Rooivalk wings clipped months ago

The following is a rough translation of an article that appeared in the Afrikaans Volksblad newspaper:

The airforces Rooivalk attack helicopter, stationed at the Bloemspruit-Air Force Base at Bloemfontein, have not been flying since November last year.

A final decision on the future use or otherwise of the formidable locally developed helicopters will be taken within the next few months.

Brig Gen Norman Minne, Director of Air Force Acquisitions, told a media information session yesterday that the Air Force was forced last year to suspend further test flights with helicopters because of engineering problems.

He believes there will be consensus by the end of this week, with Denel Aviation, on certain "issues".

The development project of the helicopter is due to finish at the end of this year. There should be a decision about how and whether the helicopter will be used operationally at the beginning of the next financial year.

One of the issues is that the helicopters cannot be used operational if Denel cannot guarantee adequate support or spare parts for a period of at least five years.

"We must continue to look at the army's operational needs for the future," said Minne said.

The helicopter was developed in the early 1990's because of a requirement by the army for an attack helicopter to support ground troops.

"It was not an airforce requirement in the first place," Brig Gen Mbambo Wiseman, Director Air Capability Plans, said. It is unfair that the Air Force must carry the charge for the further development and use of the helicopter. It must decide whether the army still has this need. If not, it will be further influence the decision.

Meanwhile, 16 Squadron at Bloemspruit-air force base in Bloemfontein, where the 12 Rooivalk are stationed, is still an operational squadron even if they do not fly the helicopters.

Certain documents that are part of the project is now brought up to date and the helicopters will be checked weekly. Most of the squadron's smartest pilots and personnel have left the Air Force or are doing service elsewhere in the Air Force.

According Lt Gen Carlo Gagiano, Chief of the Airforce, the Rooivalk remains a national asset, for both Denel and the air force.

Mr Talib Sadik, Denel's CEO, told the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) in Parliament earlier this year that Denel was awaiting a Cabinet decision on future plans for the helicopter.

He said that Cabinet had recommended in 2008 that spending on the further development of the helicopter be stopped.

The certification process, costing R680 million, is short an amount of R280 million. It was unclear whether the state will advance the money.