South Africa’s State-owned defence industrial group, Denel, is in advanced discussions with the Department of Defence and the South African Air Force (SAAF) for upgrading the latter’s Denel Aviation Rooivalk attack helicopters. The upgrade will increase the operational effectiveness of the machine. The group is also confident that the upgrade will, in turn, lead to the development of a Mark (Mk) 2 version of the Rooivalk, which would also be available for export.

The current operation version of the Rooivalk is the Mk 1F, which is categorised as the baseline and was released for front line service in 2011. Denel, as the original- equipment manufacturer, continues to have responsibility for the airworthiness and operational effectiveness of the helicopter. Eleven Rooivalk Mk 1F machines are operated by the SAAF’s 16 Squadron, located at Air Force Base Bloemspruit at Bloemfontein, in the Free State province.

The Rooivalk was one of two leading Denel group systems demonstrated over three days last week to foreign and local observers, including representatives of armed forces, defence companies, the media and defence analysts. The demonstrations took place at the Denel Overberg test range in the Southern Cape. The other system demonstrated was the Denel Dynamics Mokopa missile.

“The Rooivalk has been praised by both international and local defence analysts since its first deployment in support of the South African forces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2013,” highlighted Denel Group acting CEO Zwelakhe Ntshepe. “Since then, it has proven its value in combat situations on numerous occasions, providing our forces with unrivalled firepower, mobility and protection from the air. The introduction of the Rooivalk has been a game changer in operations against rebel forces in the region and the helicopters are making invaluable contributions to the success of the United Nations Stabilisation Mission.”

He further noted that, in SAAF service, the helicopter has delivered excellent performance in difficult conditions, including hot-and-high environments (that is, environments with high ambient temperatures and/or located significantly above sea level). “Its high cruise speed, exceptional climb rate and power-to-weight ratio offer confidence to our troops and create doubts among opposing rebel forces,” he added.

The Mokopa missile was originally developed as an antitank weapon but, thanks to the development of a high-explosive fragmentation warhead, it can now engage a greater number of target types. The Mokopa was successfully launched from a Rooivalk in trials in 2011. These established the accuracy and effectiveness of the weapon, which has a range of 10 km. Integrating the Mokopa onto the Rooivalk for operational missions (and not just for trials), “will”, in the words of a Denel press release, “add to the strike capabilities of the Rooivalk and will enable it to play a more decisive role in combat operations”.

While the Rooivalk also demonstrated the use of unguided rockets and its under- nose cannon, the demonstration highlighted the effectiveness of the Rooivalk/Mokopa combination. It “demonstrate[d] the value that the Rooivalk development has brought to South Africa’s defence and manufacturing industries – and emphasise[d] our capabilities to improve even further on the proudly local product,” affirmed Ntshepe.

The first prototype Rooivalk made its maiden flight in February 1990. The aircraft has a crew of two (pilot and weapon systems operator) and reportedly has a maximum speed of 167 knots and a maximum range of 700 km. It is powered by two Turbomeca Makila 1K2 turboshaft engines. Currently, in SAAF service, the Rooivalk is armed with a 20 mm cannon and unguided rockets carried in pods mounted below the helicopter’s stub wings. The Rooivalk was, however, intended and designed to carry guided missiles, like the Mokopa.