PRESS RELEASE – The South African Air Force’s (SAAF’s) 35 Squadron is to celebrate 80 years of Dakota Excellence by hosting a formal banquet inside their hangar at AFB Ysterplaat on 5 December. The type is still in active service as a transport and electronic warfare platform and is deployed in the Mozambique Channel for maritime surveillance. The Dakota has seen over 72 years of military service in South Africa. The aircraft entered SAAF service in 1943 when the RAF passed a number of their fleet onto the SAAF. By the end of World War Two, a total of 84 Lend-Lease Dakotas had been transferred to the SAAF.At the cessation of hostilities in 1945, a large number of surplus Dakotas were disposed of, including some being transferred to South African Airways. The survivors of the SAA fleet later found their way back to the SAAF in 1971.When sanctions were imposed on South Africa in the mid-70s, a number of Dakotas were purchased from various sources to supplement those still in SAAF service. In total 16 were added to the SAAF strength. At one stage, the SAAF had the distinction of operating the largest remaining fleet of Dakotas in the world.The Dakota performed yeoman service during the Border War from the 1960s through to the end of hostilities in 1988, performing such roles as troop transport, resupply, medical evacuation, paratrooping and other ancillary activities. During one particular mission near the South West African/Angolan border on 1 May 1986, a Dakota of 44 Squadron, commanded by Captain Colin Green, was hit by a SAM-7 surface-to-air missile while transporting high-ranking officials. The missile strike resulted in the loss of most of the rudder and a large proportion of the elevators. The pilot managed to keep the aircraft in the air and on course to AFB Ondangwa, where it was landed safely with no injuries to its crew or passengers.Following the end of the Border War, the number of squadrons operating the Dakota was reduced, along with the disposal of airframes.
Air Force Commander Maj. Gen. Amir Eshel, Head of the Manpower Division Maj. Gen. Hagai Toplonski, and Head of the Planning Directorate Maj. Gen. Amikam Norkin flew in the last official flight.
There was a time when the Fuerza Aérea Argentina (Argentine Air Force) was considered to be one of the best Air Forces in Latin America, if not the world. Created into its own independent entity out of the Argentine Army in 1945, the Argentine Air Force began a massive modernization program which saw them becoming the first country in South America to operate jet aircraft.It is believed that in the years to come, the Argentine Air Force will cease to exist as a major military component of the Argentine Armed Forces and with an economy in shambles and embargoes still in place due to the Falklands war, it is still unknown whether if the Argentine Air Force will ever fully recover. It is possible that what was once Latin America’s most formidable air forces, maybe flying into the sunset for the last time.
The Royal Thai Navy ordered five H145M helicopters in October 2014. Deliveries are scheduled to commence in 2016. The Royal Thai Army signed for six H145M too with a VIP installation, under the Light Utility Helicopter Type II requirement, to be deployed principally on official passenger transport duties, with deliveries scheduled to begin in 2016.(...)
Saab has officially launched a new airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft called GlobalEye, combining its new Erieye ER active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar with Bombardier's Global 6000 business jet.It means the wider market will now be offered the same configuration as ordered by the United Arab Emirates under a $1.27 billion two-aircraft deal signed during Dubai air show in November.“We have a completely new platform but also a completely new radar. The radar has an extremely high capacity compared to the old one, so the performance is enhanced,” says Erik Winberg, director of business development at Saab.[continua]
With China’s island-building strategy in the South China Sea unnerving neighbors, Saab has used the Singapore Airshow to roll out a partnership with platform builder Bombardier to launch two new maritime patrol aircraft programs to compete in a market that may finally be stung into action by Beijing’s actions.Saab is poised to announce Tuesday that it is to tempt potential customers in the region and elsewhere to acquire much needed maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) capability by offering its latest Swordfish mission system installed on either Bombardier’s Global 6000 business jet or the Canadian company’s Q400 turboprop.The business jet will likely be armed with Saab’s RBS-15 anti-ship missile and a lightweight torpedo; possibly a EuroTorp weapon. The Q400 is planned to carry just the torpedo.[continua]
