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 Ghana is moving decisively to re-establish a national airline, marking a strategic push to revitalise its aviation sector and strengthen its position as a key regional hub in West Africa. After more than two decades without a state-backed carrier, the government has set a clear goal of launching a new national airline within the next year, with plans to celebrate “a Ghanaian airline flying to the rest of the world” by early 2027. The announcement comes amid a

By Garth Calitz The recent announcement by US President Donald Trump to pursue the “decertification” of Bombardier aircraft in the United States has sent shockwaves through the global aerospace industry. While the proposal has yet to be fully implemented, the political signal alone has raised serious concerns among manufacturers, operators, regulators, and investors about the stability of international aviation certification frameworks. At the centre of the dispute is Bombard

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

The French Navy is set to become the world’s first operational user of Airbus Helicopters’ Aliaca vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) uncrewed aerial system, marking a significant step forward in naval drone operations. The French Directorate General of Armament (DGA) has placed an order for a new VTOL-configured version of the SMDM (Système de Mini-Drones de la Marine) through Airbus Helicopters’ subsidiary, Survey Copter, further strengthening France’s position at the fore

The Sukhoi Su-35S represents the most advanced and capable evolution of Russia’s famed Flanker family, blending extreme aerodynamic performance with modern sensors, powerful engines and multi-role flexibility. While often described as a “4++ generation” fighter, the Su-35S sits at the very top of non-stealth combat aircraft in service today and remains a cornerstone of the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS). The Su-35S traces its lineage to the Su-27, an aircraft originally desig

By Garth Calitz The Botswana Defence Force (BDF) Air Command has received a substantial consignment of C-130 Hercules spare parts and maintenance equipment from the United States, reinforcing a long-standing defence partnership and significantly improving the operational readiness of Botswana’s strategic airlift fleet. The package, valued at close to US$ 1 million, includes a broad range of consumables, tooling, and aircraft components essential to sustaining C-130 operations