By Rob Russell The recent budget speech, by the Minister of Defence, Ms Motshekga, in which barely anything about the SAAF was mentioned, apart from them being “hard at work repairing” wrongs, has thrust the future of the SAAF into the fore again. The SANDF has gone one way since the ANC took over ruling the country. From a once great and proud Defence Force, feared by many countries around the African continent, to the laughing stock of the continent. Equipment stands arou

Saab has officially rolled out the first Gripen F two-seat fighter aircraft destined for the Brazilian Air Force, marking a significant milestone in the long-standing partnership between Sweden and Brazil. The aircraft was presented during a ceremony held on 2 June at Saab's production facilities in Linköping, Sweden. The Gripen F is the two-seat variant of the latest-generation Gripen E fighter and has been specifically developed to meet the evolving training and operational

The Australian Border Force (ABF) is set to significantly enhance its maritime surveillance capabilities through the introduction of three Bombardier Global 6500 aircraft, which will be operated by defence services provider Metrea as part of the agency’s aerial surveillance programme. The new aircraft will strengthen the ABF’s ability to monitor Australia's vast maritime approaches, support border security operations and protect the nation's extensive coastline. With one of t

Russia has taken another step in the evolution of its flagship stealth fighter programme, with a newly developed two-seat version of the Sukhoi Su-57 “Felon” reportedly completing initial ground taxi trials. The development signals Moscow’s growing focus on export markets as it attempts to expand international sales of its fifth-generation combat aircraft. Images circulating in Russian defence media during May showed what appears to be a modified Su-57 airframe featuring an e

The Royal Air Force has demonstrated its growing Arctic operational capability after an RAF Boeing C-17A Globemaster III successfully landed at Canadian Forces Station (CFS) Alert, the northernmost permanently inhabited settlement on Earth. Situated approximately 1,100 miles inside the Arctic Circle at 82.5 degrees north, the remote outpost plays a vital role in NATO’s northern security network and climate research activities. The mission formed part of Exercise Polar Puma un

By the end of this decade, uncrewed collaborative combat aircraft (UCCA) will support crewed fighter jets on their missions. Wondering what a UCCA is? Let's try to answer the most commonly asked questions. Imagine you are the pilot of a Eurofighter or an F-35, tasked with taking out an air defence position in a heavily protected zone. Thanks to seamless connectivity, you are not tackling this mission alone – far from it. All the information you need is consolidated in your co

The United States Air Force has approved the Boeing T-7A Red Hawk for production, marking a major step forward in its next-generation pilot training programme. The decision follows the programme’s Milestone C approval on 23 April, enabling the transition from development into initial production. As part of this move, the Air Force has awarded a $219 million contract to Boeing Defence, Space & Security for the first batch of 14 aircraft. The contract also includes associated s

The Tawazun Council for Defence Enablement has awarded a contract to Brazilian aerospace manufacturer Embraer for the acquisition of up to 20 C-390 Millennium military transport aircraft, marking a significant step in the United Arab Emirates’ ongoing efforts to modernise and expand its strategic and tactical airlift capabilities. The agreement comprises 10 firm orders, alongside options for a further 10 aircraft, providing flexibility for future fleet growth as operational r

Hungary has taken delivery of two additional Gripen C fighter aircraft, marking a further step in the ongoing modernisation of the Hungarian Defence Forces’ air combat capability. The aircraft will be operated by the 101st Aviation Wing from Kecskemét Air Base, reinforcing the country’s ability to meet both national defence requirements and its commitments to NATO operations. The delivery follows a contract signed in February 2024 between the Hungarian Ministry of Defence and

Peru has selected the Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon Block 70 as the future backbone of its combat aviation fleet, announcing plans to acquire 12 aircraft in a move aimed at strengthening national defence capabilities and modernising the country’s air force. The aircraft will be built by Lockheed Martin at its production facility in Greenville, South Carolina. The decision represents one of the most significant defence procurement steps taken by Peru in recent years. Th