ROOIVALKS and the problems surrounding them...

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DA demands Rooivalk briefing
2010-08-12 20:21

Cape Town - Air Force chief Carlo Gagiono must explain to Parliament why the Rooivalk attack helicopters have been grounded and how this was affecting the combat readiness of the military, the DA said on Thursday.

"A number of recent reports suggest that most of the Rooivalk attack helicopters, operated by the South African Air Force's 16 Squadron, have been grounded and are in storage," Democratic Alliance defence spokesperson David Maynier said.

"The entire fleet of attack helicopters - that have reportedly cost the taxpayer R8bn to develop - appear to be in mothballs."

Maynier accused Defence Minister Lindiwe Sisulu of having "refused" to brief Parliament's portfolio committee on defence on the defence force's combat readiness.

"The fact that the air force's attack helicopter squadron is in deep trouble is exactly the kind of information that is being hidden from Parliament," he said.

The DA would therefore ask committee chairperson Nyami Booi, to invite Gagiano to brief the members about problems surrounding the Rooivalk.

Jane's Defence Weekly magazine reported in July that Pretoria's hopes to export the long-range helicopter were disappointed, "despite very positive evaluations", because it was not in full service.

It said this was partly because repeated delays caused by lack of funding resulted in only 12 Rooivalk being completed and put into service in 1999, and then not to the standards planned.

In 2009, six aircraft were finally brought to full configuration and received interim type certification.

"However, tight funding bit once again and all the aircraft are currently in storage."

Since last year, one Rooivalk was brought to full configuration, and the Air Force now had to decide whether to bring the rest of its fleet up to full standard.

The Cape Times reported on Wednesday that the Rooivalk appeared to be sitting idle at base in Bloemfontein because of engineering problems, but said the Air Force's top brass was downplaying the problem.

The newspaper quoted director of air force acquisitions Brigadier-General Norman Minnaar as saying the future of the project was under review and numerous issues needed to be discussed with Sisulu and the developers.

"These issues include whether it or its systems are obsolete, the availability of spares and whether upgrades are necessary."

- SAPA

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Air Force to get 5 Rooivalk helicopters ( )
2010-09-02 18:07

R600m needed for Rooivalk
SA selling arms to 'dodgy' states
Armscor bosses 'blow' R3m

Johannesburg - Rooivalk combat helicopters will be handed over to the SA Air Force (Saaf) by the end of March 2011, weapons technology company Denel said on Thursday.

"Five baseline Rooivalk helicopters will be handed over for operational duties to the Saaf’s 16 Squadron in Bloemfontein by no later than end-March 2011," a statement from the company read.

The remaining six aircraft would be completed and ready for deployment soon after.

This would be the culmination of the Rooivalk project that started its design phase in 1984 and had its first flight in April 1990.

Denel had received a directive from Armscor informing it that an earlier moratorium on new orders to complete the Rooivalk acquisition programme had been lifted.

Denel Aviation, based in Kempton Park, was responsible for the final modifications to the helicopters to improve safety and reliability, upgrade the accuracy of its weapons systems and to complete all outstanding certification flight testing and subsequent documentary evidence to apply for a full military type certificate.

The original Rooivalk was designed as "an attack helicopter and tank killer" to meet the needs of the SA Defence Force as it existed in the 1980s, the statement explained.

Adapted to changed role

But the changing role of the defence force, which is now primarily engaged in mandated peacekeeping missions meant that aircraft systems had to be adapted.
"Rooivalk is now a modern, sophisticated, combat support helicopter, ready to be used by the SAAF in any of its potential deployed operations."

The baseline Rooivalk will be on public display at the Africa Aerospace and Defence Show held at Air Force Base Ysterplaat in Cape Town from September 21 to 25.

From there the helicopters will be subjected to an accelerated flying programme of some 200 hours that is scheduled to commence by mid-October 2010 from the Saaf test facility at AFB Overberg in the southern Cape.

In preparation for this phase and planned release of aircraft to 16 Squadron in Bloemfontein, Denel Aviation will also be supporting the Saaf with the training of flight and ground crews to gain the required competencies to operate and maintain Rooivalk.

The craft has been beset by certification and funding problems over the years, and did not yield international orders as expected.

- SAPA