Denel Aviation CSH-2 Rooivalk

Type (Muster)
Attack helicopter (Kampfhubschrauber)

Country (Land)
South Africa (Südafrika)

Manufacturer (Hersteller)
Denel Aviation
PO Box 11
Kempton Park 1620
South Africa

Phone: 0027-11/927-3330
Fax: 0027-11/927-2181

General (Allgemeine Angaben)
Crew (Besatzung): 2 in tandem (pilot and weapons systems officer)

Armament (Bewaffnung): In addition to the 20-mm-cannon under the nose (with 700 round), the Rooivalk has six weapons stations under the wings. Loads can include:

8 or 16 x anti-tank missiles, ZT-6 Mokopa with laser or millimetre-wave guidance or international options
4 x Matra BAe Dynamics Mistral air-to-air missiles
2 x Denel V3P air-to-air missiles
38 or 76 x unguided rockets with various warheads

Power plant (Antrieb): 2 x Makila 1K2 turboshafts
Power (Leistung): 2 x 1660 kW in super emergency rating or 1376 kW (1845 shp) for take-off. Maximum gearbox limit for take-off is 2243 kW

Dimensions (Abmessungen)
Fuselage length (Rumpflänge): 16,39 m
Length overall, rotor turning (Länge über drehenden Rotor): 18,73 m
Height (Höhe): 5,18 m
Span over wings (Breite über Flügel): 6,35 m
Main rotor diameter (Hauptrotordurchmesser): 15,58 m
Tail rotor diameter (Heckrotordurchmesser): 3,05 m
Main rotor disk (Hauptrotorkreisfläche): 190,6 sq m

Weights (Massen)
Empty weight (Leermasse): 5730 kg
Max. weapons load (Waffenzuladung): 2032 kg
Max. fuel (Max. Kraftstoff): 1469 kg
Typical mission take-off weight (typische Startmasse): 7500 kg
Max. take-off weight (Max. Startmasse): 8750 kg

Performance (Flugleistungen)
Max. speed (Höchstgeschwindigkeit): 309 km/h (167 KTAS)
Fast cruise speed (schnelle Marschgeschwindigkeit): 278 km/h (150 KTAS)
Maximum sideways speed (max. Seitwärtsgeschw.): 92 km/h (50 KTAS)
Max. rate of climb (max. Steigrate):
   - 13,3 m/s with twin-engine operation
   - 5,7 m/s with single-engine operation
Max. hover ceiling (max. Schwebeflughöhe):
   - 5545 m (17900 ft) out of ground effect
   - 5850 m (19200 ft) in ground effect
Maximum range (max. Reichweite):
   - 700 km on internal fuel
   - 1260 km with external tanks
Endurance (Einsatzdauer): 3 h 36 min or 6 h 52 min with external fuel tanks
g-limits: + 2,6 / -0,5

Costs (Kosten)
Price of the helicopter is probably at least 25 million US-Dollars.
Development cost is estimated at 300 million US-Dollars.

Customers (Kunden)
The South African Air Force has ordered 12 helicopters for a single attack-helicopter squadron (No. 16 at Bloemspruit). Also, Malaysia has selected the Rooivalk but had to put back contracts for eight helicopters due to the Asian crisis. Denel is in discussions with South Korea as well. An effort to sell to the UK failed in 1996. In September 1997, the CSH-2 was demonstrated in Saudi-Arabia.

Competitors (Konkurrenz)
Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow
Eurocopter Tiger
Bell AH-1W Super Cobra
Kamow Ka-50
Mil Mi-28

Remarks (Bemerkungen)
The Rooivalk is a heavy attack helicopter with the typical stepped cockpit configuration. Its design reflects the South African operating environment, with the main missions defined as

operation with mechanised high mobility ground forces
deep penetration operations in both excort and support roles
air defence suppression
counter-helicopter operations, defensive and offensive
anti-armour missions
offensive counter-air operations against forward air bases.

The design of the CSH-2 goes back to studies by the SAAF (South African Air Force) for a light attack helicopter. First, a sort of technology demonstrator based on the Alouette III dynamic system was built and flown on February 3, 1995. Then two SA 330 Pumas, designated XTP-1 and XTP-2, were used to test various indigenous sub-systems and weapons.
The CSH-2 was rolled out on January 15, 1990and flew for the first time on ??? and was mainly used for performance, dynamics and IR-suppression trials. As the war in Namibia ended, the need for the heliopter evaporated and the progrmme was temporarily stopped, but then resumed mainly with company funds in the hope of finding export customers.
In 1992, a second helicopter was completed as the so called ADM (Advanced development model). Its test tasks included avionics subsystems, cockpit design and weapons development.
The third example, designated as EMD (Engineering Development model) made its initial hover on 17. November 1996 and was officially presented on 17. February 1997. It is used for certification tests and for veryfying the Makila 1K2 engine.
There was also a static test rig. By the end of 1997, the three prototypes had accumulated 466, 414 and 67 hours respectively.
The Rooivalk made its international show debut at Dubai in 1993 and was shown in the UK at Middle Wallop and Farnborough in 1994. As a competitor for the UK attack helicopter requirement, Denel teamed with Marschall of Cambridge Aerospace, finally loosing out against the WAH-64D Apache.
In April 1997, Denel signed an agreement with Eurocopter for marketing assistance as a complement rather than competitor to the tiger. The HOT anti-tank missiles have meanwhile been cleared for Rooivalk.
The first CSH-2 for the SAAF should be deliverd by the end of 1998, with manufacture planned at four per year until 2001. Equipment of the series configuration includes a laser gyro inertial navigation system, liquid crystal displays and helmet mounted displays (Topowl) from Sextant Avionique, to be integrated by ATE.

Last updated 22 July 1998

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