Rooivalk is going to DRC

O

Ockie

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Three of the South African Air Force’s Rooivalk combat support helicopters will be in the DRC before year-end to boost MONUSCO and its Force Intervention Brigade (FIB) in executing its offensive mandate in the aircraft’s first ever combat deployment.

Captain (SAN) Zamo Sithole, SA National Defence Force (SANDF) Joint Operations media liaison officer, confirmed to defenceWeb that three of 16 Squadron’s 11 combat helicopters would join up with the aviation unit of the UN Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO).

“The aircraft will be deployed before year-end and will have full SA Air Force (SAAF) ground support and technical staff,” he said.

He did not give an indication of how long the deployment would last or whether aircrews and support staff would be rotated or whether the aircraft themselves would be rotated for the duration of the FIB mandate, which has been set at a year after its establishment was authorised by the UN Security Council in March.

There was also no indication of what armament the home-grown attack helicopter would be carrying on missions on the strife-torn eastern part of the DRC. Military aviation watchers say the Rooivalk will not be carrying Mokopa or other anti-tank missiles on its hard points but will carry up to 76 70 mm rockets in four underwing pods and 700 rounds for the 20 mm F2 nose cannon.

Earlier this week photos emerged of a Rooivalk at AFB Bloemspruit, home of 16 Squadron, painted in white United Nations colours ahead of the deployment.

In August South African National Defence Force Joint Operations Chief Lieutenant General Derrick Mgwebi said that the UN as the co-ordinator of the FIB had been made fully aware of the capabilities of the Rooivalk. “We have told them what the rate for the Rooivalk is and a decision on whether or not it will go to the DRC rests solely with the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations.”

Now that the UN has authorised the Rooivalk deployment, it marks the type’s first ever combat deployment for an aircraft that started out life as a tank-buster for the Border War in the 1980s.
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www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?opti...alk-is-going-to-drc&catid=55:SANDF&Itemid=108
 
I see more of our untrained solders being thrown into deaths hands.
 
White targets are so nice to shoot at.....:whistle:

Seriously though, our troops back home has to cut back to two meals a day while we spend millions sorting out somebody else's ****** in a country miles from here. Ain't it time we try and sort out our own **** at home?
 
Hemi300c said:
I see more of our untrained solders being thrown into deaths hands.
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Maybe you should read some reports about what's been happening in the DRC, they seem to have acquitted themselves quite well.
A South African soldier made the sixth furthest confirmed sniper kill during this deployment btw.

MKFrost said:
White targets are so nice to shoot at.....:whistle:

Seriously though, our troops back home has to cut back to two meals a day while we spend millions sorting out somebody else's ****** in a country miles from here. Ain't it time we try and sort out our own **** at home?
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The UN is paying.
 
Ockie said:
i was just about to say that perhaps if this bird proves itself worthy in the field with the un and its members watching denel might pick up.some sales
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Next month we will send in some artillery units... Denel starting to hand out catalogues...
 
MKFrost said:
Seriously though, our troops back home has to cut back to two meals a day while we spend millions sorting out somebody else's ****** in a country miles from here. Ain't it time we try and sort out our own **** at home?
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In August South African National Defence Force Joint Operations Chief Lieutenant General Derrick Mgwebi said that the UN as the co-ordinator of the FIB had been made fully aware of the capabilities of the Rooivalk. “We have told them what the rate for the Rooivalk is and a decision on whether or not it will go to the DRC rests solely with the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations.”
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It looks like the UN is paying for the helicopters, it's probably how the SAAF can afford the fuel....
 
marine1 said:
I think because of the types of rockets we have, remember the something along the lines of the US using hellfires and making it almost impossible for us to compete.
That and our pricing is too high. The Apache is a far better option
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No, the problem was when Rooivalk was first launched, the USA played dirty, protecting Boeing, the American company, from competition by threatening withdrawal of support/funding from countries that bought it.
 
KhoisanX said:
Maybe you should read some reports about what's been happening in the DRC, they seem to have acquitted themselves quite well.
A South African soldier made the sixth furthest confirmed sniper kill during this deployment btw.



The UN is paying.
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Run away - the trannies are coming!
 
One of the guys I know who a CO in the Army, has some friends up in the DRC - some highly trained guys I might add.
He wouldn't give much in terms of details but he said the rebels would be crapping bricks if we had to send in more Rooivalk. From what I understand though, we already have one or two up there - he said the rebels are refusing to fight because they're scared of it. All they have is some AA and RPGs (and not a lot of it).
 
marine1 said:
I think because of the types of rockets we have, remember the something along the lines of the US using hellfires and making it almost impossible for us to compete.
That and our pricing is too high. The Apache is a far better option
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Oh .... according to Wikipedia Denel products are as capable and less expensive. Dont know how long ago it was updated though. I heard Rooivalk is a fantastic machine. I know very little about fighter jets and choppers though.

Sinbad said:
No, the problem was when Rooivalk was first launched, the USA played dirty, protecting Boeing, the American company, from competition by threatening withdrawal of support/funding from countries that bought it.
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Really? Surely today that goes against every single trade agreement there is?
 
Ockie said:
Oh .... according to Wikipedia Denel products are as capable and less expensive. Dont know how long ago it was updated though. I heard Rooivalk is a fantastic machine. I know very little about fighter jets and choppers though.



Really? Surely today that goes against every single trade agreement there is?
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This was during the very early 90s. We were still pretty much bad guys hey.
 
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