Fighter jets grounded because of budget constraints
13 June 2016 - 09:52
The defence force has all but grounded half of its multibillion-rand fighter jet fleet because of dire budget constraints, with student pilots being sent to Russia and Cuba to train. In a parliamentary reply, Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula said of 26 Gripen fighter jets, 13 were in the "rotational preventative maintenance programme due to a lack of funding".
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