FanBoy2006.01 Posted August 26, 2006 Posted August 26, 2006 The following pictures are taken from two different air shows that were held a couple of weeks ago. I hope that you will enjoy them. South Africa's soul Rooivalk squadron is Sixteen Squadron that is based at Bloemspruit Airforce Base, just outside Bloemfontein (I also live in this small city.). Just for interest sake. It has been reported in local news papers that both Turkey and Libya has shown interest in procuring the Rooivalk Attack Helicopter.
hitman Posted August 26, 2006 Posted August 26, 2006 Looks alot like (if not a) Mi-28 Havok. Edit:: I take that back. It looks like a cross breed between an Apache AND a Havok, carrying american hardware.
Sleek Posted August 26, 2006 Posted August 26, 2006 you can tell BS is on it's way :) nice pic's ;) Be Good..Be Strong..:drink: ;)
FanBoy2006.01 Posted August 26, 2006 Author Posted August 26, 2006 Rooivalk have six underwing hardpoints (Three under each winglet.) that can take two Matra Mistral air-to-air missiles on each outboard station. The Rooivalk can also carry Euromissle HOT3 anti-tank missiles and the local Mokopa anti-tank missile (Four under the two inboard stations on each winglet. So the rooivalk can carry 16 ATGM's at once just like the Apache). It is also armed with the GI2 dual feed 20mm cannon as well as 70mm rocket launchers.
FanBoy2006.01 Posted August 26, 2006 Author Posted August 26, 2006 Here are the last pics. P.S. If you guys don't already know, Rooivalk means Red Falcon. I don't know where I got the last pic (Maybe even on this forum.). But it looks great so I desided to include it. Remember, when you are in Africa always look before you get out of the aircraft!
eric37a Posted August 26, 2006 Posted August 26, 2006 To me this looks like an updated version of the Italian Augusta Mangusta.
badaboom Posted August 26, 2006 Posted August 26, 2006 Great pics Fanboy!!!I didn't even know this bird exsisted.....looks deadly!What is that large dome on the nose above the gun,radar? Thanks for the post! [sIGPIC][/sIGPIC]
TucksonSonny Posted August 26, 2006 Posted August 26, 2006 Here are the last pics. P.S. If you guys don't already know, Rooivalk means Red Falcon. I don't know where I got the last pic (Maybe even on this forum.). But it looks great so I desided to include it. Remember, when you are in Africa always look before you get out of the aircraft! I do understand every word because I am Flemish;) Bloemspruit = flower shoot (I am not sure about the translation in English of this one) Bloemfontein = flower fountain BTW, very nice pics... DELL Intel® Core™ i7 Processor 940 2,93 GHz @3 GHz, 8 MB cache | 8.192 MB 1.067 MHz Tri Channel DDR3 | 512 MB ATI® Radeon™ 4850 | 500 GB 7200 rpm Serial ATA | Samsung SM 2693 HM 25.5 " | HOTAS Cougar Thrustmaster |
Guest IguanaKing Posted August 26, 2006 Posted August 26, 2006 To me this looks like an updated version of the Italian Augusta Mangusta. Actually, if anything, the Mangusta is an "updated" version of the Rooivalk. The Rooivalk was conceived a few years before the Mangusta. ;)
FanBoy2006.01 Posted August 26, 2006 Author Posted August 26, 2006 The little dome on top of the nose is the Pilot Night Vision System or PVNS. When "uncovered" it is slaved on the pilot's head movement. It also displays the infra-red image directly on a display on the pilot's helmet. Afrikaans is naby aan Flaams. Maar ek verstaan julle taal nie heeltemal nie.
Force_Feedback Posted August 26, 2006 Posted August 26, 2006 20mm, I like the Rooivalk, and would take it any day over the ka-50/mi-28, but... 30mm.... I love that cannon, that Airwolf ripoff we're going to get is fine, looks nice, is agile and stuff, but that long barrel *drools*.... That thing is enough to stop the infidels (igla/stinger dudes) from poisoning foreign lands, that the ka-50 surely will be invading. But nevertheless, that gun makes anyone drool, imagine the possibilities. I love that f***ing gun, that thing deserves the BFG designation, Big F***ing Gun that is. Made to PWN those smart ass A-10/Su-25 ground pounders thinking they're all safe and stuff from any form of gunfire. Har Har, let the BFG come. Creedence Clearwater Revival:worthy:
FanBoy2006.01 Posted August 26, 2006 Author Posted August 26, 2006 The little dome on top of the nose is the Pilot Night Vision System or PVNS. When "uncovered" it is slaved on the pilot's head movement. It also displays the infra-red image directly on a display on the pilot's helmet. Afrikaans is naby aan Flaams. Maar ek verstaan julle taal nie heeltemal nie.
hitman Posted August 26, 2006 Posted August 26, 2006 20mm, I like the Rooivalk, and would take it any day over the ka-50/mi-28, but... 30mm.... I love that cannon, that Airwolf ripoff we're going to get is fine, looks nice, is agile and stuff, but that long barrel *drools*..... :P :P :P I can picture you with a pirates hat on and a big salty parrot on your shoulder now.:megalol:
Trident Posted August 26, 2006 Posted August 26, 2006 Actually, if anything, the Mangusta is an "updated" version of the Rooivalk. The Rooivalk was conceived a few years before the Mangusta. ;) Not to mention the fact that the Rooivalk is enormous - it's something like twice the size of the Mangusta.
eric37a Posted August 26, 2006 Posted August 26, 2006 Actually, if anything, the Mangusta is an "updated" version of the Rooivalk. The Rooivalk was conceived a few years before the Mangusta. ;) *Johnny Carson voice* I did not know that! I've never heard of the Rooivalk, has it not seen any combat, or in too small numbers? I'm probably just sheltered.
FanBoy2006.01 Posted August 26, 2006 Author Posted August 26, 2006 South Africa's Rooivalke (Rooivalk's) will only become fully operational in October 2006.
emg Posted August 26, 2006 Posted August 26, 2006 The Rooivalk will have a hard time getting sales because you need geopolitical weight to sell hardware these days. It's nice kit. First grade manufacturing process, this is no chopper you can afford if you don't have the money for the high-profile choppers out there. Long range. Agile despite being such a big beast. Made for war in the bush, maintainability, hot & high performance. Upgrades with a MMW-radar and complementary versions of the Mokopa are available from Denel, South Africa couldn't afford it but a customer could get it. Did well in the UK trials but the Hellfire was unavailable (old weapon embargo against South Africa still in place even 12-13 years after the fall of apartheid) so it was a no-go. The Mokopa has good performance but the UK needs weapons commonality with allied forces.
emg Posted August 26, 2006 Posted August 26, 2006 So why we trying to sell it here??? Selling it? Read my post again, I said it's not a very attractive thing to buy. You think buying weapons systems is all about looking for capability? There're lots of reasons why I wouldn't buy the Rooivalk but none of them have to do with the capability of the chopper.
hitman Posted August 26, 2006 Posted August 26, 2006 Yeah I can almost expect to see this in the wanted ads the way this thread came together.
emg Posted August 26, 2006 Posted August 26, 2006 Fact is that military hardware contracts come with lots of offsets and investments and other concerns. For instance, Turkey wants to join the EU so at least one of their upcoming hardware contracts will be European (probably Typhoon.) I'm not trying to "sell" the Rooivalk, (I'm not South African if that's what you think) but when a small country manages to produce top notch military hardware then it deserves recognition.
Guest IguanaKing Posted August 26, 2006 Posted August 26, 2006 *Johnny Carson voice* I did not know that! I've never heard of the Rooivalk, has it not seen any combat, or in too small numbers? I'm probably just sheltered. "That is wild and whacky stuff." :D I first saw it in an edition of Avionics News about 12 years ago. The funny thing was that the article was about avionics upgrades to it. I was thinking "Upgrades?...I didn't even know this monster existed." :doh:
hitman Posted August 26, 2006 Posted August 26, 2006 I didnt mean to imply you as trying to sell this, but merely bringing up "my observation" thats how it appeared this thread started. Like hes trying to sell this thing. Its a gorgeous heli (in its own hideously malformed sorta way) and if I had a couple grand to dump in it Id rather buy an MD-500 Defender.
FanBoy2006.01 Posted August 26, 2006 Author Posted August 26, 2006 I am a South African and I am very proud of the Rooivalk project. (Hell, I guess I am trying to "selll" it!). Hitman_214th aren't you proud of the Apache? As for someone besides South Africa buying it. I am not very positive that it will happen.
hitman Posted August 26, 2006 Posted August 26, 2006 No I am not proud of the Apache. I HATE that POS. I dont care what anyone else says about it. If sand can gum up the FLIR lens and keep the tracking pod from designating specific targets then I think that the engineers are dumb enough not to think about silicone in a squeeze tube (Not thats how it happens). You dont ever hear about Marines getting hit by Cobras, and if you do its not quite as much as one has heard over the Apache.
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