FY2006/07 to FY2008/09 - Department of Defence

chapter 7Type of ExerciseInternational Joint Exercises (Air Combat)Air-to-Air Firing CheetahAir-to-Air Firing HawkMissile FiringElectronic Warfare CampsInfrared CampAir Capability DemonstrationCommand and Control System Deployments (Exercises: New Horizon (NH) )Air Transport Force Preparation: Exercise OSPREYHelicopter Force Preparation ExerciseFY 2006/07USAF Sep 06Nov 06-Oct 06Aug 06Jul 06May 06, Sep 06Mar 06 NH5 / Oct 06 NH6Sep 06Sep 06Table 7.3Air Defence Programme - Planned Exercises (Service Unique)RISKS AND MITIGATING ACTIONSThe single biggest risk to the SA Air Force's ability toconduct air operations in future is the inadequacy of theoperating budget. Partially as a result of several DODpolicy changes, the human resources portion of thebudget continues to grow at the expense of operationalcapabilities. The operating budget as allocated over the2006 MTEF is not adequate to meet all operational commitmentsand to keep all systems in the required technicalcondition. Aircraft systems, support facilities andoperational infrastructure have deteriorated to theextent that, in many cases, they do not comply withrequired standards and levels of readiness.Operational squadrons are increasingly under pressureto produce enough flying hours to meet the operationaldemands from Joint Operations, and to facilitate an adequatelearning and growth curve for pilots in thesquadrons. Limited operating funds restrict the numberof hours that can be flown, in turn limiting the numberof pilots that can be safely sustained, and therefore limitingthe number of pilots that can be trained at the basicflying school. This poses a major risk to the SA AirForce's strategic intent to rectify the representivityimbalance in its pilot mustering at the quickest pace possible.The continuing decline in numbers of suitably skilledand experienced personnel in all disciplines presents amajor challenge in meeting ordered commitments. Asthe Air Force's main equipment age and thus requiremore intensive maintenance, the large-scale loss of experiencedtechnical personnel aggravates the problem ofmaintaining its operational systems.The risks as indicated here will be partially mitigatedthrough a reprioritisation of the force design and forcestructure of the SA Air Force, as well as the successfulimplementation of the SAAF Strategic TransformationPlan Towards Vision 2015, the SAAF HR Medium-termStrategy and the SAAF HR Short-term ImplementationPlan. It should be noted, however, that the degree towhich the major risks can be mitigated depends largelyon the extent to which the SA Air Force is provided withfinancial relief over the next few years, since virtuallyevery identified risk is directly related to the availabilityof funds.SERVICES TO BE SCALED DOWN,SUSPENDED OR ABOLISHEDBudget constraints have forced the SA Air Force toreview its previously submitted flying hour targets andto adjust them in accordance with available funding.Within the context of its stated strategic priorities, basicflying training and air mobility for diplomatic missionsare fully funded, while the output of other air capabilitieshave been reduced to fit within the available budget.Scaling down flying hours has a direct impact on theextent to which the SA Air Force can provide air capabilitiesto Joint Operations and other users, which in turnmay have a detrimental effect on the ability of someusers, such as the SA Army and Special Forces, to meettheir force preparation objectives.Major management interventions have been made toincrease the operational availability of all aircraftresponsible for the support of external SANDF deploymentsand, within the restrictions of available funding,58D E P A R T M E N T O F D E F E N C E