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Denel AH-2 Rooivalk (Kestrel)

2011 MODERN AIRCRAFT

History

Denel (then Atlas) AH-2 Rooivalk (translated as "Kestrel") is an ambitious homegrown enterprise in the South African country. During its development, the Rooivalk was hailed as one of the most powerful and capable helicopters in existence and destined to be the best combat helicopter ever built.

Unfortunately, cost overruns, limited production and no export orders mean the system has become a bloated and outdated design now in the hands of politicians to decide the fate of the machine.

Rooivalk arose out of the need for the South African Air Force to deploy a capable attack helicopter. The XH-1 Alpha design produced by Atlas (previously known as Denel) served the company well in terms of development research. The XH-1 is largely based on the French-built Aerospatiale Alouette III system, although it is hardly a dedicated attack helicopter platform, still using 1960s technology. The XH-1 first flew in early 1986, followed by two modified XTP-1 Beta gunboats in the form of the Aerospatiale SA 330 Pumas (the production version of Rooivalk will actually contain the SA 330's gear and rotor system) designed from the outset as experimental tower. Using information gleaned from both types of tests, preparations for the Rooivalk design began as early as 1984, with the first airworthy XH-2 Rooivalk airborne in early 1990.

Two further development models of the XH-2 come in the form of XDM and EDM (see variant descriptions at the bottom of the page).

Production Rooivalks arrived in early 1999, with total deliveries limited to a dozen examples. A naval version was also considered, although many setbacks led to delays and foreseeable sinking of the project.

In any case, Rooivalk will be a major player in foreign markets if the situation at home and abroad is different. In any case, the development of Rooivalk - which is a homegrown company - could bring some profits to the African country's future homegrown attack helicopter designs.

"production" design Rooivalk produced something similar to the Italian Mangusta, with the pilot and gunner sitting in a two-seater cockpit. The short tail provides the Rooivalk with four mounting points for rocket pods or ZT6 Mokopa-style anti-tank missiles. In addition, the short wing tips can support the French-made Mistral air-to-air missile system for self-defense.

Standard armament includes the Armscor F2's chin-mounted 20mm cannon. Can carry up to 16 ZT6 anti-tank missiles, similar to the Hellfire used by the AH-64 Apache. Two powerful Turbomeca Makila 1K2 turboshaft engines drive a large four-blade main rotor and five-blade tail rotor system.

Delays and cost overruns have severely hindered any international interest in the form of further production and export orders. The system is still outdated because it still contains computer technology from some two decades ago. Additionally, Denel's financial turmoil scared off potential international salespeople who were afraid to buy the device, only to see potential future support gone.

In this regard, Denel's relationship with Eurocopter could save the Rooivalk project, although that partnership remains to be seen, as Denel wants to sell Rooivalks on the export market, knowing that it is also selling French-made components in the process.

As of this writing, only 12 examples have been delivered, few of which are fully operational. There is talk of either ending the entire program entirely and decommissioning the existing units, or opting for another set of development builds and releasing the new and latest Rooivalk attack helicopters.

The future status of the Rooivalk program is currently being discussed.

Rooivalk Mk 1.1 is the new standard in the game, designed to modernize the existing AH-2 fleet. This will install a missile warning system as well as updated avionics. This work will begin in April 2017.

The current (2018) South African Air Force fleet consists of 11 Rooivalk attack helicopters assigned to 16th Squadron.

2013 marked the first combat deployment of the Rooivalk series, when three units were entrusted to the UN Forces Intervention Brigade in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

September 2016 - Rooivalk's stellar performance against DRC insurgents during its 2013 peacekeeping mission led to discussions about an export variant of the AH-2 - the Rooivalk Mk II.