Due to the arms embargo placed on the Republic of South Africa by UN member nations in 1963 the South African Air Force (SAAF) found it extremely difficult to purchase aircraft to properly fulfil certain roles, often turning to modifications of existing SAAF aircraft or even civilian machines. One of the more unique examples of this was the Atlas/Denel Jakkal (Afrikaans for “jackal”), a scout/attack helicopter largely comparable to the later Bell OH-58D Kiowa Warrior.
Development of the Jakkal began with the import of a Bell 222B executive helicopter s/n 47132 to Johannesburg-based Ancom Jet Aviation, a front for the RSA government purchasing firm Armscor. The aircraft, registered to Ancom as ZS-HMD, arrived in mid-1986 and was immediately flown to Atlas’ headquarters for prototyping.
Conversion to the prototype Jakkal saw the entire interior stripped and the main cabin filled with modern military electronics equipment (targeting, countermeasures etc) and fuel tanks, including streamlined conformal tanks on the fuselage sides. Extra fuel was vital for the most radical part of the upgrade: twin Turbomeca Marboré turbojets installed at the root of the sponsons. These would allow the aircraft “boost” capability to allow short bursts of speed for rapid egress from a hostile environment and quick attacks before enemy systems would have time to react. With the twin jets the Jakkal became the first – and so far only – compound helicopter to achieve operational status.
Armament installed included underbelly air-to-ground folding-fin rockets, twin Vektor GA-1 Rattler 20mm cannon on the end of each sponson and two Atlas V3 Kukri air-to-air missiles for self-defence. Armour plating was installed around the cockpit and fuel tanks for added protection from small arms fire.
To assist with long-range/loitering ops an air-to-air refuelling probe was installed on the right side of the aircraft, over the pilot’s entry door. The navigator/weapons specialist received a comprehensive suite of targeting and weapons systems including an infra-red sight mounted on the roof forward of the rotor mast.
The prototype Jakkal flew for the first time on May 3 1987. It performed well, exceeding all expectations and 26 Jakkals were ordered for the SAAF in June, the final two aircraft delivered in August 1989.
So. Who'd like to see some pics?
