Denel (Atlas) Oryx History

Denel (formerly Atlas) Oryx is a medium transport helicopter in service with the South African Air Force (SAAF). It is a local offshoot of Aerospatiale's popular French-made "Puma" series, originally launched in 1968 and remaining active in SAAF inventory.

SAAF used Puma during the embargo before 1977, eventually becoming the largest non-French operator.

The Alpha XH-1 demonstrator was developed by Atlas Aircraft engineers while trying to develop its first indigenous attack helicopter design (Denel "Rooivalk"). This work resulted in the more advanced XTP-1, which is essentially a modified Aerospatiale SA330 "Cougar" helicopter, and two prototypes were completed.

These prototypes served the Rooivalk program well, but also showed the benefits of an improved form of the Puma transporter. Therefore, the move received additional attention, and a special prototype followed, from which the Atlas "Antelope" transport platform was born.

Due to the embargo, the new helicopter was forced to rely on the local South African industry and its experience in managing, repairing and operating the French Cougar. The Oryx remains largely faithful to the French design, but offers enough edge to complete the plan.

Performance is improved, weight is reduced, and operational obligations are reduced by a quarter. Structurally, the tailstock was slightly lengthened and a new dust cover was installed on the engine air intake to improve service in dry environments. Crew survivability has also been improved. The result is a new helicopter that mimics the form and function of the French original, with improvements in several key areas.

It has the added benefit of being customizable to South African Air Force needs as well as local modifications.

After completing the necessary testing, evaluation and certification phases, the Oryx went into production in 1986 and the fuselage was built in 1991. The service was launched in 1987, but the transport helicopter did not gain public acceptance until 1991.

With South Africa still under embargo, up to 46 Puma-related update components were eventually received indirectly via Zaire and Romania. As of 2006, 35 of these pigeons had mid-life upgrades to keep these pigeons flying high in the 2020s.

Since its introduction, the Oryx has served with the 15th, 17th, 19th and 22nd Squadrons and is also used by the 87th Helicopter Flight School. In use, the platform responds well in a variety of combat and non-combat roles, the latter including search and rescue (SAR) planning and firefighting. In military service, it is typically used for troop and field supply transport, carrying up to 20 infantrymen or 3,000 kg of cargo. An optional sling capacity adds another 4,500kg of external load. The cabin also supports up to 6 medical evacuation throws with the medical team instead of traditional infantry seats.

When operating in contested areas, install door guns, usually of the 7.62mm GPMG type, for fire suppression.

The main in-service model is the Oryx Mk. I, in which an Electronic Warfare Aircraft (EWA) variant has also been developed. The Oryx Mk. II is a dedicated transport model from the Ministry of Environment and Tourism.

They are distinguished by their red and white colour scheme, which is quite different from the SAAF Mk's camouflage scheme. I form

In 1992, the Atlas Aircraft Corporation/Atlas Aviation brand label was merged into Denel Aviation. The embargo on South Africa ended in 1994 following democratic elections (UN Resolution 919).

Denel (Atlas) Oryx Specification

Basic

Year:
1987
Status:
active, on duty
Staff:
3

Production

[46 units]:
Atlas Aircraft Corporation / Denel Aviation - South Africa

Roles

- Traffic

- Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC)

Dimensions

Length:

50.69 ft (15.45 m)

Width:

51.18 ft (15.6 m)

Height:

16.90 ft (5.15 m)

Weight

Curb Weight:

3,600 kg

MTOW:

8,000 kg

(difference: +9,700 pt)

Performance

2 x Turbomeca Makila IA1 turboshaft engines, each producing 1,900 hp, simultaneously powering the four-blade main rotor and five-blade tail rotor.

Performance

Maximum Speed:

190 mph (305 km/h; 165 knots)

Service Limit:

23,507 ft (7,165 m; 4.45 mi)

Maximum range:

1,243 miles (2,000 km; 1,080 nautical miles)

Rate of climb:

3,000 ft/min (914 m/min)

Armor

Optional:

Can mount 2 x 7.62mm GPMG (General Purpose Machine Gun), one per door.

Changes

Oryx - name of the base series

Oryz MLU mid-term upgrade; 35 airframe inventory dedicated to enhanced navigation and communications suite.

Oryx EWA - A model of an electronic warfare aircraft equipped with appropriate mission equipment.

Antelope Mk. I - Main SAAF multi-role service model

Antelope Mk.

II - Model for environmental affairs and tourism sectors; provides special heavy duty de-icing equipment; completed two examples (one lost to crash).

Related stuff

1400 1514 1587 1765 1774 1775 1776 1782 1785 1786 1791 1797 1811 1813 1819 1840 1841 1842 1852 1853 1855 1856 1857 1859 1860 1861 1862 1863 1864 1865 1866 1867 1868 1869 1870 1873 1874 1875 1877 1878 1885 1886 1888 1889 1895 1896 1897 1898 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Contact  |  Privacy Policy