Denel Rooivalk

The Rooivalk is an attack helicopter built in South Africa by Denel Aviation, and its name is Afrikaans for "Red Falcon", a reference to the lesser kestrel. Work began in 1984 under the Atlas Aircraft Corporation, a predecessor of Denel Aviation, when the South African Defence Force wanted a dedicated gunship to escort troop helicopters, strike anti-aircraft positions and counter the Soviet tanks then appearing in the Angolan theatre. Because an arms embargo blocked the import of foreign combat helicopters, the design was built on the proven Aerospatiale Puma line through the locally improved Atlas Oryx, sharing its engines and dynamic systems to keep logistics simple. Development was slow because defence budgets shrank in the 1990s. The South African Air Force ordered twelve, designated Rooivalk Mk 1, and received the first in April 2011; they fly with 16 Squadron from Bloemspruit near Bloemfontein.