1

SA AIR FORCE PRESENTATION TO THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON

DEFENCE

17 NOVEMBER 2010

Brig Gen W.S. Mbambo

Director Air Capability Plan

2

Introduction Strategic Objectives for the FY09/10 Strategic Objectives Not Achieved SAAF Achievements SAAF Challenges & Mitigations Conclusion

Scope

Defend and protect South Africa and its airspace by: Providing 4 helicopter squadrons and one combat

support squadron a year; Providing three medium transport squadrons, one

maritime and transport squadron, one light transport squadron and nine reserve squadrons at the required readiness levels a year;

Providing one air combat squadron a year, and Providing a 24 hour air command and control

capability

3

Strategic Objectives for FY09/10

4

SAAF mandate and allocation not aligned. The delta implies hard decisions with serious

implications. SAAF uniqueness compounds the problem.

SAAF total allocation for FY 2009/10 was Rb 3,1: Personnel: Rb 1,6 Operations: Rb 1,5

SAAF was under funded by: Operations: Rm 132

Introduction

4

5

Strategic Objectives Not Achieved

Medium, Light & Combat Support Helicopter Capability: Planned: 11 920 Achieved: 10 431

Reasons: . Low availability of systems, due to funding shortages. Low

experience levels of ground crew resulted in services taking longer to complete. Production errors on A109 fleet decreased availability. Ratio of Oryx commanders to co-pilots unbalanced with too few commanders.

6

Strategic Objectives Not Achieved

Transport & Maritime Surveillance Capability: Planned: 11 825 Achieved: 11 179

Reasons: Scheduled and unscheduled maintenance

activities, technical failures, accidents, a lightning strike, long lead times on spares and insufficient technical personnel to maintain required servicing schedules. Financial constraints on some maintenance activities.

NB: The very old age factor in some of the aircraft within this capability severely impacts on serviceability & availability.

7

Strategic Objectives Not Achieved

Air Combat Capability: Planned: 950 Achieved: 715

Reasons: Substantial under funding of systems. Long lead-

times on spares. Gripen support package has not been fully delivered. Major software upgrade was performed to ensure all aircraft are on same modification baseline. Software upgrades on Hawk affected availability. Long turn around time of components in repair loop.

NB: With the Hawk system getting out of warranty service contractual arrangement, the situation will get worse in the current & future years.

8

SAAF Achievements

32866 Flying hours were achieved with one major aircraft accident (A109).

The Air Force continues to make maximum use of Reserve Force aircraft in lieu of chartering civilian aircraft, which is a much more expensive option .

26 pilots qualified for wings. Transport & Maritime – 11. Helicopters – 10. Combat – 5.

9

SAAF Achievements

Hawk squadron fully operational for combat training. Main runway at AFB WKLF upgraded, nearly all operations resumed.

Commercialisation of SAAF messes resulting in savings for the SAAF.

The first ATNS training within SAAF, contributing towards resolving ATC’s shortages.

Successful CASEVAC and Search and Rescue operations assisting other departments

10

SAAF Challenges & Mitigation

Scarce Skills: Interaction with aviation industry & other relevant stakeholders

Scarce skills is both a national & global challenge Aviation technical training in the country SAAF – Denel Aviation cooperation activities to

eliminate duplication and reduce costs SAAF & South African Airways discussions on

common challenges. SAAF & Air Traffic and Navigation System (ATNS)

interaction on common challenges.

11

SAAF Challenges & Mitigations

Combat system in the balance, will require intervention to prevent loss of the required capability.

Due to inadequate funding of the Hawk and Gripen systems since the onset of integration, the Air Force has not been able to generate the required number of flying hours and re-provision the systems adequately.

Intervention (short term) Download Hawk hours to Pilatus (under

investigation) Fly Gripen at minimum to maintain system integrity

& to maintain competencies only. Utilisation of simulators.

12

SAAF Challenges & Mitigations

Relocation of AFB Durban to King Shaka International Airport (KSIA).

Short Term: Utilise current location for rotary operations. Use KSIA for fixed wing air transport.

Rm 27.2 is required to replace temporary buildings at AFB Durban in order to sustain Rotary Wing Operations.

Long Term: Total relocate base and domestic facilities to KSIA at a cost of Rm 729. SAAF has no funds.

Intervention SAAF continually raise its operational requirements

through the DOD, NDPW and other stakeholders.

13

SAAF Challenges & Mitigations

Fund upgrades from Capital and not operating funds.

In the past some upgrades have been partially funded from the operating budget, eg Project DRUMMER (Oryx mid-life upgrade) where the provision on the capital budget was inadequate.

Future thinking wrt digital technology maintenance philosophy (continuous upgrades from capital)

14

SAAF Challenges & Mitigations

Impact of Low Funding Levels. Low flying rate.

Support to Operations. Force Preparation (SAAF and other Services). Retention and representativity improvement

affected. Inappropriate balance between capabilities.

Intervention More utilisation of simulators Discussions & agreements with SAA and other local

airlines

15

SAAF Challenges & Mitigations

Command & Control Capabilities Radar Systems & associated mobile equipment

old. SAAF communications network infrastructure. Mobile Air Operations Team (MAOT) support

capabilities not guaranteed.Intervention

Strategic Capital Acquisition Master Plan (SCAMP ) reprioritisation.

16

SAAF has a unique mandate viz. Air Defence of the RSA

SAAF has valuable assets in SDP’s with proven track record so far [Confederations Cup & recent FIFA SWC]

Any system integrity loss from the SDP’s would result into more serious problems & expenses.

A fair balance between mandate and allocation needs to be found.

Conclusion

17Questions…Questions…

18

Status of Air Transport Fleet

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Group A Group B Group C

% S

ervi

ceab

ility

Age (Years) % Serviceability

0 - 14 Years old 15 - 24 Years old Group C (25 Years and over)B737 (9 Years)/ PC12 F900/C212-300/C208/C235 F50/C550/C212-

200/BE20/C130/C47TP (66 Years)

Average Aircraft Age vs Serviceability

Age (time)Age (time)