Denel Aviation is to move deeper into helicopter assembly following its deal with Agusta to purchase up to 40 A109 twin turbine rotorcraft for light utility duties with the South African Air Force (SAAF).
Although the deal, including the offset package, will not be signed until next year, the two sides have agreed that Denel will be allowed to assemble and market the single engined A119 Koala helicopter for military and commercial application in a variety of countries .
Denel will also produce parts for the assembly line being established by Agusta at its Cascina Costa headquarters. The helicopter is expected to be certificated in the first half of next year.
The South African company is already widely experienced in helicopter assembly - primarily the Oryx twin engined utility craft and the Rooivalk attack helicopter. In late November, Denel handed over the first production version of the Rooivalk to the SAAF for a validation programme involving exercises and evaluation.Delivery of a further 11 helicopters on order is due to get under way next year.
Kentron, a division of Denel, has unveiled a new vertical launch naval surface-to-air missile system known as Umkhonto, which is likely to be deployed on the South African navy's new Meko A-200 corvettes to be built by a German consortium. The infrared homing missile uses an air-cooled seeker derived from the U-Darter air-to-air missile in service with the South African air force. The other sub-systems originate from the SAHV-3 command line of sight missile. The weapon has a range of 8km (5 miles) and ceiling of 24,000ft (7,300m).
A future upgrade will incorporate an active radar seeker and longer-range (20 km) motor. Work is also continuing on a ramjet propulsion system and an upgrade to an imaging infrared seeker for a medium range derivative.
Source: Flight International