The global military and government helicopter market is projected to grow to US$13.9 billion by 2020, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.4% from 2016 to 2020, according to an ASD Reports summary of a study by Market Forecast.
And SA takes a slice of the market pie.
In the market, medium-lift type helicopters are dominant in terms of systems delivered and in terms of value. However, the study found that, after 2020, the value of helicopters in these sectors should fall to US$9.4 billion by 2022 (CAGR of -6.5%), as a number of major procurement programmes come to an end.
The SA player in this market is Denel Aviation, and many of you readers will be familiar with its rather impressive attack helicopter, the Rooivalk (Afrikaans for ‘Red Kestrel’).
According to Wikipedia, development of the type began in 1984 by the Atlas Aircraft Corporation. Its development was closely connected to the Atlas Oryx transport helicopter, both aircraft being based on the even more impressive Aérospatiale Puma gunship and having started development at the same time.
