessna 550 Citation II Communications 1 1(5) Cessna 551 Citation II/SP Communications 1 1 Falcon 900 Communications 1 1(5) Falcon 50 Communications 2 2 Cessna 208 Caravan I Utility 12 11 BN-2A/B Islander Utility 2 1 PC-6/B2-H4 Turbo-Porter Utility 1 1 PC-12 Utility 1 1 Impala Mk I Armed Trainer 151 24(7) PC-7 Mk II 'Astra' Trainer 60 58 Notes: 1. Primarily tasked with training but do have secondary air defence/attack combat role. Another 13 Cheetah E aircraft are in storage. 2. A further 26 are in storage. 3. One of the original aircraft has been put up for disposal. 4. 12 were offered for sale in early 1998. 5. Operated in civilian markings. 6. All stored, two being used for spares. 7. Additional aircraft stored pending disposal. Inventory: Rotary-Wing Type Role Quantity In Service AH-2A Rooivalk Attack Helicopter 12 8(1) Oryx (Puma) Utility 51 48 Oryx (Puma) Elint/Jammer 2 2 SE 3160 Alouette III Utility 72 22 SA 316B Alouette III Utility 47 30 BK-117A Utility/ Search and Rescue 10 10 Note: 1. Remainder under delivery in 2001. Inventory: Air Defence Systems Type Role Quantity In Service Crotale Low-Altitude SAM Acquisition Units 7 7 Low-Altitude SAM Launchers 14 14 Note: Only elements of one battery are being kept operational to train crews, assist with fighter and helicopter pilot tactical training, and to assist with the development of the new SAM system. The remaining systems are in preservation. UPDATED -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- © 2001 Jane's Information Group --------------------------------------------------------------------------------