Pretoria - The SA Air Force (SAAF) denied on Friday that its fleet of C130 Hercules aircraft was not airworthy.

The SAAF was responding to news reports and remarks by some defence attaches based in Pretoria that the aircraft, in use with 28 Squadron, appeared to be unsafe.

Air Force spokesperson Lieutenant Ronald Maseko also denied that only two of its transport aircraft were in flying condition.

Maseko said three of the nine on the inventory were in fact in service.

"Speculation that they are not airworthy is unfounded," Maseko told Sapa on enquiry.

He explained that the SAAF acquired seven of the American aircraft in the late 1960s. Some years ago, the United States donated a further five.

Only two of the aircraft were made airworthy, raising the fleet to nine. The other three were not in service.

Maseko said four of the nine were with state arms manufacturer Denel for upgrading.

Two of the five at 28 Squadron were currently undergoing "deep level and intermediate service, leaving three that are serviceable and flying", Maseko said.

There has been talk in aviation industry circles that the upgrade programme has not been as successful as expected.

On Thursday the transport department announced the country would buy eight to 14 Airbus A400M military transports between 2010 and 2014, meaning the C130s would be replaced in six year's time, regardless of the upgrade.

When approached for reaction both Denel and Armscor declined to comment saying it was sufficient that the air force had already commented.

With acknowledgements to Sapa and News24.