The 2025 Group of Twenty (G20) Summit convened at Johannesburg’s Expo Centre from November 22 to 23, marking the forum’s inaugural gathering on African soil. Leaders from 19 nations, the European Union, and the African Union addressed themes of solidarity, equality, and sustainability, amid a U.S. boycott by the Trump administration over disputed claims of racial policies.
The 122-point Johannesburg Declaration called for multilateral cooperation on climate mitigation and economic inequality, despite the absence, with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney noting that participants represented three-quarters of the global population and two-thirds of GDP. South Africa’s R691 million investment in preparations underscored the event’s scale, drawing protests over costs amid 31% unemployment. According to DefenceWeb, the South African Air Force (SAAF) anchored aerial security, deploying assets for over 133 flying hours to protect delegates and airspace.
SAAF drew from the 2010 FIFA World Cup experience to orchestrate patrols despite fleet constraints. The service operates 26 JAS 39 Gripen multirole fighters, with only 13 serviceable under a Saab contract expiring August 2025, and 24 BAE Hawk Mk 120 lead-in fighter-trainers, 12 under maintenance to 2029. Budget shortfalls of R7.7 billion limit routine operations, prioritising events like G20 for surge capacity. The Directorate of Combat Systems committed four Gripens from 2 Squadron at Air Force Base Makhado. These single-engine fighters, with PS-05/A multimode radar and fly-by-wire controls, reach Mach 2 speeds and 800-kilometre combat radii, armed with IRIS-T missiles for quick reaction alerts. Gripens logged 25.8 hours on station, providing high-altitude overwatch but trading endurance for rapid scrambles in urban airspace.
Complementing them, five Hawk Mk 120s from 85 Combat Flying School at Air Force Base Makhado flew 39.1 hours for tactical reconnaissance. The subsonic trainers, with Adour engines yielding 1,000-kilometre ranges, integrate R-DMX roll-stabilised cameras for real-time video feeds, bridging gaps in Gripen availability while doubling as light strike platforms with bomb racks. Their lower cost per hour—about one-third of Gripens—eases fiscal strain, though limited Mach 0.88 speeds constrain intercepts against faster intruders.
A Mobile Ground Signal Intelligence System from the Mobile Communications Unit enhanced these efforts. The unit delivers deployable command-and-control and electronic warfare support, scanning signals for threat geolocation. This setup fused data into a common operational picture, vital for coordinating with ground radars amid Johannesburg’s cluttered spectrum.
The Directorate Helicopter Systems fielded rotary assets for low-level cover. Three Rooivalk Mk 1 attack helicopters from 16 Squadron at AFB Bloemspruit accumulated 21.6 hours. Denel’s indigenous design, powered by twin Turbomeca Makila engines for 640-kilometre ranges, mounts a 20-millimetre cannon and ZT-6 Mokopa missiles with 10-kilometre laser-guided precision. Rooivalks offered close air support and counter-raid response, but their 30% availability—two of six airframes—highlights maintenance backlogs, forcing selective rotations to preserve aircrew currency.
Two Oryx medium-transport helicopters contributed 10 hours for command-and-control shuttles. The Atlas-built, twin-engine utility craft, derived from the Puma, lifts 18 troops or sensors over 700 kilometres, prioritising reliability in hot-high conditions. Two Agusta A109 light-utility helicopters added 36.7 hours for agile scouting. These twin-turbine birds, with 600-kilometre ranges, carry electro-optical pods for perimeter surveillance, trading heavy lift for quick repositioning in confined venues.
The Directorate Command and Control Systems integrated ground-based tools for persistent monitoring. A Plessey Tactical Mobile Radar from 142 Squadron, based on the Marconi S711, deploys on MAN 8×8 trucks for 200-kilometre detection ranges and rapid setup in under 30 minutes. This X-band system tracks low-flying threats, feeding data to a Sector Control Centre at Bushveld Airspace Control Sector. Two anti-drone Sentries likely employed DroneShield’s DroneSentry, fusing radio frequency, radar, and optical sensors for 5-kilometre detection; it classifies over 150 drone models via AI-driven RFAI processing and cues jammers without kinetic effects, minimising collateral in populated areas. A frequency-spectrum analyser localised emissions, aiding electronic warfare by identifying radar or comms signals across gigahertz bands.
These layered defences countered risks like unauthorised drones, amplified by global incidents such as the 2024 Gatwick disruptions. Gripens and Hawks handled high-threat intercepts, while helicopters and radars covered low observables, balancing coverage with resource limits—Gripens’ high sortie costs versus Hawks’ economy.
Ground support amplified SAAF’s role. The South African Army’s National Ceremonial Guard managed arrivals and departures at OR Tambo International Airport from November 20 to 25, parading with full honours. A standby force, including 3,500 police under the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure, prepared for protests on gender violence and unemployment. Rear Admiral (JG) Prince Tshabalala, Defence Corporate Communication director, stated the SAAF “successfully met all operational objectives.”
The operation demonstrated SAAF’s adaptability amid 54% Gripen and 71% Hawk readiness rates. Surge deployments strain sustainment, yet integrated systems ensured seamless airspace denial. As South Africa eyes future events, addressing spares shortages—sought for Gripens and Oryx via Armscor RfIs—will sustain such proficiency. The G20’s success reinforces Africa’s rising diplomatic weight, with SAAF’s vigilance enabling unfettered discourse.
