Denel AH-2 Rooivalk (Attack helicopter)

Louis

Louis

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The Rooivalk was designed, developed and produced by Denel Aviation, assists the South African Air Force in its operations.-

The Rooivalk provides heavy, mobile fire power. It provides the military commander with the capability of applying flexible firepower quickly anywhere on the operational area in response to developing situations. It is capable of deep interdiction missions, armed reconnaissance, close air support and armed escort of the Oryx transport helicopter.-

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Crew 2 - With Pilot seated above and behind Gunner
Engines 2 x Makila 1K2
Dimensions L - 16.38 m
Weights 5,910 kg (empty)
8750 kg (max loudout)
Max Speed 150 kts
Range 700 km
Armament F2 20mm Cannon (400/700 rounds)
Mokopa / HOT-3 / Hellfire anti-tank missile (up to 16)
36 or 72 70mm FFAR rockets
4x Mistral / Mistral Air-to Air Missiles
Avionics LLTV (Low Light Television)
FLIR (Forward Looking Infrared)
Integrated Helmet-Mounted Sight featuring PNVS (Pilot Night Vision System)
Tactical Situation Display
Laser Designator
Electro Optics (for Mokopa missiles)
MSS Video Recorder
HEWSPS (Helicopter Electronic Warfare Self Protection System)
CMDS (Counter Measures Despensing System)
GPS Navigation

From:
aircraftnut.blogspot.com.ar
worldmilitaryintel.blogspot.com.ar
denelaviation.co.za
guncopter.com
 
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Seems they were involved in actual combat for first time a few days ago in Congo with UN peace-keeping mission there:

Rooivalk attack helicopters perform well in first combat action against M23
Posted by Darren Olivier on Nov 5, 2013 in Central Africa, Featured

Yesterday, at approximately 17h00 Congolese time, two South African Air Force Rooivalk helicopters attached to the UN’s Force Intervention Brigade flew the craft’s first ever combat mission. The helicopters fired multiple 70mm rocket salvos against M23 bunkers near Chanzu in what is a mountainous region close to the Rwandan border.

Early reports from sources in the area indicate that the action was successful, with the Rooivalks’ tactical approach through the clouds taking the M23 defenders by surprise and their rocket fire being accurate enough to disperse them and destroy one of the 14.5 mm anti-aircraft guns that had been previously used to fire at the Rooivalks and other helicopters.

The attack was combined with a renewed FARDC assault and subsequent claims by the DRC government that the remaining M23 senior commanders have now fled across the border into Rwanda. However this could not be independently verified.

This is the first time Rooivalk helicopters have engaged in combat since the prototype’s first flight 23 years ago.

Update: In the days since this article was published, further information has become available on this mission.

DefenceWeb reported that the operation ceased at 18h20 hours after one Rooivalk had fired 38 rockets and the other 17, with our sources confirming that these were fired in five separate salvos.

Major Pethias Mdoka, the Force Intervention Brigade’s Military Public Information Officer, confirmed the Rooivalk’s involvement, telling African Defence Review: “The FIB supported FARDC in neutralising M23 positions at Tshanzu with the use of artillery and Rooivalk attack helicopters at 17H10 on 4 November. By 06H00 the next morning FARDC forces held the ground.”
 
Bert Blitzkrieg said:
But is much less expensive. And a little "simpler".
Click to expand...

Yep ... Due to the SAAF's decades of helicopter experience in the harsh African environment, the Rooivalk has been designed to operate for prolonged periods without sophisticated support. All that is needed to keep the Rooivalk flying is a medium transport helicopter equipped with a basic spares supply plus four groundcrew.
 
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