thumb|Ensign of the [[South African Air Force]]
The South African Air Force (SAAF) has operated a wide range of aircraft since its establishment in 1920. The fleet's core capabilities are built around its fighter, transport, maritime patrol, helicopter, and training aircraft. Key operational types include the JAS 39 Gripen, BAE Hawk, C-130 Hercules, Oryx and AW109 helicopter fleets, supported by various light transport, liaison, and VIP airframes.
Historically, the SAAF operated one of the largest and most capable fighter fleets in the Southern Hemisphere. Notable past aircraft include the 68 Atlas Cheetahs—South Africa's indigenous modernised variant of the Mirage III—and the 48 Mirage F1s, both of which formed the backbone of the country's air combat capability from the late 1970s through the early 2000s. Earlier eras also saw extensive fleets of Mirage III variants, Impalas, Sabres, Buccaneers, and Canberras.
The following is a list of current and historic aircraft of the South African Air Force.
Current aircraft
The South African Air Force operates a diverse mix of fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft. Fleet total refers to the number of airframes that remain in the SAAF inventory, while in service refers to those that are currently operational or can be made airworthy. Aircraft listed as not in service include airframes of the same type that have been placed in long-term storage pending possible reactivation or sale, or airframes that were damaged in accidents but remain in inventory awaiting repair or disposal. The SAAF's current aircraft holdings are as follows:
- Aircraft (As per November 2025):
- Fleet total: 275
- In service: 199
- On order: 5
Fixed-wing aircraft
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! style="text-align: left; width:20%;" |<small>Aircraft</small>
! style="text-align: left; width:10%;" |<small>Image</small>
! style="text-align: left; width:10%;" |<small>Origin</small>
! style="text-align: left; width:10%;" |<small>Type</small>
! style="text-align: left; width:7%;" |<small>Introduced</small>
! style="text-align: left; width:7%;" |<small>Fleet total</small>
! style="text-align: left; width:7%;" |<small>In service</small>
! style="text-align: left; width:35%;" |<small>Notes</small>
|-
|<small>JAS 39C/D Gripen</small>
|<small>170x170px</small>
|<small></small>
|<small>Multi-role fighter</small>
|<small>2008</small>
|<small>26</small>
|<small>25</small>
|-
|<small>BAE Hawk Mk.120</small>
|170x170px
|<small></small>
|<small>Lead-in fighter and advanced trainer</small>
|<small>2006</small>
|<small>24</small>
|<small>35</small>
|<small>6 Two aircraft have been lost following crashes, with another cannibalised for parts.</small>
|<small>3</small>
|<small>5</small>
|-
|<small>Pilatus PC-12</small>
|<small>170x170px</small>
|<small></small>
|<small>Passenger and cargo aircraft</small>
|<small>1997</small>
|<small>1</small>
|<small>2</small>
|<small>37</small>
|<small>24</small>
|-
|<small>Westland Super Lynx 300 Mk.64</small>
|<small>170x170px</small>
|<small></small>
|<small>ASW helicopter</small>
|<small>2007</small>
|<small>4</small>
|<small>4 Production is set to double from 8 systems per year by up to 16 per year starting by 2026.</small>
|}
Historic aircraft no longer in service
{|class="wikitable sortable"
!width=27%|Aircraft
!width=12%|Origin
!Role
!width=12%|Service period
!No. operated
!Notes
|-
|Aermacchi AM.3C Bosbok||Italy/S. Africa||Utility||1973–1992||40||
|-
|Aeronca KCA||US||Liaison||?||?||
|-
|Aeronca 50C Chief||US||Liaison||1940-?||1