South African Army Artillery Formation

The South African Army Artillery Formation is the controlling entity of all South African Army artillery and air defence units.

History
The South African Defence Force (SADF), TBVC forces and the non-statutory forces (Umkhonto-we-Sizwe and APLA) ceased to exist on 27 April 1994 when they were integrated into the new South African National Defence Force (SANDF), although the integration process relied on the structures and practices of the former SADF.

The re-organisation of the SA Army was a lengthy process. The SA Army Office was established and 43 and 46 Brigade Headquarters were retained as tactical headquarters, but without permanently assigned units. The Corps were restructured with Regular and Reserve Regiments under command. The so-called “Type Formations” were established which assumed responsibility for the provisioning of combatready forces to be employed by the Chief of Joint Operations.

The South African Artillery Corps (SAA Corps) re-organised itself into the SA Army Artillery Formation with the SA Army Artillery Formation headquarters (SA Army Arty Fmn HQ) as the command and control capability.

The SA Army Arty Fmn HQ was then established in April 1999

Units
The Formation consists of both regular and reserve units:

Regular units

 * Artillery Formation Headquarters
 * School of Artillery
 * 4 Artillery Regiment (Composite Regiment) (Potchefstroom)
 * Artillery Mobilisation Regiment
 * 10 Air Defence Regiment (Kimberley)

Reserve units

 * Cape Field Artillery
 * Natal Field Artillery
 * Transvaal Horse Artillery
 * Regiment Potchefstroom Universiteit
 * Transvaalse Staatsartillerie
 * Vrystaatse Artillerie Regiment
 * Pretoria Highlanders
 * 6 Light AA Regiment
 * Cape Garrison Artillery
 * Regiment Oos Transvaal
 * Regiment Vaalriver
 * 18 Light Regiment (Detached to 44 Parachute Regiment - equipped with 120 mm mortars)

Recent deployments
Due to a shortage of regular infantry, both 4 Artillery Regiment and 10 Air Defence Regiment have recently provided gunners deployed in their secondary role as line infantry in the central African region on peacekeeping duties.

In July 2011 a radar unit from 10 Air Defence Regiment was deployed to Juba, South Sudan to support the South African Air Force's airspace management and air traffic control mission during that country's independence celebrations.

Equipment
The Formation uses the following equipment, among others:


 * GV6 155 mm self-propelled howitzer (20)
 * GV5 155 mm howitzer (75) replaced the G4 155 mm gun and the G2 140 mm gun
 * Bateleur 127 mm 40 tube self-propelled multiple rocket launcher
 * 1 Battery of ATE Vulture Tactical Unmanned Air Vehicles for daytime reconnaissance and artillery spotting
 * M5 120mm light air deployable mortar
 * Reutech Radar Systems ESR220 Thutlwa mobile battery fire control post and early warning radar.
 * Static and Mobile Radar Guided Anti Aircraft Guns including Oerlikon 35 mm twin cannon
 * 1 Battery of Starstreak Man Portable Air Defence Missiles

To be acquired:
 * Mobile Umkhonto short range surface to air missile system (A naval version is already in service with the South African Navy and Finnish Navy)
 * G7 105 mm gun still under development by Denel Land Systems