South African Air Force

The South African Air Force (SAAF) is the air force of South Africa, with headquarters in Pretoria. The South African Air Force was established on 1 February 1920. The Air Force has seen service in World War II and the Korean War. From 1966 the SAAF was involved in providing infantry support in a low intensity war ("The Border War") in Angola, South West Africa (now Namibia) and Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). As the war progressed, the intensity of air operations increased until in the late 1980s, the SAAF were compelled to fly fighter missions against Angolan aircraft in order to maintain tactical air superiority. On conclusion of the Border War in 1990, aircraft numbers were severely reduced due to economic pressures as well as the cessation of hostilities with neighboring states. Today the SAAF has a limited air combat capability and has been structured towards regional peace-keeping, disaster relief and maritime patrol operations.

Basic Information

 * Active Personnel: 28,800
 * Reserve Personnel: 15,750
 * Fighters: 126
 * Trainers: 106
 * Transports: 52
 * Helicopters: 86
 * Active Bases: 5

List of Aircraft of the SAAF

 * Fighters
 * Atlas Carver Mk.IV (Air Superioity Fighter) x 36
 * Lockheed Martin F-16CA Viper (Multirole Strike Fighter) x 42
 * Saab JAS 39 Gripen C/D (Multirole Fighter) x 48
 * Trainers
 * British Aerospace Hawk Mk.120 (Trainer) x 24
 * Korean Aerospace Industries FA-50 Golden Eagle (Lead-in Fighter-Trainer) x 30
 * Pilatus PC-7 Mk.II (Trainer) x 52
 * AEW/Reconnaisance/EW
 * Bombardier-Raytheon Sentinel R.1 (Battlefield Management Aircraft) x 6
 * BAe Systems Nimrod AEW.5 (AWACS Aircraft) x 8
 * Transport Aircraft
 * Beechcraft Super King Air (Light Transport) x 4
 * Boeing 737BBJ (Presidential Transport) x 1
 * CASA C-212 (Light Transport) x 4
 * Cessna 208B (Light Utility) x 10
 * Cessna 550 Citation (VIP Transport) x 2
 * Dassault Falcon 50 (VIP Transport) x 2
 * Dassault Falcon 900 (VIP Transport) x 1
 * Douglas C-47TP Dakota (Medium Transport) x 9
 * Lockheed C-130BZ Hercules (Tactical Airlifter) x 18
 * Pilatus PC-12 (Light Transport) x 1
 * Helicopters
 * Agusta A109 (Light Utility Helicopter) x 27
 * Atlas Oryx (Medium Transport Helicopter) x 40
 * Denel Rooivalk (Attack Helicopter) x 11
 * MBB-Kawasaki BK-117 (Utility Helicopter) x 4
 * Westland Super Lynx (Maritime Helicopter) x 4