Does anyone know what airspace security measures there are for the Soccer World Cup starting tomorrow in South Africa?
The South African Air Force can currently field almost squat to chase and shoot down any highjacked airliners heading for a stadium.
My best info tells me that there are only 4 x JAS39 Gripen D models and 24 x BAE Hawks available for air defence…. and almost nopilots qualified to fly them.
The Cheetah C was retired 2 years ago.
One 747 plowing into a stadium packed with 80 000 fans would make 9/11 look like a practise run.
By: Grey Area - 10th June 2010 at 18:06
Moderator Message
Bushwacked,
If you want to discuss the operational readiness, equipment, tactics and/or order of battle of the South African air force please feel free to start a thread in the Modern Military Aviation forum.
The General Discussion forum is where we discuss non-aviation topics.
Thanks
GA
By: Bushwacked - 10th June 2010 at 17:57
True.
It’s just hard to imagine what South Africa could do about any airborne threat. I hope they’ve enlisted the help of some foreign air forces ‘cos they sure as hell don’t have the ability to do anything about it themselves.
Even a Crop-Sprayer loaded with Sarin Gas could nip in and out before anyone in authority even knows there’s something happening, never mind preventing it.
I’d like to think that there are a few RAF Tornado ADVs or French Mirage 2000s based nearby. But that is doubtful….
The nearest Air Force Base is Waterkloof in Pretoria, but it’s been closed for the last year for the runway to be resurfaced.
Next nearest available base is to use the facilities of Denel Aviation at Johanesburgs main airport… but I know for a fact that there are no fighters of any kind stationed there, even if temporarily.
By: J Boyle - 10th June 2010 at 17:54
Not going to happen.
Any terrorist group would get far too much bad PR for killing non-Americans and (some) western Europeans.
By: Grey Area - 10th June 2010 at 17:39
If any of our members were privy to the security arrangements for the World Cup, they’d hardly post the details in here for the whole world to see.
Would they?
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June 10, 2010 at 4:41 pm