THE AIRFORCE - AIRCRAFT - ROOIVALK
Aircraft Stats:
Powerplant: 2 x 2 000 shp Turbomeca Makila Turboshafts
Speed: 192 kph, 309mph mph
Range: 700km, 435miles
Seats: 2
Length: 16.39m, 53ft 10in
Span: 15.58m, 1ft 1in
Empty Weight: 5 910kg, 13,029lb
Max T/O Weight: 8 750kg, 19,290lb
Period of Service: 1999 - Current
Weapons:
F2 20mm Cannon, FZ 90 70mm FFAR, Type 159 Launcher
Squadrons:
16 Squadron
Attrition:
4 incidents recorded
F2 20mm Cannon, FZ 90 70mm FFAR, Type 159 Launcher
Squadrons:
16 Squadron
Attrition:
4 incidents recorded
Rooivalk
Status: Current
Manufacturer: Denel
Country of Manufacture: South Africa
Role: Attack/Strike
The Rooivalk was conceived in the 1980s as tankbuster operating in a high-threat, high-intensity environment. While the true cost of the Rooivalk may never be known, some estimates go up to R2 billion since the project started in March 1984.
The type is essentially a gunship version of the Oryx, itself a customised Eurocopter Cougar. Although South Africa may not be keen to admit this for reasons of pride and the French may be equally reluctant - as their involvement up to 1994 was in violation of a UN arms embargo, it is known that Eurocopter and Turbomeca engineers did extensive development work on the design.
Images:
Downloadable Files:
- Rooivalk brochure.pdf (174kb)
