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 2025

Aircraft	Image	Origin	Type	Variant	Introduction	In service	Notes
Combat aircraft
JAS 39 Gripen		Sweden	Multirole fighter	C/D	2010	26[1]	JAS 39C: 17 JAS 39D: 9
BAE Hawk		United Kingdom	Fighter trainer	Mk. 120	2006	24[2]
Tanker
KC-390 Millennium		Brazil	Aerial refueling			Planned	SAAF has expressed interest in this aircraft[3]
Transport
C-130 Hercules		United States	Tactical airlifter	BZ	1963	9[4]	9 aircraft in total inventory, only 6 aircraft are operational the other 3 are used for spare parts
C-47 Turbo Dakota		United States	Transport / electronic warfare	Block II	1943	16[5]	Modernised in the 1990s, more than half the fleet is in long term storage or used for spares
CASA C-212 Aviocar		Spain	Transport	200/300	1994	3[6]
Cessna 208 Caravan		United States	Utility / observation	208B	1988	7[7]
Super King Air		United States	Transport		1994	4[8]
Pilatus PC-12		United States	Transport		1997	1
Boeing 737		United States	Presidential transport	BBJ	2001	1[9]
Citation II		United States	VIP transport		1983	2
Falcon 900		France	VIP transport		1992	1[10]
Falcon 50		France	VIP transport		1982	2[11]
Helicopters
Atlas Oryx		South Africa	Transport	Mk. II	1990	39[12]
AH-2 Rooivalk		South Africa	Attack	Mk. I	1999	11[13]	11 helicopters are currently in service, they have been grounded since August 2022 due to budget cuts.
MBB/Kawasaki BK 117		Japan Germany	Utility		1994	6[14]
Westland AW109		Italy	Utility / SAR		2003	30[15]
Westland Super Lynx		United Kingdom	ASW	Mk. 300	2007	4[16]
Trainer aircraft
Pilatus PC-7		Switzerland	Basic trainer	Mk. I Mk. II	1994	56[17]	21 Mk. I variants and 35 Mk. II variants, due to limited pilot training the Mk. I has been placed in reserve
UAV
Milkor 380		South Africa	MALE UCAV		2024	5+[18]	Production currently set at 8 units per year with plans to increase it by up to 16 units per year by 2026. it has an endurance of up to 35 hours of flight time and a payload capacity of 210 kg[19]

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

See also *[[Denel Dynamics Seeker]]

Notes