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 2024

Aircraft	Origin	Type	Variant	Introduction	In service	Notes
Combat aircraft
JAS 39 Gripen	Sweden	Multirole fighter	C/D	2010	26	JAS 39C: 17 JAS 39D: 9
BAE Hawk	United Kingdom / South Africa	Fighter trainer	Mk. 120	2006	24
Tanker
KC-390 Millennium	Brazil / South Africa	Aerial refueling			Planned	SAAF has expressed interest in this aircraft
Transport
C-130 Hercules	United States	Tactical airlifter	BZ	1963	9	9 aircraft in inventory of which six are operational and 3 others used for spare parts, the six operational aircraft are undergoing major upgrades as of 2023
C-47 Turbo Dakota	United States	Transport / electronic warfare	Block II	1943	6	Modernised in the 1990s
CASA C-212 Aviocar	Spain	Transport	200/300	1994	2
Cessna 208 Caravan	United States	Utility / observation	208B	1988	7
Super King Air	United States	Transport		1994	4
Pilatus PC-12	United States	Transport		1997	1
Boeing 737	United States	Presidential transport	BBJ	2001	1
Citation II	~~Spain~~	VIP transport		1983	2
Falcon 900	France	VIP transport		1992	1
Falcon 50	France	VIP transport		1982	2
Helicopters
Atlas Oryx	South Africa	Transport	Mk. II	1990	39
AH-2 Rooivalk	South Africa	Attack	Mk. I	1999	11	8 helicopters are currently in service, they have been grounded since August 2022. Three Rooivalks are in peacekeeping operations.
MBB/Kawasaki BK 117	Japan Germany	Utility		1994	6
Westland AW109	Italy	Utility		2003	30
Westland Super Lynx	United Kingdom	ASW	Mk. 300	2007	4
Trainer aircraft
Pilatus PC-7	Switzerland	Basic trainer	Mk. II	1994	56
UAV
Milkor 380	South Africa	MALE UCAV		2024	5	The largest UAV to be manufactured in South Africa and in Africa, it has an endurance of up to 35 hours of flight time and a payload capacity of 210 kg

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

Notes

References

Embraer, In association with. "2023 World Air Forces directory". Flight Global. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
"The South African Air Force". www.saairforce.co.za. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
"The South African Air Force". www.saairforce.co.za. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
Martin, Guy (24 November 2023). "KC-390 at Waterkloof for SAAF demonstration". defenceWeb. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
"Armscor details SAAF C-130BZ Hercules upgrade progress | defenceWeb". 26 October 2023. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
Engelbrecht, Leon (1 February 2010). "Fact file: Cessna C208 Caravan". defenceWeb. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
"South African troops in the DRC, Mozambique at risk without helicopter maintenance contract | defenceWeb". 20 February 2024. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
"South African troops in the DRC, Mozambique at risk without helicopter maintenance contract | defenceWeb". 20 February 2024. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
"SAAF".
Martin, Guy (25 November 2022). "First Milkor UAVs destined for South African use". defenceWeb. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
^ "South African Air Force". Aeroflight. 9 April 2016.

v t e South African Air Force
Leadership	Chiefs of the Air Force Sergeants Major of the Air Force
Active squadrons	2 15 16 17 19 21 22 28 35 41 44
Training and development units	68 Air School 80 Air Navigation School 85 Combat Flying School 87 Helicopter Flying School Central Flying School Test Flight and Development Centre South African Air Force College
Formation aerobatic teams	Silver Falcons
Reserve squadrons	101 102 104 105 106 107 108 110 111
Disbanded air and training squadrons	1 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 14 18 20 23 24 25 26 27 29 30 31 32 33 34 40 42 43 50 60 103 109 112 114 86 Multi-Engine Flying School 88 Maritime Training School 89 Combat Flying School
Disbanded air defence squadrons	120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129
Wings of the SAAF	2 3 5 7 8 21 24 25
Bases	AFB Bloemspruit AFB Durban AFB Hoedspruit AFB Langebaanweg AFB Makhado AFB Overberg AFB Swartkop AFB Waterkloof AFB Ysterplaat AFS Port Elizabeth
Training areas	Roodewaal Bombing Range Ditholo Training Area TAB Upington Vastrap Weapons Area
Equipment	List of current and historical SAAF aircraft List of weapon systems of the South African Air Force
History	History of the South African Air Force List of obsolete weapon systems of the South African Air Force South African Air Force Memorial South African Air Force Museum Military history of South Africa South African Air Force in World War I South African Air Force in World War II South African Air Force in the Korean War South African Air Force in the Bush War SAAF squadron identification codes
Official website: www.af.mil.za

Lists of aircraft

By name
pre-1914 0–Ah Ai–Am An–Az B–Be Bf–Bo Br–Bz C–Cc Cd–Cn Co–Cz D E F G–Gn Go–Gz H I J K La–Lh Li–Lz M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Gliders List of human-powered aircraft List of unmanned aerial vehicle

Civil aircraft

By characteristic

Type	Aerobatic Bush planes Electric aircraft Flying wings Gliders Human-powered Prone-pilot Rocket-powered Flying boats and floatplanes STOL Supersonic Trimotors Triplanes Unmanned VTOL
Fuselage	Double-deck Narrow-body Wide-body
Weight Size	Maximum takeoff weight Light aircraft very light jets Large aircraft
Manufacturer	Airbus Antonov Boeing Bombardier Douglas / McDonnell Douglas Embraer Ilyushin Tupolev
Engine number	Twinjets Trijets Trimotors Four-engined jet aircraft
Range	Jet airliners Regional airliners
Use	Racers Regional airliner regional jet
Research	Early flying machines Experimental X-planes
Rotor-powered	Rotorcraft utility Tiltrotors
Executive Private	Business jets Light-sport aircraft Flying car

Other lists
By date and usage By tail number Most-produced

Military aircraft

Role

Nation

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