# SAAF grounds Gripen fleet

- Link: https://www.military.africa/2021/12/saaf-grounds-gripen-fleet/
- Published: 2021-12-07T14:37:47+01:00
- Author: Sarah Lesedi

The South African Air Force (SAAF) has temporarily grounded all of it’s Gripen multirole
fighter fleet as none are serviceable.

According to the Department of Defence (DoD), this is due to a lack of funding for
maintenance, as support contracts were not renewed in time.

“After a lengthy discussion between the South African Air Force (SAAF), through 
Armscor and Saab on the contract concerning the Gripen, proposals have been presented
by both parties and are being reviewed to ensure that the matter is conclusively
dealt with by the parties concerned. It is unfortunate that the discussions took
longer than expected as a result, negatively impacting on the Air Defence capability,”
stated Siphiwe Dlamini, DoD Head of Communication.

He added that, “the SAAF is confident that a solution will be found to resolve this
matter. Due to the sensitivity around the discussion, the negotiations cannot be
made public.”

For year’s, the SANDF has been grappling with severe budget cuts which have been
negatively impacting it’s operational efficiency. The air force has been unable 
to keep entire Hawk and Gripen fleets flying, and opted to [place half of the Gripen fleet in ‘rotational storage](https://www.military.africa/2021/12/saaf-grounds-gripen-fleet/military.africa/2017/06/south-africa-brings-more-gripens-out-of-storage-chase-rhino-poachers)’
in WaterKloof Air Force base.

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According to defenceWeb, “maintenance and support contracts have not been renewed
in time because of Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) requirements, Armscor implementing
Preferential Procurement regulations incorrectly, and funding constraints.”

In 2017, it became known that the South African Air Force (SAAF) has no support 
contract with Saab to maintain its fleet of Gripen fighter jets as previous support
contracts have expired.

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In the DoD’s Annual Performance Plan for the year 2021-22, a total of R5.969 billion
was allocated to the Air Defence programme (essentially the SAAF in its entirety),
against a requirement of R7.8 billion. “The shortfall of R1 840 622 000 will adversely
impact on the preparation and provision of combat-ready air defence capabilities,
maintenance backlog, maintenance of capabilities and aviation safety within the 
Programme.”

The SAAF’s Air Combat Capability which includes Hawk and Gripen operations was allocated
R783 million in 2017/18 but this dropped down to R519 million the next year, and
increased to R649 million in 2019/20 and R866 million in 2020/21. However, for 2021/
22 it declined to R343 million and is projected to reach just R302 million in 2022/
23.

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“In the light of the current DOD budget reductions, the Air Defence Programme will
remain under pressure to provide the required air defence capabilities to execute
its mandate. Despite the budget and capability challenges, the Air Defence Programme
will continue with training to provide the required air defence capabilities to 
support humanitarian and disaster relief operations and secure the RSA airspace 
as and when required in accordance with the Joint Force Employment requirements,”
the Annual Performance Plan stated.

The DoD in August told Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military 
Veterans (PCDMV) that constrained funding was affecting the ability of the SAAF 
to provide enough serviceable aircraft, which is negatively affecting flying hours.

South Africa ordered 26 Saab Gripen C & D advanced light fighter aircraft in 1999
as part of a “strategic defence package” under Project Ukhozi, R19.908 billion. 
The Gripen were acquired as a package with 24 BAE Systems Hawk Mk120 lead-in fighter
trainers. By August 2011, the SAAF had spent R151 million on Gripen support.

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