Denel exploring Rooivalk programme restart

BigAl-sa said:
Interesting, I always thought the R4s were based on the R1 which was based on the FN from Belgium.
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R1s and R4s are completely different rifles. You are correct that the R1 is the Belgium FN (don't think there is any actual difference just we gave it our own designation) which is chambered for 7.62mm NATO. The R4 however is based an the Israeli Galil which in turn was based on the AK-47 and is chambered for 5.56mm NATO ammunition. If you look carefully at the R4 and an AK you will notice the similarity.
 
FoXtroT said:
R1s and R4s are completely different rifles. You are correct that the R1 is the Belgium FN (don't think there is any actual difference just we gave it our own designation) which is chambered for 7.62mm NATO. The R4 however is based an the Israeli Galil which in turn was based on the AK-47 and is chambered for 5.56mm NATO ammunition. If you look carefully at the R4 and an AK you will notice the similarity.
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And R2 had a folding stock and the R3 was the semi-automatic version (intended for internal use).
 
Ahhh, I remember the first time I saw the Rooivalk. I was a troepie doing bush phase, our platoon got hopelessly lost and stumbled upon this open area with a whole bunch of drums, old vehicles and crap... Suddenly we heard a strange thump thump sound and there she was in all her glory. We ran like frightened children and hid while this beautiful beast hovered for a while. She gracefully tilted her perfectly shaped nose and the sound of her cannon thundered across the skies a few times. A minute later she was gone and I was smitten. What a helicopter!
 
Jase said:
Ahhh, I remember the first time I saw the Rooivalk. I was a troepie doing bush phase, our platoon got hopelessly lost and stumbled upon this open area with a whole bunch of drums, old vehicles and crap... Suddenly we heard a strange thump thump sound and there she was in all her glory. We ran like frightened children and hid while this beautiful beast hovered for a while. She gracefully tilted her perfectly shaped nose and the sound of her cannon thundered across the skies a few times. A minute later she was gone and I was smitten. What a helicopter!
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Would you two like to be left alone?


:p
 
supersunbird said:
And R2 had a folding stock and the R3 was the semi-automatic version (intended for internal use).
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The R4 also had a folding stock. I did my basic training with the the R1, you had to adjust the gas-setting on it, so low and it was not enough to load the next round. too high and it kicked the sh*t out of your shoulder.
After basics, when we started the conventional war phase, we were given R4's, brand-new coated in a kind of sticky grease, that we had to wash of using petrol, and still have this blerry rifle shining the next morning.
The R4's bipod legs included a wire-cutter. This was used plenty of times on AWOL missions. :)
 
supersunbird said:
Stop talking about our state, why is Nigeria and whomever else that could have Hinds not using them for this successful peacekeeping?
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Nigeria operates Hind-Es (export version of the Mi-24) as their only attack helicopters: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigerian_Air_Force#Aircraft - don't know why they aren't using them, perhaps they're tied up elsewhere in the country, or grounded due to lack of spare parts, or...

On top of that, the Rooivalk simply cannot compete in terms of price. An Mi-24 is USD $16 million, a block E Apache $35 million, the Rooivalk - a staggering $40 million. The former are battle-proven multi-role choppers with the might of industrialised countries behind them, the Rooivalk has never seen anything more than small-arms fire and is produced by a single third-world country on the ass-end of the African continent.

For $40 million, I'd much rather have 2 Hinds and $8 million of training/spares/logistical support, than a single slightly dodgy Denel special.
 
patrick123 said:
The R4 also had a folding stock. I did my basic training with the the R1, you had to adjust the gas-setting on it, so low and it was not enough to load the next round. too high and it kicked the sh*t out of your shoulder.
After basics, when we started the conventional war phase, we were given R4's, brand-new coated in a kind of sticky grease, that we had to wash of using petrol, and still have this blerry rifle shining the next morning.
The R4's bipod legs included a wire-cutter. This was used plenty of times on AWOL missions. :)
Click to expand...

As a tampon tiffy we were issued with R5's, shorter and around half a kilo lighter (although rifle PT still made this rifle feel like a ton). No wire cutter though but we had an assortment of medical 'implements' to assist us in obtaining liquid refreshments from the local shebeen. Ahh how I almost miss 'diensplig'.
 
patrick123 said:
The R4 also had a folding stock. I did my basic training with the the R1, you had to adjust the gas-setting on it, so low and it was not enough to load the next round. too high and it kicked the sh*t out of your shoulder.
After basics, when we started the conventional war phase, we were given R4's, brand-new coated in a kind of sticky grease, that we had to wash of using petrol, and still have this blerry rifle shining the next morning.
The R4's bipod legs included a wire-cutter. This was used plenty of times on AWOL missions. :)
Click to expand...

As a tampon tiffy we were issued with R5's, shorter and around half a kilo lighter (although rifle PT still made this rifle feel like a ton). No wire cutter though but we had an assortment of medical 'implements' to assist us in obtaining liquid refreshments from the local shebeen. Ahh how I almost miss 'diensplig'.
 
The Rooivalk is only 1/2 of a Military solution... the other half are the ballistics/munitions that can be fitted to it - The Americans will never supply Denel with the Adapers and the guidance systems for their missile technology as they want to sell gunships.. Likewise for te russians. We can make good missiles, but they are not known on the international stage so nations to 'Buy Saffican' just wont happen.
 
Ricard said:
The Rooivalk is only 1/2 of a Military solution... the other half are the ballistics/munitions that can be fitted to it - The Americans will never supply Denel with the Adapers and the guidance systems for their missile technology as they want to sell gunships.. Likewise for te russians. We can make good missiles, but they are not known on the international stage so nations to 'Buy Saffican' just wont happen.
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I beg to differ, Denel is well known for its missiles. The ZT-3 Ingwe has been a great success for them and has been sold to a number of nations, particularly in North Africa and the Middle East. With the Mokopa now in the final stages of development, they have a missile that can match the performance of the Hellfire.
 
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