Rooivalk
Os contratos emitidos pela South African Air Force em 1981 para o desenvolvimento de um helicóptero de ataque no país resultaram em dois tipos de aeronaves, ambos desenvolvidos pela Atlas Aviation (uma subsidiária da Denel): o XH-1 Alpha (desenvolvido a partir do Alouette III, e que voou em 1985) e o XTP-1 Beta (desenvolvido a partir do Puma). O passo seguinte foi o XH-2 Rooivalk (posteriormente designado CSH-2, e mais adiante AH-2), que voou em fevereiro de 1990. Com a cessação dos combates em que o país estava envolvido, a SAAF abandonou o requisito operacional, e o programa foi interrompido.
Posteriormente, o programa foi reiniciado com fundos próprios, e mais um protótipo voou (em 1992), seguido por um modelo de pré-produção (em 1996). Em julho de 1996, a Denel acabou obtendo um contrato para a entrega de 12 Rooivalk para a SAAF, designados AH-2A. O primeiro foi entregue em novembro de 1998, sendo alocado ao No. 6 Squadron no começo do ano seguinte.
O Rooivalk é uma aeronave bastante sofisticada, sendo capaz de realizar missões de dia ou de noite; dispõe de TV de baixa luminosidade, designador e telêmetros laser, FLIR, Visor Integrado ao Capacete para os dois tripulantes, etc. Além do canhão no nariz (20 mm, com até 750 tiros), pode transportar casulos de foguetes e até 16 mísseis anticarro Mokopa, guiados a laser. O grupo propulsor é formado por dois motores Atlas Topaz (Turbomeka Makila 1A2 produzido sob licença na África do Sul), cada um com 1.819 shp. Segundo a Denel, a aeronave poderá futuramente ser equipada com motores RTM22, os mesmos usados nos Apaches do Reino Unido.
Embora tenha participado em várias concorrências internacionais, o Rooivalk ainda não foi bem sucedido. Enquanto isso, a Denel trabalha no aperfeiçoamento da aeronave, e em 1998 foi anunciada a existência do projeto para uma versão navalizada, com um radar de busca de superfície com cobertura de 360º e equipado com mísseis antinavio e rotor principal dobrável.
Brasil negocia compra de armas da África do Sul
Os militares brasileiros estão interessados na compra do helicóptero de ataque Rooivalk, criado para concorrer com o Apache da Boeing, mas um fracasso de vendas. Cada aparelho custa cerca de US$ 25 milhões. Segundo o SundayTimes.co.za, que ouviu o representante do fabricante, temos interesse por ser adaptável a outras tarefas, além de matar pessoas.
He said the Rooivalk was attractive to Brazil because it could be adapted for other non-combat roles such as the protection of the endangered Amazon rainforest, search-and-rescue operations in remote areas, and the monitoring of cross-border drug trafficking.
http://br.br101.org/archives/cat_empresas.html?page=7
Do Defesanet:
Brazil mulls Rooivalk purchase
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Keith Campbell
The Brazilian Air Force (FAB) is interested in acquiring South Africa's Rooivalk attack helicopter.
This interest is still at the preliminary stage and the service is currently gathering information on the helicopter, produced by the State-owned Denel Aviation.
It is not yet known how many helicopters they are interested in, or, alternatively, how much money they are willing to spend on such a programme.
(For example, concerning the postponed FX advanced fighter programme which is expected to be reactivated later this year or early next the FAB has effectively budgeted $1-billion, for which they expect to get at least 12 aircraft; the actual number could, however, be higher, depending on the cost of the aircraft and associated systems and services that are finally selected.) Neither is it known whether or not the Rooivalk will find itself in competition with other attack helicopters, nor what the acquisition timescale are likely to be.
It will probably be many months before a final decision is taken.
Another factor to be borne in mind is the question of offsets yes, South Africa must give offsets to foreign customers, not just receive them.
Brazilian offset requirements tend to focus on high-technology aerospace and defence sectors, and it is most probable that any significant order for Rooivalks would require that most of the order be manufactured under licence in Brazil, most probably by Helibras, the helicopter-manufacturing subsidiary of the European Aeronautic, Defence, and Space Company (better known as EADS).
Denel has quite close links with EADS Denel's Oryx transport helicopter is closely related to EADS' Super Puma/Cougar range.
In fact, Super Pumas and Cougars are already operated by the FAB and Brazilian Navy (in support of the Marine Corps) and are now entering service with the Brazilian Army, these last being built by Helibras.
And while the Super Puma/Cougar series are powered by Turbomeca Makila 1A1 engines, the Rooivalk uses the closely related Makila 1K2 engines.
The Rooivalk is believed to use the same dynamics system and rotor-head as the Super Puma/Cougar, which creates commonality in key mechanical systems with aircraft already in FAB service.
This, of course, is a plus for the Rooivalk's chances in Brazil.
Another plus is Brazil's eagerness to develop defence and defence technological and industrial cooperation with South Africa.
Whatever attack helicopter is finally chosen, it is likely that the number acquired will exceed the 12 being bought by the South African Air Force given the size of Brazil, 24 would seem to be the bare minimum needed by the FAB.
At first glance, it would seem rather surprising that the FAB is the Brazilian service showing the first concrete interest in the Rooivalk.
The Brazilian Army, which has its own Aviation Corps with about 75 helicopters (plus eight Cougars now being acquired) organised into an aviation brigade of three squadrons in São Paulo state and a fourth, independent, squadron in the Amazon, has long been reported as having long-term plans to obtain attack helicopters.
The FAB's helicopter force is spread across seven squadrons, with about 100 machines, the backbone being provided by about 40 Bell UH-1H Hueys the helicopter that was emblematic of the Vietnam War.
The Hueys, which will need modernisation or replacement soon, are employed for a wide variety of tasks, including search and rescue, troop transport and tactical logistics, but also, with machine guns and rocket launchers fitted, for escort and attack missions.
The Rooivalk would obviously fulfil the attack and escort roles.
Furthermore, the FAB has, in recent times, developed a new doctrine for the use of its helicopters, which assigns them a role in seizing air superiority.
FAB helicopters now train in helicopter-versus-helicopter and helicopter-vs-fixed-wing low-altitude (less than 330 m) air-to-air tactics training.
Clearly, a dedicated attack helicopter, like the Rooivalk, is much better suited to such missions than an armed utility helicopter, like the Hue
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