₦airaland Forum

defenceWeb - Africa\'s leading defence news portal
Hensoldt
Home Aerospace Aerospace
AerospaceEditors Pick
Additional transport aircraft high on SAAF’s priority list
Guy Martin -30th Jan 20231955

A SAAF C-130 Hercules.
Medium and strategic airlift are at the centre of the South African Air Force’s (SAAF’s) attention due to its commitments on the African continent, Chief of the SAAF Lieutenant General Wiseman Mbambo has said.

Mbambo’s comments come amid reports that National Treasury is allocating funding for C-130 Hercules aircraft. The SAAF will need to decide whether to upgrade its existing C-130BZs or accept retired C-130s from the United States, which would also need to be upgraded. Last year the US offered the SAAF a dozen retired H model Hercules under its Excess Defence Articles (EDA) programme. A SAAF technical team travelled to the United States in September to examine the aircraft.

In mid-2022, the South African Department of Defence revealed that it was exploring upgrading the C-130BZ Hercules fleet of five airworthy aircraft plus one in storage at a cost of R1.6 billion, as the fleet only has a couple more years of life in it before upgrades are needed.

Mavtech Automation
Mbambo, in response to a defenceWeb question on acquiring additional C-130s, said “in our road going forward, the medium lift capability is right in the centre of our attention. Also, there is a lot of talk around the strategic lift capability. This is not a surprise as to why this capability is being mentioned. The reality we face is South Africa is not in a strategic position. Our location cannot be changed. We need to have very strong legs to connect ourselves to the rest of the continent and the world.”


Lieutenant General Wiseman Mbambo.
Mbambo, speaking to the media following the SAAF’s Prestige Day Parade at Air Force Base Swartkop on 27 January to celebrate the force’s 103rd anniversary, said the transport capability is very important in terms of C-130s and, going forward, strategic lift, especially if South Africa has its troops moving up and down the continent. At present, the National Defence Force has troops deployed in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Mozambique.

Mbambo added that National Treasury “is warming up” towards funding medium and strategic lift, and “that is very very very good.”

Mbambo indicated the SAAF is still deciding whether to fund the upgrade of the current C-130BZs, as funding is needed to get a number of them flyable, or accepting donated C-130Hs that will also require funding to upgrade.

With regard to the Gripen fleet, a maintenance contract with Saab was signed last year, allowing a couple of aircraft to return to the air and fly at the Africa Aerospace and Defence exhibition in September, but defenceWeb understands an engine support contract with GKN has yet to be signed. No Gripens took part in the SAAF’s Prestige Day Parade flypast, but Mbambo is confident two Gripens will be made available for Armed Forces Day on 21 February.

Mbambo said the SAAF plans to have 13 Gripens back in the air, as per the contract with Saab, but could not give a timeline on that.

The Chief of the SAAF made mention of the “serious issues” facing the Air Force, notably the chronic lack of funds. “This Air Force has tasted what greatness is and at the same time this Air Force has tasted what adversity is and what it is to live with limited funding.” Rebuilding capabilities is something the SAAF aims to do in order to return to its former glory and ensure it is “fully operational across different capability areas, so people have no doubt the Air Force is there.”

“The limitations are real and the constraints are real. If we can just switch to how we approach these problems and provide different solutions we can find a way going forward,” Mbambo said.

In his Prestige Day Parade speech, Mbambo said that “when a common pool form which everyone goes to for quenching their thirst is shrinking, nobody is spared from the consequent results. Our national pool – the South African economy – is currently not in a good shape. The snowball impact is felt everywhere including in the Department of Defence and equally in the South African Air Force. As this reality continues, the mandate of the Air Force to ensure South Africa’s airspace territorial integrity still remains. Furthermore, the increased demand for air assets due to the upsurge of various security threats and disasters cannot be wished away.”

Mbambo quoted defence minister Thandi Modise, who last year said there is a widening dichotomy between that which the SANDF is expected to achieve and the resources that are provided to achieve these expectations.

Mbambo said the SAAF is looking at different approaches to deal with the problem of scarce resources. “Our continuous engagements withal key roleplayers to bring Air Force capabilities to the required combat readiness status is persistent.”

Sigma Logistic Solutions

The SAAF Chief mentioned that “we still believe that as the military organisation we must continue to grow our own timber.” He said, “we are going to accelerate the inhouse capabilities in the SAAF this year and beyond. Already there are visible seeds in certain areas which we shall unveil before the end of this

Advertising
© defenceWeb 2022 | This website is Fueled by Coffee

This Buhari is a real blockhead. He does not have the balls...

He suspects foreign governments are involved in bokoharam, yet 12 years into a counterinsurgency, you have not identified, arrested, tried them in court or designated them persona non grata....

Then how do you think the insurgency will ever end if you can't cut off the head of the snake

What exactly is the work of the Nigerian embassies, Intelligence officers in interpol, Defence Intelligence Agency, Nigerian Intelligence Agency(NIA) and the Directorate of State Security [DSS]??
What have they been doing for 12 years to locate these protagonists, isolate and even terminate them with extreme prejudice?

Covert1:
Foreign groups bent on destroying Nigeria behind Boko Haram — Buhari

By Abdulmumin Murtala, Kano

President Muhammadu Buhari has stated that he suspects international groups that want to destroy Nigeria are behind the plight of Boko Haram we have faced, adding that it is fraudulent even by the name given to the terror group.

He stated this while delivering a keynote address at a lunch organized by the Kano state government on Monday after the commissioning of some federal and state projects.

“When we came into power in 2015, Boko Haram was in control in 13 of the 27 local governments of the state, only four were with the government then.
“More so, half of the local governments in Yobe state were with Boko Haram.

“Today with the help of a patriotic and dedicated governor in Borno state the local governments have been recovered.
“What is Boko Haram? It is very fraudulent. I suspect there’s an international group that wants to destroy Nigeria. If not, how can Boko (western education) be Haram?, the President stated.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2023/01/foreign-groups-bent-on-destroying-nigeria-behind-boko-haram-buhari/

Day 2 of CNS Visit to Addis Ababa Ethiopia Wednesday 18 January 2023 1/2

CNS Visit to Ethiopian National Defence Force Headquarters

..THE CHIEF OF THE NAVAL STAFF, VICE ADMIRAL AWWAL ZUBAIRU GAMBO CFR HOSTED THE COMMANDER UNITED STATE SIXTH FLEET, VICE ADMIRAL THOMAS ISHEE AT NAVAL AIR BASE OFFICERS' MESS NAVY TOWN, LAGOS ON THURSDAY 26 JANUARY 202

THE CHIEF OF THE NAVAL STAFF, VICE ADMIRAL AWWAL ZUBAIRU GAMBO CFR HOSTED THE COMMANDER UNITED STATE SIXTH FLEET, VICE ADMIRAL THOMAS ISHEE AT NAVAL AIR BASE OFFICERS' MESS NAVY TOWN, LAGOS ON THURSDAY 26 JANUARY 2023
#OnwardTogether

Nigeria needs to urgently stand up a counterinsurgency ECOWAS Battalion to lease with Ghana, Benin,Mali,Niger,Togo and cote d' ivoire against the incoming islamist jihad ist threat from the Sahel...

rugged7:
EXTREMISM WATCH
Niger Calls for Regional Force Against Sahel Jihadists
March 31, 2022 7:22 PM
Agence France-Presse

FILE - Niger's army soldiers ride on a pickup truck near Agadez, Niger, Oct. 29, 2019.

Niger's President Mohamed Bazoum on Thursday called for Nigeria to help create a regional military task force to combat insecurity in the Sahel region.

Nigeria's neighbors Niger and Burkina Faso are struggling to contain militant insurgencies aligned with the Islamic State and al-Qaida that have spread across their territories.

Nigeria already helped establish the Multinational Joint Task Force (MJTF) for the Lake Chad region, involving the armed forces of Chad and Niger and others to battle Boko Haram militants there.

"We want to replicate this kind of model in countries of Sahel," Bazoum said in a statement from Nigeria's presidency after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja.

"Why? Because this model has allowed us in the Lake Chad basin to address a common threat," he said.

He said if Nigeria, Africa's biggest economy and a regional powerhouse, helped organize a similar model for the Sahel, it would reduce the financial burden to fight militants there.

Niger is attempting an initiative to talk to jihadis whose attacks have battered the country's southwest, as fears grow of a new wave of bloodshed.

The impoverished Sahel nation has been fearing a new onslaught in its Tillaberi region since France announced its troops would leave neighboring Mali.

Tillaberi is in the flashpoint "three borders" zone of Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali, where jihadis groups linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) operate.

In neighboring Burkina Faso, more than 2,000 people have died, according to an AFP tally, while the country's emergencies agency says more than 1.5 million people have fled their homes since a militant insurgency began there in 2015.

Burkina Faso is one of the poorest countries in the world, and its army is badly equipped and lacking training to deal with more mobile and determined jihadist forces.

EXTREMISM WATCH
Niger Calls for Regional Force Against Sahel Jihadists
March 31, 2022 7:22 PM
Agence France-Presse

FILE - Niger's army soldiers ride on a pickup truck near Agadez, Niger, Oct. 29, 2019.

Niger's President Mohamed Bazoum on Thursday called for Nigeria to help create a regional military task force to combat insecurity in the Sahel region.

Nigeria's neighbors Niger and Burkina Faso are struggling to contain militant insurgencies aligned with the Islamic State and al-Qaida that have spread across their territories.

Nigeria already helped establish the Multinational Joint Task Force (MJTF) for the Lake Chad region, involving the armed forces of Chad and Niger and others to battle Boko Haram militants there.

"We want to replicate this kind of model in countries of Sahel," Bazoum said in a statement from Nigeria's presidency after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja.

"Why? Because this model has allowed us in the Lake Chad basin to address a common threat," he said.

He said if Nigeria, Africa's biggest economy and a regional powerhouse, helped organize a similar model for the Sahel, it would reduce the financial burden to fight militants there.

Niger is attempting an initiative to talk to jihadis whose attacks have battered the country's southwest, as fears grow of a new wave of bloodshed.

The impoverished Sahel nation has been fearing a new onslaught in its Tillaberi region since France announced its troops would leave neighboring Mali.

Tillaberi is in the flashpoint "three borders" zone of Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali, where jihadis groups linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) operate.

In neighboring Burkina Faso, more than 2,000 people have died, according to an AFP tally, while the country's emergencies agency says more than 1.5 million people have fled their homes since a militant insurgency began there in 2015.

Burkina Faso is one of the poorest countries in the world, and its army is badly equipped and lacking training to deal with more mobile and determined jihadist forces.

France 24 - International breaking news, top stories and headlines

Mali gets more warplanes, helicopters from Russia

Mali has turned away from colonial power France, in favour of Russia © OUSMANE MAKAVELI / AFP
1 min
Bamako (AFP) – Mali's military rulers received more warplanes and helicopters from Russia Thursday, an AFP correspondent noted, the latest in a series of deliveries from its new top military and political ally.

AFP counted eight planes and two helicopters at a ceremony attended by Russian ambassador Igor Gromyko and the head of Mali's junta, Colonel Assimi Goita.

Mali's military said the shipment included Sukhoi Su-25 attack planes designed to support ground troops; and the Czech-designed Albatros L-39.

L-39s, while initially designed for training purposes, have also been used as attack aircraft.


Bamako also received Mi-8s, a Soviet-designed Russian transport helicopter that, as well as transporting troops and equipment, can be fitted with weapons to defend ground troops.

Malian officials did not give a detailed breakdown of how many of each aircraft had been delivered, and while they say they purchased the weapons, they have released no details of the transactions.

This is the latest in a series of similar Russian deliveries of military equipment, following others in March and August, 2022.

The west African country has been fighting a jihadist insurgency as well as a political and humanitarian crisis since 2012.

Nigerian Navy SBS with U.S marine special forces in kinetic training

South Sudan, the youngest nation in the world (13 years of independence) has joined it's neighbors in sending troops to DRC Congo as part of the East African Community Regional Force.-Cc manifesto

...

15th year of counter insurgency....

..

....

You are a He-Goat.....

Eriggs:
Not all obviously, but we are on the right track.
If PDP had remain in power, many of the bastards supporting ipob and boko haram murderous lifestyle would have been eating from the dustbin now, their lives would have been worse than those of the people living in Somalia

I wonder if the PDP they supported for 16 wastes years had perform better if anyone will vote in another party.
Bunch of hypocrites and sore losers.

Na dis kind news racoon dey like, check all his threads.
No good news on any of his thread whatsoever.
Only news of killings, deaths blood and cries make him happy, no good news makes him and his ipob supporters happy about my country.
Bunch of anyhow people.

yes, i am their head.

olodo batists

ElSudani:
How are you sure they arrested innocent citizens? Do you know the killers? Are you one of them?

...

Buhari, the Incompetent mongrel....
Mr Johnny walker.
E never travel go U.K this month

LordviccoDaGuru:
More

Buhari will ever remain the popular politician in Africa and Nigeria at large he's very popular in the North. And his respected all over the World, world leaders admire President Buhari so much

lol....
Fake news.
Na only to arrest innocent people and frame weapons that nigeria security forces know.
Useless incompetent mongrels...

lol,

useless nigerian security forces.

Na to arrest innocent citizens through "cordon & search" dem sabi.

Untrained mongrels....

common shut up your mouth.
No be colonel and generals your boko haram and bandits dey use do suya for north and west.
Omoale

Oxtertee:
This guys don buy big wahala, you killed a whole 2 star luietenant.

“When there is no peace, we work hard to bring it back, and sometimes that requires fighting a war. Fighting wars requires knowledge, it requires the will to fight for your rights and for your country, and then the rest follows.” President Kagame | Officer Cadets Commissioning.

Defence Attachés accredited to Rwanda witness the circumstances that led to the fatal shooting of a DRC soldier who crossed the Rubavu border and opened fire against RDF position on 19 November2022

On 25 November 2022, Rwandan Peacekeepers under MINUSCA were decorated with UN Service Medals in an event that was held in Bangui City, at RWABATT10 HQs, Socatel M’Poko Base.

Is Nigeria still in any peacekeeping mission in any part of the world

Members of Senate and Parliament visit Rwandan peacekeepers in South Sudan.

I can't recall the last time any of nigeria's fat cat parliamentarians visited soldiers on the field in Nigeria or any other part of the world.
What exactly do they do with their millions of dollars of security and community votes they give them?

RDF hosts an End of Year Dinner in honour of Defence Attachés accredited to Rwanda.

Mozambique Armed Forces Chief of General Staff visits Rwanda Security Forces new deployment in Ancuabe District, Cabo Delgado Province.

Today, Rwanda Defence Force officers and other ranks concluded a 10 months Basic Special Operation Forces Course at the Basic Military Training Centre Nasho.

Rwanda is standing up a very capable armed forces from training to kitting to equipment to kinetic actions. And they are quite experienced as well. They have fought in east, central ,southafrica and could potentially be landed in west Africa soon.
It's impressive that a country so small and with limited resources could almost match the top tier african militaries.

Exactly. Cos they could have easily picked up 4-5 free C130 "Charlies". The only explanations are human rights issues or corruption.

bidexiii:
Really 4 good years for an extensive overhaul

One would sometimes think why the Nigerian Military do not enjoy this free biz from the United States like Egypt, Niger, Tunisia etc...

Final Niger Air Force Hercules delivered

On 12 December 2022, after a four year extensive overhaul with Sabena Aerospace at Brussels, the final Armée de l'Air du Niger (Niger Air Force) C-130H Hercules departed for its delivery flight to Base Aérienne 101 (BA101) Niamey/Diori Hamani (Niger).

The Hercules, former USAF WC-130H 65-0985 (c/n 382-4140), will become 5UMTU with the Niger Air Force. Unfortunately its future Niger serial was covered by stickers with the former USAF serial.

Since 2015, the United States has invested more than USD 30 million in the development of the Niger Air Force Hercules programme including a training component, purchase of spare parts, infrastructure, fuel and support equipment. In addition, more than USD 17 million was injected in the acquisition of critical infrastructure including the renovation of a hangar for the Hercules at Base Aérienne 201 (BA201) Agadez. The Hercules hangar at Niamey has also been renovated and expanded with a spare parts storage facility.

With the delivery of this C-130H, the transport fleet has strengthened its former capacity with fully overhauled and upgraded C-130Hs.

Photo by Kenny Peeters