| AH-2 Rooivalk | |
|---|---|
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| A Rooivalk flying at the Ysterplaat air show in 2006 | |
| Role | Attack helicopter |
| Manufacturer | Denel Aerospace Systems |
| First flight | 1990 |
| Introduced | 1999 |
| Status | Active service |
| Primary user | South African Air Force |
| Number built | 12 |
| Unit cost | Est. $40 million[1] |
| Developed from | Aérospatiale Puma |
The Denel AH-2 Rooivalk (previously designated CSH-2) is an attack helicopter manufactured by Denel Aerospace Systems of South Africa. Rooivalk is Afrikaans for "Red Kestrel".[2]
The South African Air Force (SAAF) has ordered 12 Rooivalk AH-2As, the first of which entered service in July 1999. The helicopters are flown by 16 Squadron, which is based at AFB Bloemspruit near Bloemfontein.
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Development
The Rooivalk project began in early 1984 under the auspices of the Atlas Aircraft Corporation, a predecessor of Denel Aviation. Faced with the increasingly conventional nature of the South African Border War, the South African Defence Force recognised the need for a dedicated attack helicopter and accordingly set along the process of developing a suitable aircraft.
The Atlas XH-1 Alpha was the first prototype to emerge from the program. It was developed from an Aérospatiale Alouette III airframe, retaining that helicopter's engine and dynamic components, but replacing the original cockpit with a stepped tandem one, adding a 20 mm cannon on the nose and converting the undercarriage to tail-dragger configuration. The XH-1 first flew on 3 February 1985. The results were ultimately good enough to convince Atlas and the SAAF that the concept was feasible, opening the door for the development of the AH-2 Rooivalk.
During the AH-2's development it was decided to base the aircraft on the dynamic components of the Aérospatiale Super Puma,[3] a larger and more powerful helicopter. These components were already used on the Atlas Oryx, a local upgrade and modification of the Aérospatiale Puma.[1]
Design
Due to the SAAF's decades of helicopter experience in the harsh African environment, the Rooivalk has been designed to operate for prolonged periods without sophisticated support. All that is needed to keep the Rooivalk flying is a medium transport helicopter equipped with a basic spares supply plus four groundcrew.
The AH-2 carries a range of weapons depending on the mission profile. It is generally fitted with a nose-mounted 20 mm cannon and can also carry air-to-air missiles, anti-armour missiles and unguided rockets. The AH-2 has a fire control system for target acquisition and tracking as well as an advanced navigation system using Doppler radar and GPS. Also incorporated is an electronic countermeasures suite coupled with chaff and flare dispensers.
Notable features include a tandem cockpit, starboard tail rotor with a port tailplane, a fixed wheeled undercarriage as well as wire cutters above and below the cockpit and on the undercarriage.
The following types of missions are foreseen for the AH-2 Rooivalk: Reconnaissance, heliborne escort, close air support, deep penetration and anti-armour.
Operational service
By April 2005, only six of the 12 aircraft were operational with the others in need of software upgrades. The South African Air Force Chief hoped that the helicopters would be ready around June 2007, indicating the "extremely worrying factor of time that the project was taking to reach maturity", attributing the delays to the exodus of personnel from Denel as well as its financial problems. This has forced the SAAF to assess alternative defence development partners.[4]
One airframe was damaged beyond repair on 3 August 2005 after an "uncontrolled landing".[5]
On 17 May 2007, Denel group CEO Shaun Liebenberg announced a decision[6] to cease development and funding for the Rooivalk following its failure to win the Turkish attack helicopter tender[7] against the Agusta A129 Mangusta.
During November 2007, Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota announced in Parliament, that the SAAF is to invest R962 million (about US$137 million in 2007 exchange rates) in the helicopter over three years to 2010/2011, in order to bring it up to full operational status. The helicopter will be deployed on peace-keeping duties as soon as initial operating capability is achieved.[8]
Operators
Specifications
General characteristics
- Crew: 2 (pilot & weapon systems officer)
- Length: 18.73 m, 61ft 5in (main rotor to tail rotor); 16.39 m fuselage ()
- Rotor diameter: 15.58 m (51ft)
- Height: 5.19 m (17ft)
- Empty weight: 5,190 kg (11,441 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 8,750 kg (19,290 lb)
- Internal fuel capacity: 1,469 kg, (3,238 lb)
- Powerplant: 2× Turbomeca Makila 1K2 turboshafts, 1,492 kW (sea-level ISA) (2,001 shp) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 309 km/h (193 mph)
- Range: 700 km combat; 1,130 km ferry (440 mi / 700 mi)
- Service ceiling: 6,000 m (20,000 ft)
- Rate of climb: 13.3 m/s (2,105 ft/min)
- Disc loading: lb/ft² (kg/m²)
- Power/mass: hp/lb (kW/kg)
Armament
- 1 x F2 20 mm cannon, 700 rounds
- 8 or 16 x Mokopa ZT-6 long-range anti-tank guided missiles (ATGM),
- 4 x MBDA Mistral air-to-air missiles,
- 36 or 72 x 70 mm folding fin aerial rockets (FFAR)
See also
Related development
Comparable aircraft
Related lists
References
- ^ a b Campbell, Keith (2007-06-08). "What went wrong with the Rooivalk?". Engineering News. http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article.php?a_id=110041.
- ^ Frawley, Gerard: The International Directiory of Military Aircraft, page 71. Aerospace Publications Pty Ltd, 2002. ISBN 1-875671-55-2
- ^ Dely, Frans (2004). Soaring with Eagles (no page numbers, section on 16 Sqdn). Avpix Publishing Pty Ltd.. ISBN 0-620-32806-1.
- ^ Hosken, Graeme (2005-04-26). "Rooivalk delays endanger SA’s peacekeeping role". Pretoria News. http://www.caa.co.za/publications_files/CAA%20Media%20Scan/April%202005/26.4.05_files/Rooivalk%20delays%20endanger%20peacekeeping%20role.jpg. Retrieved 2007-05-18.
- ^ http://www.saairforce.co.za/news-and-events/731/saaf-rooivalk-fleet-nearing-operational-status
- ^ Ensor, Linda (2007-05-18). "Denel gets R8bn shot in the arm, ditches Rooivalk". Business Day. http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/topstories.aspx?ID=BD4A466341. Retrieved 2007-05-18.
- ^ "Agusta wins Turkish attack helicopter contract". International Herald Tribune. 2007-03-30. http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/03/30/business/EU-GEN-Turkey-Attack-Helicopter.php. Retrieved 2007-05-18.
- ^ Engelbrecht, Leon (2007-11-12). "More money for Rooivalk". ITWeb. http://www.itweb.co.za/sections/business/2007/0711121430.asp?S=IT%20in%20Defence&A=DFN&O=FRGN.
External links
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