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Photo: Vaughan Leiberum · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
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Rooivalk

Attack Helicopters · South Africa · 1999
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Rooivalk

Rooivalk
Rooivalk Photo: Vaughan Leiberum · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
* Absolute score — assessed within category · no era adjustment
Firepower
75
Anti-Armour Capability
70
Survivability
70
Sensors & Targeting
65
Agility
80
Range & Endurance
60
Night Capability
70
Reliability
60
Technology
75
Cost-Effectiveness
50
Origin South Africa
ManufacturerDenel
CategoryAttack Helicopters
EraPost-Cold War
In service1999–2007
Operators1 countries
Quantity15
Data Quality82%
MASS(Military Archive Scoring System)
70
Attack Helicopters MASS Rating
9/11
Post-Cold War
26/45
All-Time
Attack Helicopters · 10 axes scored
Firepower
75
Anti-Armour Capability
70
Survivability
70
Sensors & Targeting
65
Agility
80
Range & Endurance
60
Night Capability
70
Reliability
60
Technology
75
Cost-Effectiveness
50
ⓘ Regardless of era, the same scoring system applies to all units in the attack helicopters category.
01 / Overview
Rooivalk
Prime contractor
Production
1999–2007
Quantity
15
Operators
💰 PERFORMANCE / PRICE ASSESSMENT Methodology ↗
ATTACK HELICOPTERS · POST-COLD WAR
9
PERFORMANCE/PRICE
45
UNIT COST (2025 USD)
—
70
attack helicopters category
ⓘ Performance/Price and MASS score are computed across all units in the attack helicopters category, regardless of era.
02 / Specs & Design
◎General6MOD.6
  • First Flight1990
  • Service Entry Year2011
  • Crew2
  • Passengers0
  • Primary RoleAttack helicopter
  • In ServiceYes
◈Powerplant6MOD.6
  • Engine TypeTurbomeca Makila 1K2
  • Number of Engines2
  • Engine Power (each)1,420 kW
  • Rotor ConfigurationSingle main rotor with tail rotor
  • Main Rotor Diameter15.58 m
  • Anti-Torque TypeTail rotor
▣Performance6MOD.6
  • Cruise Speed240 km/h
  • Never-Exceed Speed (VNE)309 km/h
  • Service Ceiling6,100 m
  • Range740 km
  • Ferry Range720 km
  • Rate of Climb13.3 m/s
◇Dimensions & Weights5MOD.5
  • Fuselage Length18.73 m
  • Height5.19 m
  • Rotor Disc Area190.6
  • Empty Weight5,730 kg
  • Max Takeoff Weight8,750 kg
◆Armament & Mission5MOD.5
▲Production2MOD.2
  • Total Built15
  • Variants1
◎Service History3MOD.3
  • Production Start1990
  • Production End2007
  • Operational StatusOut of production and in service
03 / History
SERVICE LIFESPANStill in Service
  1. 1999Production started
  2. 2007Production ended
27
years in service
8
years in production
15
units produced
1
countries operating
ⓘ The producing country still actively operates it.
04 / Operators
Operator Countries1country
📖 TERMS ON THIS PAGE15terms
Anti-Tank Guided Missile: a missile designed to destroy tanks.
Air-to-air missiles are guided missiles fired from aircraft to engage other aircraft. They are used for self-defense and to gain air superiority.
Autopilot/AFCS (Automatic Flight Control System) is an avionics suite that automatically controls a helicopter’s attitude, navigation and flight path, providing stability augmentation and reducing pilot workload.
Chaff/Flare: Countermeasures deployed by attack helicopters to disrupt radar- or heat-seeking missiles by creating false targets or decoys.
Armored protective panels installed in the cockpit area of an attack helicopter to shield the crew from small arms fire and shrapnel.
Seats designed to absorb crash forces, reducing injury to occupants.
DIRCM/IRCM systems on attack helicopters that detect and disrupt infrared-guided missiles using directed energy or counter-radiation signals.
Combined forward-looking infrared (FLIR) and electro-optical (EO) sensor turret for target acquisition and tracking, typically mounted on aircraft or ground vehicles.
A radar system that tracks targets and guides weapons to intercept them, used for weapon aiming and missile guidance in combat aircraft and ships.
A glass cockpit is an aircraft cockpit featuring electronic instrument displays, typically LCD or CRT screens, replacing traditional analog gauges.
A helmet-mounted system that projects flight, targeting, and sensor data directly into a pilot's field of view.
A sight mounted on a helicopter's mast for targeting.
Electronic receiver system that detects and identifies radar signals, alerting aircraft to potential threats for defensive countermeasures.
Aerodynamic containers mounted on aircraft, typically helicopters or fighter jets, that hold and launch unguided rockets in rapid succession.
Fuel tanks equipped with a material that automatically seals punctures from small arms fire or shrapnel to prevent leakage and reduce fire risk.
These terms are listed automatically because they appear on this page.full encyclopedia →
📚 Sources
📖 ENCYCLOPEDIA Browse the Attack Helicopters entry →