List of aircraft of the South African Air Force

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 2025

Aircraft	Image	Origin	Type	Variant	Introduction	In service	Notes
Combat aircraft
JAS 39 Gripen		Sweden	Multirole fighter	C/D	2010	26 [1]	JAS 39C: 17 JAS 39D: 9
BAE Hawk		United Kingdom	Fighter trainer	Mk. 120	2006	24 [2]
Tanker
KC-390 Millennium		Brazil	Aerial refueling			Planned	SAAF has expressed interest in this aircraft [3]
Transport
C-130 Hercules		United States	Tactical airlifter	BZ	1963	9 [4]	9 aircraft in total inventory, only 6 aircraft are operational the other 3 are used for spare parts
C-47 Turbo Dakota		United States	Transport / electronic warfare	Block II	1943	16 [5]	Modernised in the 1990s, more than half the fleet is in long term storage or used for spares
CASA C-212 Aviocar		Spain	Transport	200/300	1994	3 [6]
Cessna 208 Caravan		United States	Utility / observation	208B	1988	7 [7]
Super King Air		United States	Transport		1994	4 [8]
Pilatus PC-12		United States	Transport		1997	1
Boeing 737		United States	Presidential transport	BBJ	2001	1 [9]
Citation II		United States	VIP transport		1983	2
Falcon 900		France	VIP transport		1992	1 [10]
Falcon 50		France	VIP transport		1982	2 [11]
Helicopters
Atlas Oryx		South Africa	Transport	Mk. II	1990	39 [12]
AH-2 Rooivalk		South Africa	Attack	Mk. I	1999	11 [13]	11 helicopters are currently in service, they have been grounded since August 2022 due to budget cuts.
MBB/Kawasaki BK 117		Japan Germany	Utility		1994	6 [14]
Westland AW109		Italy	Utility / SAR		2003	30 [15]
Westland Super Lynx		United Kingdom	ASW	Mk. 300	2007	4 [16]
Trainer aircraft
Pilatus PC-7		Switzerland	Basic trainer	Mk. I Mk. II	1994	56 [17]	21 Mk. I variants and 35 Mk. II variants, due to limited pilot training the Mk. I has been placed in reserve
UAV
Milkor 380		South Africa	MALE UCAV		2024	5+ [18]	Production currently set at 8 units per year with plans to increase it by up to 16 units per year by 2026. it has an endurance of up to 35 hours of flight time and a payload capacity of 210 kg [19]

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 [20]
Aeronca KCA	US	Liaison	?	?
Aeronca 50C Chief	US	Liaison	1940-?	1 [20]
Aeronca 65C Super Chief	US	Liaison	?	?
Aérospatiale SA365N Dauphin	France	Helicopter	1994–1998	1 [20]
Aermacchi/Atlas MB.326 Impala	Italy/S. Africa	Trainer	1966–2005	251 [20]
Aermacchi/Atlas C.4M Kudu	Italy/S. Africa	Utility	1976–1991	40 [20]
Airco DH.4	UK	Bomber	1919–1927	10 [20]
de Havilland DH.9	UK	Bomber	1919–1942	11 [20]	Airco DH.9 until 1920. Some had Bristol Jupiter engines as DH M′pala
Airspeed AS-6J Envoy	UK	Transport	1936–1940	7 [20]
Airspeed AS-10 Oxford Mk.I & II	UK	Trainer	1940-1950	700 [20]
Atlas Cheetah C, D, E	South Africa	Fighter	1986–2008	68 [20]
Auster AOP-3, 5, 6 & 9	UK	Liaison	1945-1967
Avro 504K & N	UK	Trainer	1919–?	31+ [20]
Avro Avian	UK	Trainer	?-1936	21+ [20]
Avro Tutor	UK	Trainer	1930–1938	59 [20]
Avro Anson	UK	Trainer	1940–1947	750+ [20]
Avro York C.1	UK	Transport	1944–1952	1 [20]
Avro Shackleton MR.3	UK	Maritime Patrol	1957–1984	8 [20]
Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor	US	Transport	1945	2 [20]
Beechcraft B-80 Queen Air	US	Transport	1975–1992	2 [20]
Boeing 707	US	Transport	1986–2007	5 [20]
Bristol Blenheim Mk.I, IV & V	UK	Bomber	1939–1943	10+ [20]
Bristol Beaufort I, IA, II, IIA	UK	Bomber	1941–1944	58 [20]
Bristol Beaufighter Mk.II, VI, X	UK	Attack	1943–1944	7+ [20]
British Aircraft Double Eagle	UK	Liaison	1939–1940	1 [20]
Britten-Norman Islander	UK	Transport	1994-?	2 [20]
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 [20]
CASA CN-235	Spain	Transport	1994-2012	1 [20]
Cessna C-34 Airmaster	US	Liaison	?	1 [20]
Cessna 185A, D & E Skywagon	US	Liaison	?	45 [20]
Cessna 320	US	Transport	1965–1967	1 [20]
Cessna Skymaster	US	Transport	?	?
Cessna 411	US	Transport	?	?
Consolidated Catalina Mk.IB/III	US	Maritime Patrol	1943–1946	18 [20]
Consolidated Liberator B.Mk.VI	US	Maritime Patrol	1944–1945	16 [20]
Curtiss Mohawk	US	Fighter	1941–1942	159 [20]
Curtiss Tomahawk, Kittyhawk & Warhawk	US	Fighter	1940–1948	210+ [20]
Dassault Falcon 20	France	Transport	1966	1 [20]
Dassault Mirage III	France	Fighter	1963–1990	57 [20]
Dassault Mirage F1AZ & CZ	France	Fighter	1975–1997	51 [20]
de Havilland DH.60 Moth/Gypsy Moth/Moth Major	UK	Trainer	1939-?	28 [20]
de Havilland DH.66 Hercules	UK	Transport	1934–1943	3 [20]
de Havilland DH.80A Puss Moth	UK	Liaison	1939-?	1 [20]
de Havilland DH.82A Tiger Moth	UK	Trainer	1939–1958	675 [20]
de Havilland DH.83 Fox Moth	UK	Transport	1939-?	?
de Havilland DH.84 Dragon	UK	Transport	1939-?	1 [20]
de Havilland DH.85 Leopard Moth	UK	Liaison	1939–1943	7 [20]
de Havilland DH.87B Hornet Moth	UK	Liaison	1939–1940	19 [20]
de Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide/Dominie	UK	Transport	1939-?	21 [20]
de Havilland DH.90 Dragonfly	UK	Transport	1939-?	3 [20]
de Havilland DH-94 Moth Minor	UK	Trainer	1939-?	?
de Havilland DH-98 Mosquito	UK	Bomber	1943–1945	22+ [20]
de Havilland DH.100 Vampire FB.5, FB.6	UK	Fighter	1950–1978	56 [20]
de Havilland DH.115 Vampire T.11, T.55	UK	Trainer	1953–1978	27 [20]
de Havilland DH.104 Dove 5	UK	Transport	1949–1965	9 [20]
de Havilland DH.114 Heron 2	UK	Transport	1955–1962	2 [20]
Desoutter Mk.II	UK	Liaison	?	1 [20]
Dornier Do 27B	Germany	Liaison	1958–1975	2 [20]
Douglas Boston Mk.III	US	Bomber	1941–1943	18 [20]
Douglas Dakota	US	Transport	1943–?	149 [20]
Douglas DC-4-1009, C-54 Skymaster	US	Transport	1966–1994	8 [20]
English Electric Canberra B(1)12	UK	Bomber	1963–1991	6 [20]
English Electric Canberra T.4	UK	Trainer	1964–1991	3 [20]
Fairey Battle B, T, TT	UK	Trainer	1939–1942	340 [20]
Fairchild F-24G, R Argus III	US	Liaison	1939-?	1 [20]
Fieseler Fi 156C-7 Storch	Germany	Liaison	1946-?	1 [20]
General Aircraft ST-4 II Monospar	UK	Transport	?	1 [20]
General Aircraft ST-25 Universal	UK	Transport	?	1 [20]
Gloster Gauntlet	UK	Fighter	1939–1943	6 [20]
Gloster Gladiator Mk I & II	UK	Fighter	1939–1941	31 [20]
Gloster Survey	UK	Transport	1933–1942	1 [20]
Gloster Meteor F.3	UK	Fighter	1946–1949	1 [20]
Hawker Hartbeest Mk.I	UK	Bomber	1935–1940	69 [20]
Hawker Hart	UK	Bomber	1936–1944	320 [20]
Hawker Audax	UK	Fighter	1937–1944	80 [20]
Hawker Fury Mk.I & Mk.II	UK	Fighter	1936–1942	53 [20]
Hawker Hurricane Mk.I & II	UK	Fighter	1939–1945	193 [20]
Hawker-Siddeley HS-125	UK	Transport	1970–1999	8 [20]
Hawker Siddeley Buccaneer S.Mk.50	UK	Bomber	1965–1991	16 [20]
Farman HF.27	France	Trainer	1915-?
Junkers A-50 Junior	Germany	Trainer	?	?
Junkers F.13	Germany	Transport	?-1944	1 [20]
Junkers Ju 52-3m	Germany	Transport	1939–1953	23 [20]
Junkers Ju 86	Germany	Transport	1939–1945	18 [20]
Klemm Kl 25	Germany	Trainer	?	?
Koolhoven F.K.46	Netherlands	Trainer	?	?
Lockheed Super Electra	US	Transport	?	3 [20]
Lockheed Lodestar	US	Transport	1940–1944	31 [20]
Lockheed Hudson	US	Bomber	1940-?	1 [20]
Lockheed Ventura GR.V	US	Maritime Patrol	1942–1960	395 [20]
Lockheed C-130F Hercules	US	Transport	1997–1998	7 [20]
Martin Maryland Mk.I & II	US	Bomber	1940-1942	148+ [20]
Martin Baltimore	US	Bomber	1941-1945	26+ [20]
Martin Marauder I, II & III	US	Bomber	1942-1945	56+ [20]
Miles M.2H Hawk	UK	Trainer	1943-?	2 [20]
Miles Sparrowhawk	UK	Trainer	1939–1941	1 [20]
Miles Magister	UK	Trainer	1940-?	7 [20]
Miles Master T.II	UK	Trainer	1941–1945	426 [20]
Miles Falcon	UK	Trainer	?	1 [20]
Nord C160Z Transall	France	Transport	1969–1993	9 [20]
North American Harvard/Texan	US	Trainer	1942–1995	744 [20]
North American Mustang IIIB, IV, IVA	US	Fighter	1945, 1951-1952	95+ [20]
Northrop Nomad Mk.I	US	Trainer	1941–1944	57 [20]
Percival Gull VI	UK	Trainer	1940-?	1 [20]
Piaggio P166 Albatross	Italy	Transport	1969–1993	27 [20]
Pilatus PC-6 Porter	Switzerland	Transport	1994–1998	1 [20]	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 [20]
Piper PA-23 Aztec 250	US	Liaison	1981–1992	2 [20]
Piper PA-28 Cherokee 140	US	Liaison	1981–1992	1 [20]
Rearwin Speedster	US	Liaison	1939-?	?
Rearwin Sportster	US	Liaison	1939-?	12+ [20]
Royal Aircraft Factory BE.2c & e	UK	Reconnaissance	1915–1921
Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5A	UK	Fighter	1919–1931	24 [20]
Ryan ST-A	US	Trainer	1939-?	3 [20]
Short Sunderland GR.V	UK	Maritime Patrol	1945–1957	16 [20]
Sikorsky S-51	US	Helicopter	1948–1968	3 [20]
Sikorsky Whirlwind	US	Helicopter	1956–1968
Simmonds Spartan	UK	Trainer	1925	1 [20]
Stinson HW-75	US	Liaison	?	?
Stinson SR-5A & 10C Reliant	US	Liaison	?	2 [20]
Sud Aviation Alouette II & III	France	Helicopter	1960–2006	126 [20]
Sud Aviation SA-321L Super Frelon	France	Transport Helicopter	1967–1990	17 [20]
Sud Aviation Puma SA330C, H, J, L	France	Transport Helicopter	1969–1997	109 [20]
Supermarine Spitfire V, VIII, IX	UK	Fighter	1942–1954	205 [20]
Supermarine Spitfire PR IXe	UK	Reconnaissance	1947–1954	?
Swearingen Merlin IVA	US	Transport	1975–1985	7 [20]
Taylorcraft BC/BL/BL-65	US	Liaison	1939-?	?
Tipsy S.2 Trainer	Belgium	Trainer	1939-?	1 [20]
Vickers Type 264 Valentia	UK	Transport	1940–1943	11 [20]
Vickers Wellesley	UK	Bomber	1940–1941	?
Vickers Wellington	UK	Bomber	?-?	24 [20]
Vickers Warwick Mk.V	UK	Bomber	1945–1946	32 [20]
Vickers 781D Viscount	UK	Transport	1958–1991	1 [20]
WACO biplanes	US	Liaison	?	?
Westland Wapiti	UK	Bomber	1931–1943	31 [20]
Westland Wasp HAS 1	UK	Helicopter	1963–1990

See also *[[Denel Dynamics Seeker]]

References

1. "The South African Air Force". www.saairforce.co.za. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
2. "The South African Air Force". www.saairforce.co.za. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
3. Martin, Guy (24 November 2023). "KC-390 at Waterkloof for SAAF demonstration". defenceWeb. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
4. "Armscor details SAAF C-130BZ Hercules upgrade progress | defenceWeb". 26 October 2023. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
5. "Only a fraction of South Africa's airforce is operational right now" . Retrieved 24 February 2025.
6. "Only a fraction of South Africa's airforce is operational right now" . Retrieved 24 February 2025.
7. Engelbrecht, Leon (1 February 2010). "Fact file: Cessna C208 Caravan". defenceWeb. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
8. "Only a fraction of South Africa's airforce is operational right now" . Retrieved 24 February 2025.
9. "Only a fraction of South Africa's airforce is operational right now" . Retrieved 24 February 2025.
10. "Only a fraction of South Africa's airforce is operational right now" . Retrieved 24 February 2025.
11. "Only a fraction of South Africa's airforce is operational right now" . Retrieved 24 February 2025.
12. "South African troops in the DRC, Mozambique at risk without helicopter maintenance contract | defenceWeb". 20 February 2024. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
13. "South African troops in the DRC, Mozambique at risk without helicopter maintenance contract | defenceWeb". 20 February 2024. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
14. "Only a fraction of South Africa's airforce is operational right now" . Retrieved 24 February 2025.
15. "Only a fraction of South Africa's airforce is operational right now" . Retrieved 24 February 2025.
16. "Only a fraction of South Africa's airforce is operational right now" . Retrieved 24 February 2025.
17. Martin, Guy (14 July 2010). "SAAF receives first upgraded PC-7 MkII". defenceWeb. Retrieved 24 February 2025.
18. Martin, Guy (25 November 2022). "First Milkor UAVs destined for South African use". defenceWeb. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
19. Martin, Guy (18 September 2024). "Milkor 380 UAV ushers in a new era for South African aerospace and defence capabilities". defenceWeb. Retrieved 12 February 2025.
20. "South African Air Force". Aeroflight. 9 April 2016.