South African Air Force

South African Air Force
Emblem of the South African Air Force
Founded	1 February 1920; 104 years ago (1920-02-01)
Country	South Africa
Type	Air force
Role	Aerial warfare Aerial defence Air supremacy
Size	12,815 active personnel 1000 reserve personnel 230 aircraft
Part of	South African National Defence Force
Garrison/HQ	Pretoria
Motto(s)	Latin: Per aspera ad astra "Through hardships to the stars"[1]
Engagements	World War I World War II  • East African Campaign  • North African Campaign  • Madagascar  • Italy  • Balkans Korean War South African Border War Angolan Bush War
Website	af.mil.za
Commanders
Commander-in-Chief	President Cyril Ramaphosa
Chief of the Air Force	Lieutenant general Wiseman S Mbambo[2]
Sergeant Major of the Air Force	Colin Stanton-Jones
Insignia
Roundel
Fin flash
Ensign
Aircraft flown
Attack	BAE Hawk
Electronic warfare	Oryx EW, C-47TP ELINT
Fighter	JAS 39 Gripen
Attack helicopter	Rooivalk
Multirole helicopter	Atlas Oryx, Lynx 300
Trainer helicopter	Agusta A109
Utility helicopter	Agusta A109
Patrol	C-47TP
Trainer	Pilatus PC-7, BAE Hawk
Transport	C-130, CASA C.212, Cessna Caravan

The South African Air Force (SAAF) is the air warfare branch of South African National Defence Force, with its headquarters in Pretoria. The South African Air Force was established on 1 February 1920. The Air Force saw service in World War II and the Korean War. From 1966, the SAAF was involved in providing infantry support in the low-intensity Border War in Angola, South-West Africa and Rhodesia. As the war progressed, the intensity of air operations increased, until in the late 1980s when the SAAF were compelled to fly fighter missions against Angolan aircraft in order to maintain tactical air superiority. On conclusion of the Border War in 1990, aircraft numbers were severely reduced due to economic pressures as well as the cessation of hostilities with neighbouring states.