It is an awe-inspiring sight, watching a nine-tonne attack helicopter perform a loop and barrel rolls, the aeronautical equivalent of Luciano Pavarotti performing a perfect pike on the diving board.
But this is exactly what Denel Aviation’s CSH-2 Rooivalk attack helicopter can do, although, clearly, it is not part of its operational flying capabilities.
The Rooivalk was designed to fly in all weather conditions, day or night, at extremely low level, sometimes at an altitude of 10m, to avoid being detected.
Developed in the 1990s, the Rooivalk (which translates into Red Hawk) is used by the South African Air Force. Thus far it has not been exported.
However, it has been given a Phoenix-like lifeline and is shortlisted, together with Italy’s Mangusta A129 International, as a contender in a multibillion-rand deal to build 50 attack helicopters for Turkey.
”It would have sold a long time ago if it hadn’t been crippled by the defence cuts. Because the result of that was the air force never bought enough of them, and instead of 36 only bought 12,” says Helmoed Heitman, South African correspondent for Jane’s Defence magazine.
The Rooivalk brims with weaponry and technology and is bracketed in some quarters together with the world’s leading attack helicopter, the United State’s Apache.
”In many respects it is better than the Apache. It centres on a database, which makes it easier to integrate other weapons and systems, where most of the Apaches are hard-wired. The cockpit design and layout is also better, and the aircraft is easier to maintain and fix in the field,” said Heitman.
The Rooivalk can reach a top speed of 309kph. The helicopter’s main weapon system is the long-range, precision-guided anti-armour missile the Mokopa (translated as ”Black Mamba”), which is likely to be part of the Rooivalk offer to Turkey.
The Rooivalk has a special mechanism to lower the heat signature of its two turbo-shaft engines, which provides protection from heat-seeker missiles such as the popular shoulder-mounted Stinger or Igla.
The Rooivalk carries a comprehensive range of weaponry selected for the mission requirement, ranging from anti-armour and anti-helicopter missions to ground suppression and ferry missions.
According to the Army Technology website, the aircraft can engage multiple targets at short and long range, utilising the nose-mounted cannon capable of firing about 740 rounds per minute, and a range of underwing-mounted munitions.
The cannon is unique in that it feeds from two sides (”dual-feed”), meaning the weapons officer can select from which magazine he wants to fire, because the rounds in each magazine may be different.
The pilot in the tandem-seater cockpit can control the cannon with a helmet-mounted laser sight for target designation.
Denel spokesperson Sam Basch says the aircraft was designed for high-intensity operations in a high-threat environment on a 24-hour basis.
”Its design evolved from battle-proven concepts. A dedicated combat helicopter, it can operate with minimal support for extended periods of time, far from home base. This is of paramount value when modern-day conflicts demand high mobility of forces in minimal time frames.”
Basch says the Rooivalk can stay airborne for up to three hours to exploit its supremacy in such operations.
And, with a three-tonne disposable load, four fully interchangeable main weapon stations and 700km range in the primary role (plus a self-deployment range of 1 100km), the Rooivalk has ”unrivalled flexibility, reach and lethality.”
The helicopter also offers high levels of survivability and combines agility and low detectability with self-defence weapons and ballistic tolerance and crashworthiness.
Most of the helicopter’s systems will remain functioning because of its systematic redundancy design, which means its on-board systems are duplicated.
Should the Turkey sale go through, there is a possibility other nations, such as Pakistan and Malaysia, could also purchase South Africa’s premier attack helicopter.
As Basch notes, when the Rooivalk made its international debut at the Dubai Air Show some years ago, it elevated South Africa into a new dimension.
”At the time, it became immediately apparent that South Africa was not just another manufacturer of defence equipment. We were one of a select few … one of the top few,” says Basch. — Sapa