Rooivalk

[GTX]

It now appears as though the Denel Aviation AH-2 Rooivalk will go no further than the SAAF.  But what if things were different, who else might have used it in the "whiff world"?  What variations - naval version perhaps?

I know that the following have looked at it:

• Australia;
• United Kingdom;
• Turkey;
• Brazil; and
• Malaysia.

Who else?  Profiles anyone?




Regards,

Greg

[Archibald]

Interestingly it seems that many Rooivalk subsystems have been "borrowed" from the Puma transport chopper, just because South Affrica suffered from the embargo at the time. They took what was available...

So let's say that every Puma operator was interested in the Rooivalk. Romania, France, Great Britain, among others...

Romania made lot of great changes to the Puma, so IAR Rooivalk would be cool  

Why not resurecting the Bandung conference Union of 1955 ?
Whatif the non-aligned movement had stronger structure during Cold War, to the point that 3rd world countries refused to buy military hardware from the USA or USSR ?

[Rafael]

Venezuela!!!

With more than 2500 kilometers of coast and several island territories for a Naval variant and a fully armed gunship for our jungles

Would look awesome!!!

Rafa

[Maverick]

I remember at Avalon a few years back whilst the ARA were still deciding on which helo to buy I came across the 'Denel Australia Redhawk'   .  Now obviously this was a Rooivalk in disguise but when I went up to have a chat to the guy at the booth, in a very gutteral Afrikaans accent, he assured me that it wasn't a South African aircraft but a new Australian design!    I had a giggle about it  and couldn't for the life of me fathom why he was edgy about the SA connection.    :dum:

Mav

[dy031101]

I had a giggle about it  and couldn't for the life of me fathom why he was edgy about the SA connection.

To gain an "advantage" over European brandname?

Besides, one can only expect a lot of internal modifications compatible with US- and Australian-made electronics and ordnances.

[Jschmus]

I'd never seen the Rooivalk head on until this thread, whereupon I did a Google search and found this:



Looks like the offspring of an Apache and a Tiger.  I remember there were other contenders for the ARH comp, but I didn't know Rooivalk was one of them.  Given what I read on the page where I found this image, another candidate for what-if profiles would be the Mangusta, another chopper I like.  Aussie Ka-50, anyone?

[fabe]

Zimababwe
Zaire (Mobutu's DSP)
Rhodesia
Sierra Leone operated by Executive Outcomes
Chile
Argentina
Botswana

[Mossie]

Rafa, yeah, Venezeula is very likely. Chavez has been looking for an attack helicopter recentley, I think someone on this forum posted a pic of him inspecting a model of the Mi-28.  How about the Rooivalk?

Chinese liscence built version?  India?

[dy031101]

Chinese liscence built version?

The latest AFM states that PRC "explored" the possibility of reverse-engineering the Rooivalk.

What if they somehow pulled it off?

[GTX]

AFM states that PRC "explored" the possibility of reverse-engineering the Rooivalk

Didn't they try to buy just one - surefire hint that a reverse engineering attempt was planned!

Regards,

Greg

[GTX]

IDF/AF

A definite possibility given the South African and Israeli connections.

Regards,

Greg

[GTX]

Speaking of the Rooivalk, how's this for a cool picture:



Regards,

Greg

[GTX]

When I mentioned the idea of a Naval Rooivalk, I didn't know it had been proposed for real:  http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa37...811/ai_n8814013

Regards,

Greg

[Mossie]

B)  B)  B)

I've always liked the Rooivalk, it just looks 'hard'.  It looks like it'll take anything tha can be thrown at it & then throw it back too.

[GTX]

I remember at Avalon a few years back whilst the ARA were still deciding on which helo to buy I came across the 'Denel Australia Redhawk' ohmy.gif . Now obviously this was a Rooivalk in disguise but when I went up to have a chat to the guy at the booth, in a very gutteral Afrikaans accent, he assured me that it wasn't a South African aircraft but a new Australian design!

The things some people will do     ,

This look familiar John:



BTW, I have also read that Pakistan was interested in the Rooivalk as well at some time.

Regards,

Greg