The sharp end of the SA Air Force (SAAF) is currently honing its skills by way of a weapons camp at Air Force Base (AFB) Overberg in the Western Cape.
The camp started in the final week of October, the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) Directorate Corporate Communication (DCC) said in response to a DefenceWeb inquiry. It is scheduled to finish in mid-November with “selected aircraft” assigned to the SA Army division level exercise Vuk’uhlome at the Combat Training Centre (CTC) 500 nautical miles away.
Ahead of the Lohathla sortie/s, seven aircraft from SAAF fighter town (Makhado) units 2 Squadron and 85 Combat Flying School (CFS) are devoting flying hours to upping air-to-air combat skills in the airspace Overberg shares with the Denel Overberg Test Range (OTR), using telemetry and other instrumentation from the Test Flight and Development Centre (TFDC) to monitor various aspects.
2 Squadron is contributing a pair of Gripens, not specified whether single or dual seaters, with CFS providing five Hawk Mk120 lead-in fighter trainers (LIFTs). The SAAF weapons training, according to DCC, is part of the overall SANDF combat force preparation programme and is supported by eighty air force ground and support personnel.
One Hawk will draw the proverbial short straw and be tasked to tow the target the other six aircraft will attempt hits on in what was previously an unofficial competition among pilots at SAAF weapons camps. The SAAF previously held a weapons camp at AFB Overberg in November 2024, with seven Hawk Mk 120s from 85 Combat Flying School. Activities include air-to-air firing, bombing missions, and air combat manoeuvres.