The South African Air Force (SAAF) has all but collapsed, and has no fighting capacity left, according to News24.
It has only six operable military aircraft. This means that 325 are not functional because of cash shortfalls.
South African soldiers, therefore, are without any air support in operations such as the one in the DRC. The country’s airspace is unprotected.
Three years ago, 330 aircraft were grounded due to a lack of money for maintenance. The total fleet consisted of 388 aircraft, including four VIP jets.
Its current operable fleet comprises a single Oryx utility helicopter that returned to service in February, two Gripen fighter jets, and three Hawk jet trainers.
The Gripens are the last of the 26 fighters bought in the 1999 Arms Deal. The rest ceased functioning over ten years ago.
The Hawk trainer jets are the last operable jets from the 24 acquired in the arms deal.
South Africa acquired 24 AgustaWestland light utility helicopters. Only six were serviceable in October 2023.
The Agusta is an eight-seater multi-purpose helicopter, intended to support the South African Navy. The navy now has no rescue helicopters when carrying out patrols.
Two Rooivalk assault helicopters have been in Goma airport for two years: they were airlifted by a foreign chartered cargo plane to South Africa in December.
Defence analyst Helmoed-Römer Heitman says: “No matter how good you are [as a soldier], without air support you are buggered.” South Africa has been “defeated militarily, politically and diplomatically”.
The SAAF has relied on private, foreign-owned charter planes for the movement of troops and cargo for more than a decade.
South Africa has five C130s – a medium-sized transport carrier that can seat at least 90 people and has a 3 800km range. All five are now grounded.
None of the SAAF’s 39 Oryx multi-purpose helicopters have been in service for two years.
The last three operational Rooivalk attack helicopters that were deployed to the DRC have been grounded, due to a lack of maintenance since 2022.
Two years ago, eight Rooivalks were awaiting repairs worth about R1 billion. The Rooivalk was built by Denel Aeronautics, and 12 helicopters entered service with the SAAF in 1999. Denel terminated the programme in 2005 due to a lack of orders after the SANDF acquired the Italian-made Agusta.
The single remaining helicopter was only released back to service in mid-February this year.
[Photo: Rolf_Rudak for Pixabay]