Tag Archives: SAAF hawk
Armed Forces Day 2020 Capability Demonstration |Night Shoot- Roodewal Bombing Range
The most anticipated event of the Armed Forces Week taking place in Polokwane had to be the capability demonstration at the Roodewal Bombing Range a few kilometres outside the Limpopo capital Polokwane.
![](http://www.aviationcentral.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/IMG_3023-1024x683.jpg)
Guests were flown up to Polokwane by a charted aircraft,where they were then bused to the bombing range,to witness some of the different assets the South African National Defence Forces Firepower!
![](http://www.aviationcentral.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/IMG_2111_edited-1618x1079-1-1024x683.jpg)
The display of arms started with various vehicles showing their fire power, that being the Ratel 90,Olifant MK2 battle tanks are just to name a few.Pathfinders were then dropped into the battle zone as that was the beginning of the mechanised attack from different mechanised armored vehicles, air assets and other ground forces.
![](http://www.aviationcentral.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/IMG_2096_edited-1618x1078-1-1024x682.jpg)
![](http://www.aviationcentral.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/IMG_2827-1024x683.jpg)
![](http://www.aviationcentral.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/IMG_1671_edited-1618x1079-1-1024x683.jpg)
The South African Airforce are big favourites at Roodewal as this is the home to 2 Squadron and 85 Combat Flying School as their weapons training grounds. An Oryx Helicopter simulated a fire fighting task, with a Bambi bucket equipped underneath the helicopter.
![](http://www.aviationcentral.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/IMG_1692_edited-1618x1078-1-1024x682.jpg)
The fighters assets provided a recce run, with a single gripen and hawk. A 2v1 combat routine was then shown by two friendly JAS39C Gripens and a enemy Hawk Mk120.
![](http://www.aviationcentral.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/IMG_3837-1024x669.jpg)
![](http://www.aviationcentral.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/IMG_3723-1024x710.jpg)
Trooping was tasked to a pair of Oryx helicopters with fast ropping, followed by two Agusta A109 helicopters providing a mock hoisting operation from a downed pilot scenario.
![](http://www.aviationcentral.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/IMG_3907-1024x656.jpg)
![](http://www.aviationcentral.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/IMG_1868_edited-1618x1079-1-1024x683.jpg)
From the transport line including 44 Squadron with a single Casa 212 simulated a tactical cargo supply drop. A 41 Squadron Cessna 208A Caravan was the eye in the sky providing top cover footage to both the spectators and playing a vital role during the entire period of the demonstration with aerial visuals to the coordinators of the simulated battle zone.
![](http://www.aviationcentral.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/IMG_4421-1024x648.jpg)
![](http://www.aviationcentral.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/IMG_2501-1024x698.jpg)
The invited guests were treated to see 2 different 16 Squadron Rooivalks in camo and in white, the proudly south African made helicopter provided both cannon and rocket fire gun runs during the demo.
![](http://www.aviationcentral.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/IMG_4889-1024x664.jpg)
![](http://www.aviationcentral.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/IMG_2078_edited-1618x1077-1-1024x682.jpg)
Bombing runs were then up next ,with Hawks and Gripens and then followed by a 30mm Aden cannon strike from four Hawks on Charlie Coke known to the pilots as the famous weapons strike zone!
![](http://www.aviationcentral.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/IMG_4460-1024x667.jpg)
![](http://www.aviationcentral.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/IMG_4511-1024x579.jpg)
![](http://www.aviationcentral.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/IMG_4823-1-1024x699.jpg)
The night shoot was made up of all arms of ground forces fire power at Roodewal,as well as a cannon and rocket strike from a Rooivalk Helicopter. A single gripen flew directly over the crowd with full afterburner as it reached for the Limpopo night skies filled with dropping flares,a oryx helicopter following next with a flare drop to close off this years Armed Forces Day Capability demonstration.
![](http://www.aviationcentral.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/IMG_2223_edited-1618x1078-1-1024x682.jpg)
A very big well done to all members of the South African National Defence Force that made the event possible and abling the media to attend these exciting demo’s!