El Rooivalk es el helicóptero de ataque de última generación fabricado por Denel Aviation, en Sud África. Ha completado con éxito las pruebas, ha pasado la fase de evaluación y ya a comenzado su fabricación a gran escala. La Fuerza Aérea de Sud África ha ordenado 16  Rooivalk AH-2 para dos escuadrones. Este helicóptero puede transportar una gran cantidad de armamento de acuerdo a la misión que se necesite, desde antitanque a antihelicóptero. La aeronave puede ocuparse de diferentes blancos, tanto de corto como de largo alcance, utilizando el cañón montado en la trompa como con las armas ubicadas en los soportes bajo sus pequeñas alas.

Para su diseño primeramente se utilizó un Alouette III, posteriormente sobre dos SA330 Pumas, designados XTP-1 Y XTP-2, se probaron subsistemas y armamentos. La primera exposición pública del CSH-2 fue el 15 de febrero de 1990 y se cree que voló en ese año.

En 1992, un segundo helicóptero fue completado y llamada ADM (Modelo de desarrollo avanzado), se ejecutaron pruebas de avionica, diseño del cockpit y desarrollo del armamento. El tercer ejemplar, designado EMD (Modelo de Desarrollo de Ingeniería), realizó su primer estacionario el 17 de noviembre de 1996 y fue usado para obtener las pruebas de certificación y para probar el motor Makila 1K2.

Existió también un aparato estático de prueba. Para fines de 1997, los tres prototipos acumulaban un total de 466 horas, 414 y 67 horas respectivamente. En 1997 Denel firmo un acuerdo con Eurocopter para que lo asistiera en la comercialización mas como un complemento del Tiger que como competidor del mismo. El primer CSH-2 para la SAAF debería ser entregado en 1998, con la fabricación planeada para el 2001

 The Rooivalk is a latest generation attack helicopter from Denel Aviation, South Africa. It has successfully completed the development, test and evaluation phase and has entered full scale production. The South African Air Force has ordered 16 Rooivalk AH-2's for two squadrons. The Rooivalk carries a comprehensive range of weaponry selected for the mission requirement, ranging from anti-armour and anti-helicopter missions to ground suppression and ferry missions. The aircraft can engage multiple targets at short and long range, utilising the nose-mounted cannon and a range of underwing-mounted munitions.

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, 1990 and 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 helicopter evaporated and the programme 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.

          MISSIONS

·         Anti Armour - Prime, Multiple and Long-range Targets.
Ground Suppression - Area Suppression, Hard Targets and Large Area Suppression.
Anti-helicopter - 4 missiles.
Ferry, Reconnaissance and Counter-insurgency.

ARMAMENT

·         8 or 16 Anti-tank Missiles - 7" diameter SAL missile.
Air-to-air Missiles - IR guided.
38 or 76 Unguided Rockets - variation of warheads.
20 mm F2 Cannon high-velocity ammunition.