List of aircraft of the South African Air Force

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The South African Air Force (SAAF) has operated a wide range of aircraft since its establishment in 1920. The fleet's core capabilities are built around its fighter, transport, maritime patrol, helicopter, and training aircraft. Key operational types include the JAS 39 Gripen, BAE Hawk, C-130 Hercules, Oryx and AW109 helicopter fleets, supported by various light transport, liaison, and VIP airframes.

Ensign of the South African Air Force

Historically, the SAAF operated one of the largest and most capable fighter fleets in the Southern Hemisphere. Notable past aircraft include the 68 Atlas Cheetahs—South Africa's indigenous modernised variant of the Mirage III—and the 48 Mirage F1s, both of which formed the backbone of the country's air combat capability from the late 1970s through the early 2000s. Earlier eras also saw extensive fleets of Mirage III variants, Impalas, Sabres, Buccaneers, and Canberras.

The following is a list of current and historic aircraft of the South African Air Force.

Current aircraft

The South African Air Force operates a diverse mix of fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft. Fleet total refers to the number of airframes that remain in the SAAF inventory, while in service refers to those that are currently operational or can be made airworthy. Aircraft listed as not in service include airframes of the same type that have been placed in long-term storage pending possible reactivation or sale, or airframes that were damaged in accidents but remain in inventory awaiting repair or disposal. The SAAF's current aircraft holdings are as follows:

  • Aircraft (As per November 2025):
    • Fleet total: 275
    • In service: 199
    • On order: 5

Fixed-wing aircraft

More information Aircraft, Image ...
Aircraft Image Origin Type Introduced Fleet total In service Notes
JAS 39C/D Gripen  Sweden Multi-role fighter 2008 26[1] 25[1]
  • Service: 17 Gripen C and 9 Gripen D taken into service between 2008 and 2012, with one C variant written off and taken out of service following an accident in 2021 during maintenance.[2]
BAE Hawk Mk.120  United Kingdom Lead-in fighter and advanced trainer 2006 24[1] 22[1]
  • Service: 24 taken into service between 2006 and 2008, with two aircraft taken out of service amid safety concerns following light accidents.
Pilatus PC-7  Switzerland Primary trainer 1994 (Mk I)

2010 (Mk II)

 60[3] 35[1]
  • Service: Only 35 upgraded PC-7 Mk II Astra variants are in service, 25 older PC-7 Mk I variants are held in long-term storage due to limited pilot training.
Lockheed C-130BZ Hercules  United States Medium tactical airlifter 1963 7[4] 6[1]
  • Service: Initially 9 C-130B taken into service and upgraded to BZ-standard in the late 1990s as part of Project Ebb.[5] Two aircraft have been lost following crashes, with another cannibalised for parts.[4]
CASA C-212 Aviocar  Spain Light tactical airlifter 1994 4[6] 3[1]
  • Service: Inherited in 1994 from the air wings of the former Transkei (2) and Venda (2) defence forces.
Douglas C-47-TP Turbo Dakota  United States Naval patrol aircraft 1943 39[7] 5[1]
  • Service: Initially 47 taken into service, following the end of the Border War, the number of squadrons operating the Dakota was reduced, along with the disposal of some airframes. Some remaining 39 aircraft were modernised and converted in the 1990s with new PT6A Turboprop engines and modern avionics as part of Project Felstone.
Cessna 208 Caravan  United States Signals intelligence aircraft 1988 8[1] 8[1]
  • Service: Initially 12 aircraft were taken into service. 11 airframes were converted and fitted with a Argos 410-Z day/night reconnaissance system as part of Project Koiler. 4 out of the 12 aircraft have been written off and disposed of following crashes.[8]
Pilatus PC-12  Switzerland Passenger and cargo aircraft 1997 1[1] 1[1]
  • Service: The SAAF has a single PC-12 for use as a passenger and light-cargo transport aircraft. The aircraft has been employed primarily on liaison flights, personnel movement, and small-load logistics missions.
Super King Air  United States Passenger and cargo aircraft 1981 4[9] 2[1]
  • Service: Super King Air aircraft remain in service supporting light transport missions, medical evacuation, training, and general utility tasks. Some airframes were withdrawn from service following structural fatigue and sustainment challenges.
Boeing 737 (BBJ)  United States VIP transport aircraft 2001 1[1] 1[1]
  • Service: The sole Boeing 737 BBJ entered service in 2001 as the SAAF's long-range VIP transport aircraft. It supports presidential and ministerial flights, regional diplomatic missions, and strategic long-distance travel.
Cessna Citation II  United States VIP transport aircraft 1983 2[1] 2[1]
  • Service: Two Citation aircraft were introduced into service in 1994 to provide short-to-medium range VIP transport capability fulfilling staff transport, liaison, and executive travel roles.
Dassault Falcon 50  France VIP transport aircraft 1982 2[1] 2[1]
  • Service: Two Falcon 50 aircraft were acquired for long-range VIP and government transport duties.
Dassault Falcon 900  France VIP transport aircraft 1992 1[1] 1[1]
  • Service: The SAAF's single Falcon 900 were acquired to supplement the VIP fleet. The aircraft is used for high-priority governmental travel and diplomatic missions.
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Rotary-wing aircraft

More information Aircraft, Image ...
Aircraft Image Origin Type Introduced Fleet total In service Notes
Denel AH-2 Rooivalk  South Africa Attack helicopter 2011 11[1] 11[1]
  • Service: 12 taken into service between 2011 and 2012 with one aircraft damaged in an accident and written off upon delivery.
Atlas Oryx  South Africa Medium helicopter 1990 49[10] 37[1]
  • Service: Initially 51 aircraft were taken into service. In 2006, Project Drummer II upgraded 39 airframes, with only these modernised examples remaining in service and the rest in long-term storage. In 2025, two airframes were written off following crashes.
AgustaWestland AW109  Italy Utility helicopter 2003 24[11] 24[1]
  • Service: Initially 30 aircraft were taken into service under Project Flange, with 25 assembled in South Africa and 5 in Italy. In recent years, some airframes have been written off following crashes.
MBB/Kawasaki BK 117  Germany Japan Utility helicopter 1994 8[1] 8[1]
Westland Super Lynx 300 Mk.64  United Kingdom ASW helicopter 2007 4[13] 4[1]
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UAVs

More information Aircraft, Image ...
Aircraft Image Origin Type Introduced Fleet total In service Notes
Milkor 380  South Africa MALE UCAV — (+5) On order Status: 5 on order to be delivered by the end of 2025.[14] Production is set to double from 8 systems per year by up to 16 per year starting by 2026.[15]
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Historic aircraft no longer in service

More information Aircraft, Origin ...
Aircraft Origin Role Service period No. operated Notes
Aermacchi AM.3C BosbokItaly/S. AfricaUtility1973–199240[16]
Aeronca KCAUSLiaison??
Aeronca 50C ChiefUSLiaison1940-?1[16]
Aeronca 65C Super ChiefUSLiaison??
Aérospatiale SA365N DauphinFranceHelicopter1994–19981[16]
Aermacchi/Atlas MB.326 ImpalaItaly/S. AfricaTrainer1966–2005251[16]
Aermacchi/Atlas C.4M KuduItaly/S. AfricaUtility1976–199140[16]
Airco DH.4UKBomber1919–192710[16]
de Havilland DH.9UKBomber1919–194211[16]Airco DH.9 until 1920. Some had Bristol Jupiter engines as DH M′pala
Airspeed AS-6J EnvoyUKTransport1936–19407[16]
Airspeed AS-10 Oxford Mk.I & IIUKTrainer1940-1950700[16]
Atlas Cheetah C, D, ESouth AfricaFighter1986–200868[16]
Auster AOP-3, 5, 6 & 9UKLiaison1945-1967
Avro 504K & NUKTrainer1919–?31+[16]
Avro AvianUKTrainer?-193621+[16]
Avro TutorUKTrainer1930–193859[16]
Avro AnsonUKTrainer1940–1947750+[16]
Avro York C.1UKTransport1944–19521[16]
Avro Shackleton MR.3UKMaritime Patrol1957–19848[16]
Beechcraft C-45 ExpeditorUSTransport19452[16]
Beechcraft B-80 Queen AirUSTransport1975–19922[16]
Boeing 707USTransport1986–20075[16]
Bristol Blenheim Mk.I, IV & VUKBomber1939–194310+[16]
Bristol Beaufort I, IA, II, IIAUKBomber1941–194458[16]
Bristol Beaufighter Mk.II, VI, XUKAttack1943–19447+[16]
British Aircraft Double EagleUKLiaison1939–19401[16]
Britten-Norman IslanderUKTransport1994-?2[16]
Bücker Bü 131A/B/D JungmannGermanyTrainer1936–1939?
Bücker Bü 133 JungmeisterGermanyTrainer1939-??
Canadair Sabre Mk.6CanadaFighter1956–198034[16]
CASA CN-235SpainTransport1994-20121[16]
Cessna C-34 AirmasterUSLiaison?1[16]
Cessna 185A, D & E SkywagonUSLiaison?45[16]
Cessna 320USTransport1965–19671[16]
Cessna SkymasterUSTransport??
Cessna 411USTransport??
Consolidated Catalina Mk.IB/IIIUSMaritime Patrol1943–194618[16]
Consolidated Liberator B.Mk.VIUSMaritime Patrol1944–194516[16]
Curtiss MohawkUSFighter1941–1942159[16]
Curtiss Tomahawk, Kittyhawk & WarhawkUSFighter1940–1948210+[16]
Dassault Falcon 20FranceTransport19661[16]
Dassault Mirage IIIFranceFighter1963–199057[16]
Dassault Mirage F1AZ & CZFranceFighter1975–199751[16]
de Havilland DH.60 Moth/Gypsy Moth/Moth MajorUKTrainer1939-?28[16]
de Havilland DH.66 HerculesUKTransport1934–19433[16]
de Havilland DH.80A Puss MothUKLiaison1939-?1[16]
de Havilland DH.82A Tiger MothUKTrainer1939–1958675[16]
de Havilland DH.83 Fox MothUKTransport1939-??
de Havilland DH.84 DragonUKTransport1939-?1[16]
de Havilland DH.85 Leopard MothUKLiaison1939–19437[16]
de Havilland DH.87B Hornet MothUKLiaison1939–194019[16]
de Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide/DominieUKTransport1939-?21[16]
de Havilland DH.90 DragonflyUKTransport1939-?3[16]
de Havilland DH-94 Moth MinorUKTrainer1939-??
de Havilland DH-98 MosquitoUKBomber1943–194522+[16]
de Havilland DH.100 Vampire FB.5, FB.6UKFighter1950–197856[16]
de Havilland DH.115 Vampire T.11, T.55UKTrainer1953–197827[16]
de Havilland DH.104 Dove 5UKTransport1949–19659[16]
de Havilland DH.114 Heron 2UKTransport1955–19622[16]
Desoutter Mk.IIUKLiaison?1[16]
Dornier Do 27BGermanyLiaison1958–19752[16]
Douglas Boston Mk.IIIUSBomber1941–194318[16]
Douglas DakotaUSTransport1943–?149[16]
Douglas DC-4-1009, C-54 SkymasterUSTransport1966–19948[16]
English Electric Canberra B(1)12UKBomber1963–19916[16]
English Electric Canberra T.4UKTrainer1964–19913[16]
Fairey Battle B, T, TTUKTrainer1939–1942340[16]
Fairchild F-24G, R Argus IIIUSLiaison1939-?1[16]
Fieseler Fi 156C-7 StorchGermanyLiaison1946-?1[16]
General Aircraft ST-4 II MonosparUKTransport?1[16]
General Aircraft ST-25 UniversalUKTransport?1[16]
Gloster GauntletUKFighter1939–19436[16]
Gloster Gladiator Mk I & IIUKFighter1939–194131[16]
Gloster SurveyUKTransport1933–19421[16]
Gloster Meteor F.3UKFighter1946–19491[16]
Hawker Hartbees Mk.IUKBomber1935–194069[16]
Hawker HartUKBomber1936–1944320[16]
Hawker AudaxUKFighter1937–194480[16]
Hawker Fury Mk.I & Mk.IIUKFighter1936–194253[16]
Hawker Hurricane Mk.I & IIUKFighter1939–1945193[16]
Hawker-Siddeley HS-125UKTransport1970–19998[16]
Hawker Siddeley Buccaneer S.Mk.50UKBomber1965–199116[16]
Farman HF.27FranceTrainer1915-?
Junkers A-50 JuniorGermanyTrainer??
Junkers F.13GermanyTransport?-19441[16]
Junkers Ju 52-3mGermanyTransport1939–195323[16]
Junkers Ju 86GermanyTransport1939–194518[16]
Klemm Kl 25GermanyTrainer??
Koolhoven F.K.46NetherlandsTrainer??
Lockheed Super ElectraUSTransport?3[16]
Lockheed LodestarUSTransport1940–194431[16]
Lockheed HudsonUSBomber1940-?1[16]
Lockheed Ventura GR.VUSMaritime Patrol1942–1960395[16]
Lockheed C-130F HerculesUSTransport1997–19987[16]
Martin Maryland Mk.I & IIUSBomber1940-1942148+[16]
Martin BaltimoreUSBomber1941-194526+[16]
Martin Marauder I, II & IIIUSBomber1942-194556+[16]
Miles M.2H HawkUKTrainer1943-?2[16]
Miles SparrowhawkUKTrainer1939–19411[16]
Miles MagisterUKTrainer1940-?7[16]
Miles Master T.IIUKTrainer1941–1945426[16]
Miles FalconUKTrainer?1[16]
Nord C160Z TransallFranceTransport1969–19939[16]
North American Harvard/TexanUSTrainer1942–1995744[16]
North American Mustang IIIB, IV, IVAUSFighter1945, 1951-195295+[16]
Northrop Nomad Mk.IUSTrainer1941–194457[16]
Percival Gull VIUKTrainer1940-?1[16]
Piaggio P166 AlbatrossItalyTransport1969–199327[16]
Pilatus PC-6 PorterSwitzerlandTransport1994–19981[16]from Bophuthatswana Air Force
Pilatus PC-7 Turbo TrainerSwitzerlandTrainer1994–19963from Bophuthatswana Air Force, returned to Pilatus
Piper J-3USTrainer??
Piper J-4 Cub CoupeUSTrainer?1[16]
Piper PA-23 Aztec 250USLiaison1981–19922[16]
Piper PA-28 Cherokee 140USLiaison1981–19921[16]
Rearwin SpeedsterUSLiaison1939-??
Rearwin SportsterUSLiaison1939-?12+[16]
Royal Aircraft Factory BE.2c & eUKReconnaissance1915–1921
Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5AUKFighter1919–193124[16]
Ryan ST-AUSTrainer1939-?3[16]
Short Sunderland GR.VUKMaritime Patrol1945–195716[16]
Sikorsky S-51USHelicopter1948–19683[16]
Sikorsky WhirlwindUSHelicopter1956–1968
Simmonds SpartanUKTrainer19251[16]
Stinson HW-75USLiaison??
Stinson SR-5A & 10C ReliantUSLiaison?2[16]
Sud Aviation Alouette II & IIIFranceHelicopter1960–2006126[16]
Sud Aviation SA-321L Super FrelonFranceTransport Helicopter1967–199017[16]
Sud Aviation Puma SA330C, H, J, LFranceTransport Helicopter1969–1997109[16]
Supermarine Spitfire V, VIII, IXUKFighter1942–1954205[16]
Supermarine Spitfire PR IXeUKReconnaissance1947–1954?
Swearingen Merlin IVAUSTransport1975–19857[16]
Taylorcraft BC/BL/BL-65USLiaison1939-??
Tipsy S.2 TrainerBelgiumTrainer1939-?1[16]
Vickers Type 264 ValentiaUKTransport1940–194311[16]
Vickers WellesleyUKBomber1940–1941?
Vickers WellingtonUKBomber?-?24[16]
Vickers Warwick Mk.VUKBomber1945–194632[16]
Vickers 781D ViscountUKTransport1958–19911[16]
WACO biplanesUSLiaison??
Westland WapitiUKBomber1931–194331[16]
Westland Wasp HAS 1UKHelicopter1963–1990
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References

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