By Garth Calitz Last week marked 36 years since the maiden flight of the Rooivalk AH-2A attack helicopter's XDM Testbed on 11 February 1990. From its earliest experimental roots to combat deployment under the United Nations banner, the Rooivalk’s story is one of ambition, ingenuity, prolonged development, political constraint and hard-earned operational credibility. Few military aviation programmes better reflect the strategic pressures of their era and fewer still illustrate

By Garth Calitz The Boeing Company has secured a new contract from the United States Air Force to modernise the flight deck of the C-17A Globemaster III, ensuring that the iconic strategic airlifter remains operationally relevant well into the second half of the 21st century. The programme will see the design, manufacture, integration, qualification and military certification of a fully modernised cockpit, replacing ageing avionics and mission-essential equipment with a conte

Embraer has taken another deliberate step in deepening its engagement with the African defence and aerospace market, announcing the appointment of Leandro Marc Pienaar as Business Development Director for the Southern Africa region. The move signals the Brazilian aerospace manufacturer’s intent to sharpen its regional footprint, build closer partnerships with governments and industry, and position its defence portfolio more prominently in a part of the world where airlift, bo

The global fleet of Eurofighter Typhoon combat aircraft has officially surpassed one million cumulative flying hours, a figure that represents not just a numerical achievement, but millions of take-offs, landings, intercepts, training sorties and the occasional pilot wondering. More than two decades after entering frontline service, the Typhoon continues to demonstrate that it is very much in its prime, combining operational maturity with a steady stream of upgrades that keep

Bell Textron has unveiled TRU Simulation + Training’s Veris Virtual Reality (VR) Bell 505 Flight Simulator at the Singapore Airshow 2026, marking the system’s Asia-Pacific debut and underlining Bell’s growing emphasis on advanced training solutions to complement its light helicopter portfolio. Developed by TRU Simulation + Training Inc., an affiliate of Bell Textron Inc., the Veris VR simulator has been qualified by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as a Level 7 Fl

By Garth Calitz Photos by Garth Calitz and Trevor Cohen The South African Air Force (SAAF) marked its 106th anniversary with a traditional Prestige Day Parade at Air Force Base (AFB) Swartkop, reaffirming its enduring legacy as one of the world’s oldest independent air forces and underscoring its continued relevance in a challenging operational and fiscal environment. Held at the historic Swartkop Air Force Base (recently renamed Air Force Mobile Deployment Wing), widely rega

By Garth Calitz Throughout the history of aviation, war has been one of the most powerful, even if uncomfortable, forces shaping the development of civilian aircraft. While conflict brings devastation and human suffering, it has repeatedly accelerated technological progress, industrial capability and operational expertise that later migrated into commercial aviation. From jet propulsion and advanced materials to navigation systems and global airline networks, the influence of

For those who were anticipating positive news for the South African Air Force, Embraer has officially identified the Republic of Uzbekistan as the previously unnamed customer for its C-390 Millennium military transport aircraft. This announcement was made during the Singapore Airshow, dashing hopes that South Africa might be the customer. This confirmation represents a notable achievement for both Embraer and the Uzbek Air Force, with Uzbekistan poised to be the first operato

Exercise Red Flag 2026 will once again bring together air, space and ground forces from the United States and allied nations for one of the most complex and demanding military training exercises in the world. Conducted primarily at Nellis Air Force Base and across the Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR), Red Flag provides a realistic environment in which participating forces can practise large-scale, high-intensity combat operations. The exercise operates across more than 1

Boeing has secured a new production contract from the United States Air Force to build four additional MH-139A Grey Wolf helicopters, further accelerating the service’s effort to modernise its rotary-wing fleet and strengthen homeland security operations. The latest award marks the second MH-139A production contract in just five months and brings the total number of aircraft under contract to 38. Announced on 29 January 2026, the contract includes the production of the additi