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Rooivalk CSH-2 Combat Support Helicopter

The South African-designed and manufactured Rooivalk attack helicopter comes equipped with air-to-air missiles, anti-tank missiles and a rapid-fire 20mm automatic cannon. It carries a crew of two. In a police support role it could be used for intelligence gathering, surveillance, electronic soundwave jamming and as an airborne crane. The survivability of the Rooivalk is enhanced by design characteristics that include low detection signatures, high agility, damage tolerance, dual-redundant systems and airframe crashworthiness. The helicopter is able to operate in the Nap-of-the-earth (NOE) environment, and can operate both at night and in adverse weather conditions from long stand-off ranges. The helmet, head-up display (HUD), and nose-mounted day/night stabilized sighting systems provide for fast, highly accurate designation and delivery of anti-tank missiles, air-to-ground rockets, cannon fire, and the ability to carry air-to-air missiles for self-defence. The turreted cannon, 2 x wing-tip and 4 x under-wing stores stations allow the Rooivalk considerable flexibility in weapons and external fuel loads.

The Rooivalk project started its design phase in 1984 and had its first flight in April 1990. It attracted world-wide attention for its unique design and capabilities and have been displayed at major international air shows in England, Dubai, Malaysia and Cape Town. In April 1997 an agreement was announed under which the Rooivalk attack helicopter would be marketed to the world's military forces under a joint co-operation agreement between Denel Aviation and the Franco-German Eurocopter group. Eurocopter produces a similar attack helicopter, the Tiger, but the Rooivalk is about 50% heavier. The Rooivalk was targeted to customers wishing to buy a heavy helicopter, while the Eurocopter Tiger would be sold to those with who require a smaller machine.

The first CSH-2 for the South African Air Force was deliverd at the end of 1998, with manufacture planned at four per year until 2001. In terms of the Armscor contract with Denel, the Rooivalk helicopters are delivered to the SAAF as they come off the production line. As of the end of FY2003/04, 11 of the 12 aircraft ordered had been delivered. These aircraft were, however, not fully developed, and are therefore delivered in a status where the aircraft cannot be used for operational purposes. The main purpose of the flying done on these aircraft is operational testing and evaluation, limited force preparation, and the development of tactics.

Development work on the Rooivalk system is continuing, and the aircraft already delivered, are continuously returned to Denel Aviation to be retrofitted as the development program progresses. The end of development was scheduled for 2008, at which point all aircraft will have received the required upgrades that will make it a fully operational and supportable system. An interim technical baseline was negotiated with Denel that will deliver a partially operational platform with restricted supportability by July 2005.

The original Rooivalk was designed as “an attack helicopter and tank killer” to meet the needs of South African Defence Force (SANDF) as it existed in the 1980s. The changing role of the SANDF, which is now primarily engaged in mandated peacekeeping missions, meant that aircraft systems had to be adapted to meet the new requirements effectively.

On 01 April 2011 The upgraded Rooivalk combat support helicopter has been handed over to the South African Air Force (SAAF) for operational duties. The helicopter, designed and manufactured in South Africa, was received by the Chief of the SAAF, Lieutenant General Carlo Gagiano the Chief Executive Officer of Denel, Talib Sadik, said the handover is the culmination of 25 years of research, development and high-technology manufacturing. "This is a product that the entire South Africa can be proud of – locally designed, locally manufactured and, now, ready for deployment by our local Air Force," says Sadik.

The handover at the Denel Aviation campus in Kempton Park followed on a rigorous testing and evaluation program by the SAAF. The first five helicopters were operational at 16 Squadron, which is based in Bloemfontein. The remaining six will be completed and ready for deployment later in 2011. The upgraded Rooivalk Mark 1 has been tested at the Air Force’s Test Flight and Development Centre (TFDC) since the beginning of October 2010. The evaluation included day and night flight operations, target identification and tracking, cannon firing and evaluation of the secure communications modes and self-protection features.

Denel Aviation was responsible for the final modifications to the helicopter to improve its safety and reliability and accuracy of its weapons systems and to complete all outstanding certification flight testing to enable application for a full military type certificate at the Cabinet-agreed deployment baseline. During the retrofit program all 11 SAAF production Rooivalk aircraft were brought up to the Mark 1 standard. The program included the significant remanufacturing of certain gearbox mounting components that were found to be out of specification on a number of aircraft.

The evaluation included the testing on Rooivalk of the upgraded Mokopa anti-armour guided missile developed by Denel Dynamics. Live firing of the upgraded missile from Rooivalk was done in January this year at the Denel Overberg Test Range. The missile scored direct hits on targets, both at the long- and short range limits of the missile, demonstrating successful weapons carriage and release from the aircraft, missile target lock-on and missile flight characteristics. New external fuel tanks now increase the Rooivalk’s self-deployment range by 50%. Denel Saab Aerostructures assisted with detailed design of the tanks and is also responsible for manufacturing.

The upgrade program for the Rooivalk was completed on track and on schedule. Rooivalk will contribute significantly to the ability of the SAAF to fulfil its mandate in peacekeeping operations and to support the future deployment of South African soldiers.