 | This article's factual accuracy may be compromised due to out-of-date information.(July 2015) |
The following is a list of current weapon systems of the South African Air Force . For weapon system no longer in use, see List of obsolete weapon systems of the South African Air Force.
| Weapon systems of the South African Air Force | |||||
| Type | Manufacturer | Model | Platform | ||
| Air to Air Missile | Diehl BGT Defence | IRIS-T [1] | Gripen C, Gripen D | ||
| Denel Dynamics | A-Darter [2] | Gripen C, Gripen D, Hawk 120 (Hawk integration in progress, not yet operational) [2] | |||
| Air to Surface Missile | Denel Dynamics | Mokopa [2] | Rooivalk, Super Lynx 300 (Integrated but not yet operational) [2] | ||
| Reconnaissance / Targeting Pod | Northrop Grumman | Litening III targeting pod [1] | Gripen C, Gripen D | ||
| Thales Optronics | Vicon 18-601E [1] | Hawk Mk 120 | |||
| Thales Optronics | Digital Joint Reconnaissance Pod [1] | Gripen C, Gripen D | |||
| Carl Zeiss Optronics | Argos 410-Z [1] | C208 Caravan, A109 LUH | |||
| Rocket Launcher | Type 159 Launcher [1] | Rooivalk | |||
| Rocket | Forges de Zeebrugge | FZ90 70mm FFAR [1] | Rooivalk | ||
| Guided Bomb | Raytheon | GBU-12 Paveway™ II [1] | Gripen C, Gripen D | ||
| Denel Dynamics | Umbani PGM | Hawk Mk 120 (Integrated but not acquired) [3] | |||
| Free-fall Bomb | Reunert Technology Systems [4] | 120 kg Fragmentation Bomb [1] | Gripen C, Gripen D, Hawk Mk 120 | ||
| Reunert Technology Systems [4] | 120 kg Low-Drag Bomb [1] | Gripen C, Gripen D, Hawk Mk 120 | |||
| Reunert Technology Systems [4] | 145 kg Bomb [1] | Gripen C, Gripen D, Hawk Mk 120 | |||
| Reunert Technology Systems [4] | 460 kg Bomb [1] | Gripen C, Gripen D, Hawk Mk 120 | |||
| Reunert Technology Systems [4] | 12.5 kg Practice Bomb [1] | Hawk Mk 120 | |||
| Reunert Technology Systems [4] | 4.5 kg Practice Bomb [1] | Hawk Mk 120 | |||
| Guns | GIAT [5] | F2 20mm Cannon [1] | Rooivalk | ||
| Mauser-Werke Oberndorf [6] | BK 27 27mm Cannon [1] | Gripen C | |||
| Royal Small Arms Factory | Aden 30mm cannon [1] | Hawk Mk 120 | |||
| FN Herstal | 7,62mm LMG [1] | Oryx | |||
| FN Herstal | M3M 0.5 inch Machine Gun [1] | Super Lynx 300 | |||
The Lockheed AC-130 gunship is a heavily armed, long-endurance, ground-attack variant of the C-130 Hercules transport, fixed-wing aircraft. It carries a wide array of ground attack weapons that are integrated with sophisticated sensors, navigation, and fire-control systems. Unlike other modern military fixed-wing aircraft, the AC-130 relies on visual targeting. Because its large profile and low operating altitudes of approximately 7,000 feet make it an easy target, its close air support missions are usually flown at night.
The BAE Systems Hawk is a British single-engine, jet-powered advanced trainer aircraft. It was first flown at Dunsfold, Surrey, in 1974 as the Hawker Siddeley Hawk, and subsequently produced by its successor companies, British Aerospace and BAE Systems. It has been used in a training capacity and as a low-cost combat aircraft.
The BK 27 is a 27 mm (1.063 in) caliber revolver cannon manufactured by Mauser of Germany. It was developed in the late 1960s for the MRCA program that ultimately became the Panavia Tornado.
The South African Air Force (SAAF) is the air warfare branch of South African National Defence Force, with its 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 in Angola, South-West Africa and Rhodesia. 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 neighbouring states.
The Denel Rooivalk is an attack helicopter manufactured by Denel Aviation of South Africa. Rooivalk is Afrikaans for "Red Falcon". Development of the type began in 1984 by the Atlas Aircraft Corporation, its development is closely connected to the Atlas Oryx transport helicopter, both aircraft being based on the Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma and having started development at the same time.
The Atlas Cheetah is a South African fighter aircraft designed and produced by the aviation company Atlas Aircraft Corporation. It was developed at the behest of, and principally operated by, the South African Air Force (SAAF).
The MG 151 was a German 15 mm aircraft-mounted autocannon produced by Waffenfabrik Mauser during World War II. Its 20mm variant, the 20 mm MG 151/20 cannon, was widely used on German Luftwaffe fighters, night fighters, fighter-bombers, bombers and ground-attack aircraft. Salvaged guns saw post-war use by other nations.
21 Squadron SAAF is a squadron of the South African Air Force. It was formed as a bomber squadron in Kenya during World War II and became a VIP transport squadron in the 1960s, a role which it performs to this day. The squadron currently flies two Dassault Falcon 50s, two Cessna Citation Is, a Dassault Falcon 900 and a Boeing BBJ aircraft. 21 Squadron is one of the most active squadrons in the air force with 606 VIP transport flights being made between 2009 and 2012. The Boeing BBJ is used as the presidential aircraft when the President of South Africa travels.
The Test Flight and Development Centre is a unit of the South African Air Force. It is a test flight and evaluation organisation.
The Royal Small Arms Factory ADEN cannon, (ADEN being an acronym for "Armament Development, Enfield", is a 30 mm revolver cannon used on many military aircraft, particularly those of the British Royal Air Force and Fleet Air Arm. Developed post-World War II primarily to meet British Air Ministry's requirement for increased lethality in aircraft armament, the cannon was fired electrically and is fully automatic once it is loaded.
The Oerlikon GDF or Oerlikon 35 mm twin cannon is a towed anti-aircraft gun made by Oerlikon Contraves. The system was originally designated as 2 ZLA/353 ML but this was later changed to GDF-001. It was developed in the late 1950s and is used by around 30 countries.
The Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicle or Infantry Mobility Vehicle is an Australian-built four-wheel drive armoured vehicle. The Bushmaster was primarily designed by the then government-owned Australian Defence Industries (ADI), and is currently produced by Thales Australia with a support contract provided by Oshkosh Truck following the acquisition of ADI. The Bushmaster is currently in service with the Australian Army, Royal Australian Air Force, Royal Netherlands Army, British Army, Japan Ground Self Defense Force, Indonesian Army, Fiji Infantry Regiment, Jamaica Defence Force and the New Zealand Army.
The Denel Overberg Test Range is a weapons systems testing facility in the Overberg region on the south coast of South Africa, near Arniston, Western Cape. It includes launch pads and tracking systems.
The V3E A-Darter is a modern short-range infrared homing air-to-air missile, featuring countermeasures resistance with a 180-degree look angle and 120-degrees per second track rate, developed by South Africa's Denel Dynamics and Brazil's Mectron, Avibras and Opto Eletrônica. It will equip the South African Air Force's Saab JAS 39 Gripen C/D and BAE Hawk 120, and the Brazilian Air Force's A-1M AMX, Northrop F-5BR and Gripen E/F. It was expected to be in production before the end of 2015.
Air Force Base Swartkop is South Africa's oldest air force base and houses the South African Air Force Museum. It is managed as part of AFB Waterkloof and houses one of the three branches of the South African Air Force Museum. The name of the air force base, Swartkop means Black hill in Afrikaans.
A precision-guided munition is a guided munition intended to precisely hit a specific target, to minimize collateral damage and increase lethality against intended targets. During the First Gulf War guided munitions accounted for only 9% of weapons fired, but accounted for 75% of all successful hits. Despite guided weapons generally being used on more difficult targets, they were still 35 times more likely to destroy their targets per weapon dropped.
The Umbani is a precision-guided bomb kit manufactured by Denel Dynamics in South Africa. It consists of a number of modules fitted to NATO standard Mk81, Mk82 or Mk83 low drag free-fall bombs to convert them into guided glide bombs.
12 Squadron was a South African Air Force squadron that served in the Second World War in East Africa and the Western Desert as a medium bomber squadron. After the war, the squadron was used in various roles, including that of a helicopter squadron until 1963, when it was equipped with Canberra light bombers, remaining a light bomber and reconnaissance squadron until disbanded in 1990.
8 Squadron was a South African Air Force squadron during World War II and was again active between 1951 and 2001. During this second period, it was designated at different times as either a Citizen Force or Permanent Force squadron and was disbanded on 31 March 2001.
The History of the South African Air Force spans the First World War, Rand Rebellion of 1922, the Second World War, the Korean War, the South African Border War, and varied peacekeeping operations since 1994. Its battle honours include German South West Africa 1914–15, German East Africa 1915–1918, East Africa: 1939–1941, Middle East: 1941–43, Madagascar 1942, Italy 1943–1945, the Balkans 1943–1945, and Korea 1950–1953.