Denel exploring Rooivalk programme restart

[Ockie]

Within the next 18 months Denel will have a clear idea of whether it will restart Rooivalk production as it talks to possible partner nations/clients and engages with the Department of Defence. Both the South African and foreign militaries have expressed interest in restarting production.

Riaz Saloojee, Denel Group CEO pointed out to defenceWeb that defence minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula is on record saying that the Rooivalk needs to be re-established as a strategic sovereign capability for use in places like the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Saloojee told defenceWeb that Denel is establishing a roadmap for the Rooivalk which will include an upgrade of the current Rooivalk Mk 1 baseline that will form the building blocks to a Rooivalk Mk 2 variant which would be a new capability Rooivalk for both the SAAF and potential export market. This involves examining the feasibility of restarting production, looking at technology improvements and finding partners. He said that is will be “essential” to find an international partner and that Denel is in discussion with a number of countries in this regard.

The Group CEO said that Denel will in the next 18 months “have a very clear view” with who it will partner with and will also have a government decision on going ahead with the programme.

Saloojee’s comments follow on from those made in August last year when he said that, “Given the capabilities of this aircraft…there will be a future for this platform.” Denel has acknowledged the “excellent performance of the Rooivalk combat support helicopter during deployment as part of peace support operations in Africa,” where it “made a significant impact on the peace enforcement in the region.”

“The successful deployment of the Rooivalk combat helicopter in active service by the SANDF [South African National Defence Force] in support of peacekeeping operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo has focused global attention on the extent and depth of Denel’s capabilities in a highly competitive technology environment,” Saloojee said.

However, as with any complex programme, there are technical and funding issues that will have to be addressed like ensuring sufficient technical skills for a programme of such magnitude and establishment of industrial partnerships for critical sub-systems together with the re-establishment of manufacturing and production processes including specialised jigs and other special equipment.

After manufacture of three prototype aircraft (which were the experimental development model or XDM, engineering development model or EDM and the advanced development model or ADM), and 12 production aircraft, 11 aircraft are in service with the South African Air Force (one was written off after a crash). Denel Aviation stopped marketing the Rooivalk in 2007 after failing to gain export contracts. However, Denel Aviation CEO Mike Kgobe has said that it is possible to re-establish the production line provided a minimum order quantity, estimated at between 75-100, is achieved to make the programme economically viable.

South African Army Chief Lieutenant General Vusi Masondo is also on record saying he would like to see the Rooivalk back in production. “Our involvement with the FIB [UN Force Intervention Brigade] and the deployment of the Rooivalk has proved to be a force multiplier and game changer. There has been a lot of interest and enquiries.” Masondo said that export contracts would minimise the costs of the aircraft for the SANDF due to economies of scale.

After retrofitting the current Rooivalk Mk 1 to a standard baseline (or the so called Mk 1F baseline), the Rooivalk was awarded a full military type certificate in April 2011 by the Military Airworthiness Board. Modifications were made to various systems, such as weapons and sights and its troublesome gearbox. Some of the aircraft were painted white and were deployed to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) at the beginning of November 2013 in support of the United Nations Force Intervention Brigade (FIB) comprising South African, Tanzanian and Malawian forces.

Several days after they arrived in the DRC, they engaged in their first ever combat mission, against M23 rebels, using 70 mm rockets and 20 mm cannon. The following day, the M23 group called an end to its 20-month rebellion, saying it would disarm and pursue peace talks. “We believe M23 had to retreat because of the Rooivalk,” Mapisa-Nqakula said at the time.

The UN also praised the helicopter - General Carols Alberto Dos Santos Cruz, commander of UN forces in the DRC, said the Rooivalk “performed very well as reinforcement to the mission and would be used in future missions. They are very good aircraft – very precise with very good technology. We need this kind of firepower for our missions.”

http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=38986&catid=74&Itemid=30

 

[Sinbad]

bestest attack helicopter ever.
[video=youtube;aAuqaJUFsfU]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAuqaJUFsfU[/video]

 

[Compton_effect]

Interesting idea.
Probably a modern version like ATE's(now Paramount) Rooivalk V2.
Actually - Paramount - with their jigless manufacture methods - will probably have a better chance of producing a upgraded version of our little monster.

 

[yebocan]

bestest attack helicopter ever.

I beg to differ....

[video=youtube;HBd6ighzqYA]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBd6ighzqYA[/video]

 

[Sinbad]

I beg to differ....

[video=youtube;HBd6ighzqYA]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBd6ighzqYA[/video]

OK, second bestest!

 

[BLIXEMPIE]

Something like this, done right, could save Denel from a certain end.

 

[Hamster]

Something like this, done right, could save Denel from a certain end.

Denel's certain end?

/stares at Middle East

 

[Compton_effect]

bestest attack helicopter ever.

I beg to differ....

[video=youtube;HBd6ighzqYA]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBd6ighzqYA[/video]

It always bothered me - that we actually watched a series about two guys with a stolen, heavily armed supercopter, that could fly faster than the speed of sound. And they were able to use it to solve problems like gang violence, or reuinting a mother with her illegitimate baby. Without killing anyone. :wtf:

 

[Sinbad]

It always bothered me - that we actually watched a series about two guys with a stolen, heavily armed supercopter, that could fly faster than the speed of sound. And they were able to use it to solve problems like gang violence, or reuinting a mother with her illegitimate baby. Without killing anyone. :wtf:

The A-team never killed anyone either! Except once, I think.

 

[AntiGanda]

This Rooivalk thing keeps resurfacing. It was a cheap local option to get around sanctions. It cannot compete directly with much on the market, and parts of it are French which then require licenses.

An Mi24 would be the better choice, surely?

 

[supersunbird]

This Rooivalk thing keeps resurfacing. It was a cheap local option to get around sanctions. It cannot compete directly with much on the market, and parts of it are French which then require licenses.

An Mi24 would be the better choice, surely?

Then why isn't it?

 

[Ockie]

This Rooivalk thing keeps resurfacing. It was a cheap local option to get around sanctions. It cannot compete directly with much on the market, and parts of it are French which then require licenses.

An Mi24 would be the better choice, surely?

Russian helicopter? Not surprised coming from you.

 

[AntiGanda]

Then why isn't it?

Because the state wants us to buy local, but the army doesn't want to. Same as the arms deal.

Limited purchases and the hope that another buyer is found to pick up half of the production costs.

 

[AntiGanda]

Russian helicopter? Not surprised coming from you.

Africa is full of Russian arms. There's a reason for that, despite the snide comment.
Our R4/5 rifles are based on the AK in case you wondered. The police Z88 pistol is a Beretta copy (italian).

 

[Sinbad]

This Rooivalk thing keeps resurfacing. It was a cheap local option to get around sanctions. It cannot compete directly with much on the market, and parts of it are French which then require licenses.

An Mi24 would be the better choice, surely?

Incorrect. It was developed to be a direct competitor to the Apache, and was considered superior. However, sanctions meant it was not the commercial success it could have been.

 

[phoneJunky]

Something like this, done right, could save Denel from a certain end.

You do know that Denel is currently doing the best it has ever done?

 

[The Voice]

Africa is full of Russian arms. There's a reason for that, despite the snide comment.
Our R4/5 rifles are based on the AK in case you wondered. The police Z88 pistol is a Beretta copy (italian).

R4/5's are based on the Israeli Galil AR's, not AK's - and while the internal workings of the two are similar, they are far from being the same rifle.

 

[supersunbird]

Because the state wants us to buy local, but the army doesn't want to. Same as the arms deal.

Limited purchases and the hope that another buyer is found to pick up half of the production costs.

Stop talking about our state, why is Nigeria and whomever else that could have Hinds not using them for this successful peacekeeping?

Maybe the Rooivalk is just better suited for African conditions because that's where it was build and for which theatre of operation which is was intended, hot and dusty.

How did the Hind fare in Afghanistan? Yes, I know the mujahedeen feared it, but how was its overall mission availability?

 

[BigAl-sa]

R4/5's are based on the Israeli Galil AR's, not AK's - and while the internal workings of the two are similar, they are far from being the same rifle.

Interesting, I always thought the R4s were based on the R1 which was based on the FN from Belgium.

 

[FoXtroT]

This Rooivalk thing keeps resurfacing. It was a cheap local option to get around sanctions. It cannot compete directly with much on the market, and parts of it are French which then require licenses.

An Mi24 would be the better choice, surely?

The Rooivalk was anything but cheap, if you were to include developmental costs in per unit manufactured it is the most expensive Attack Helicopter around although in pure manufacturing terms I believe it is cheaper than many of its Western contemporaries.

An Mi-24 would not be a better choice. Choosing any Russian weapon system, although the system itself would be cheap, would have a profound cost in terms of training and logistics due to South Africa following NATO equipment specifications. Secondly the Rooivalk has proven to be superior to the Hind where the two have operated alongside each other in the DRC. The fact that it has performed so well there and does not have the same political restrictions attached to it like other Western attack choppers is what has suddenly made it so appealing to a number of countries that want something which has western capabilities without the massive expense that usually comes with its competitors such as the Apache, Tiger, Mangusta etc. and political baggage.

Because the state wants us to buy local, but the army doesn't want to. Same as the arms deal.

Limited purchases and the hope that another buyer is found to pick up half of the production costs.

The arms deal was a mess because government officials messed with what the SANDF wanted because they wanted bribes, local companies can't compete with those sort of bribes. (It must be noted none the arms deal equipment looked at was locally made) In fact for many equipment acquisitions, particularly for the army, the SANDF have typically preferred local products because we have a long history of making equipment that ideally suits our needs. However that's been interfered with at times from the state, look at Project Hoefyster where the Badger was chosen over comparable local products.