The South African Air Force Structure
THE AIRFORCE – COMMAND AND CONTROL
SAAF Structure
The SA Air force is tasked with protecting the airspace of the Republic through the conduct of air operations, that is, to protect the Republic from an air attack or make it impossible for any opposing air force to provide attacking ground forces with air support.
Mission Statement
The SA Air Force provides combat-ready air capabilities for the SANDF in service of our country.
Mandate
To provide and manage the Air Defence capability of the Department of Defence (DOD) on behalf of the DOD, thereby participating in the service to ensure:
- the sovereignty and protection of the Republic’s territorial integrity; and
- compliance with the international obligations of the Republic to international bodies and states.
The Structure
The establishment of the Air Command in October 1998 resulted in a clear split in functions between the Air Force Office (at Department of Defence level) and the Air Command (one tier down). Direction giving and resource provisioning is provided by the Air Force Office, with execution by the Air Command. The Air Command is responsible to the Chief of the Air Force to develop, support and prepare the personnel and systems in order to ensure that the Air Force is combat ready.
THE AIRFORCE OFFICE
THE AIR COMMAND
Chief Director: Force Development and Support
Within Air Command, the focus is on the execution of the Air force’s core business, being preparation for combat readiness, development of future requirements and the support of systems.
Support functions:
The support functions vary widely from career management and staffing, budget management and technical and supply support, to liaison services, foreign relations and management services. Aviation safety as a support function also forms part of a total support of all operational system groups.
Force development functions:
The force development function includes the acquisition of weapon systems and implementation of systems into the user environment.
Chief Director: Force Preparation
The SAAF’s ‘force preparers’ are responsible for a number of system groups and form the visible front line of the Air Force.
Combat Systems Group
This group is responsible for all fixed wing offensive and defensive activities. The units under the directorate are:
| 2 Squadron | Air Force Base Makhado | Gripen C, Gripen D |
| 60 Squadron | Air Force Base Waterkloof | |
| 85 Combat Flying School | Air Force Base Makhado | Hawk Mk 120 |
| 7 Air Servicing Unit | Air Force Base Hoedspruit | |
| Electronic Warfare Centre | Air Force Base Waterkloof | |
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Helicopter Systems Group
Responsible for the operation control of all the SAAF’s helicopters, this group comprises:
| 15 Squadron | Air Force Base Durban | A109 LUH, BK 117, Oryx |
| 17 Squadron | AFB Swartkop | A109 LUH, Oryx |
| 22 Squadron | Air Force Base Ysterplaat | Oryx, Super Lynx 300 |
| 16 Squadron | Air Force Base Bloemspruit | Rooivalk |
| 19 Squadron | Air Force Base Hoedspruit | A109 LUH, Oryx |
| 87 Helicopter Flying School | Air Force Base Bloemspruit | A109 LUH, BK 117, Oryx |
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Transport and Maritime Systems Group
As the name implies, all maritime and transport activities fall under this directorate. Associated units are:
| 21 Squadron | Air Force Base Waterkloof | 550/1 Citation II, Boeing 737-7ED (BBJ), Falcon 50, Falcon 900B |
| 28 Squadron | Air Force Base Waterkloof | C-130B/BZ Hercules |
| 35 Squadron | Air Force Base Ysterplaat | C-47TP Turbo Dakota |
| 41 Squadron | Air Force Base Waterkloof | 208 Caravan, 300 Super King Air, B200C Super King Air, PC-12 |
| 44 Squadron | Air Force Base Waterkloof | C 212 Aviocar, CN 235 |
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Command and Control Systems Group
Comprising the old directorates of Communications, Ground and Computer Systems and Air Space Control, this group comprises:
| 4 Air Servicing Unit | Air Force Mobile Deployment Wing | |
| 18 Deployment Support Unit | Air Force Mobile Deployment Wing | |
| 92 Tactical Airfield Unit | Air Force Mobile Deployment Wing | |
| 120 Squadron | ||
| 140 Squadron | Air Force Mobile Deployment Wing | |
| 142 Squadron | Air Force Mobile Deployment Wing | |
| Mobile Communications Unit | Air Force Mobile Deployment Wing | |
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Base Support Systems Group
This group is responsible for the maintenance of facilities and airfields at nine bases and seven forward airfields. The Base Support Operational Systems component of the Group assesses the mission preparedness of ground support systems. It furthermore provides the relevant force preparation operational plan and training syllabi for base support personnel. The Base Support Logistic System component ensures the achievement of system effectiveness through optimised engineering and contract management support.
Operational Support and Intelligence Systems Group
This directorate incorporates the old Intelligence, Counter Intelligence and section Ground Protection units. The core business is the provision of operational support to the SAAF for the conduct of air operations.
| Joint Air Reconnaissance Intelligence Centre | Air Force Base Waterkloof | |
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Education, Training and Development
This group is the mechanism through which education, training and development opportunities are provided to members of the SAAF, both permanent force and reserve force.
| 80 Air Navigation School | Air Force Base Ysterplaat | |
| Central Flying School | Air Force Base Langebaanweg | PC-7 Mk II (Astra) |
| SAAF Museum Historic Flight | AFB Swartkop | Alouette II (Museum), C-47 Dakota (Museum), CL.13B Sabre Mk 6 (Museum), D.H.87B Hornet Moth (Museum), DHC-1 Chipmunk T MK 10, Explorer, Fi-156c-7 Storch, Harvards (Museum), Mirage IIIBZ (Museum), Mirage IIICZ (Museum), P-51D Mustang (Museum), P166S Albatross (Museum), Prentice T Mk 1, Provost T Mk 52 (Museum), S-55C (Museum), SA-330L Puma (Museum), Shackleton MR.3 (Museum), Spitfire Mk IXe (Museum) |
| 2 Air Servicing Unit | Air Force Base Langebaanweg | |
| Air Force Gymnasium | Air Force Base Hoedspruit | |
| 68 Air School | TEK Base | |
| Command and Control School | Air Force Base Waterkloof | |
| Fire Training School | Valhalla | |
| SA Air Force College | Other | |
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