Atlas Oryx The Atlas Oryx ( named after the Oryx antelope ) is a medium - sized utility helicopter manufactured by the Atlas Aircraft Corporation ( now Denel Aviation ) of South Africa . Design and development . Outside France , the SAAF was the largest user of Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma . The Oryx can trace its origins back to the Bush War . Despite the efforts of the gunship Alouette , the need for a dedicated gunship was recognized . Atlas Aircraft Corporation produced an experimental attack helicopter , the Alpha XH - 1 . This helicopter was used for feasibility studies and could not serve any practical purpose - this led to the more powerful XTP - 1 in April 1987 . Two XTP - 1s were converted , and based on a Puma J airframe . Various weapons and other systems were tested on XTP - 1 and paved the way for Project : Rooivalk . However , the dynamic flight components of the XTP - 1 made Atlas realise what advantages an upgraded Puma could have . A 330L Puma , no . 177 , was converted to Oryx configuration and used as a prototype and as the results exceeded all expectations the Oryx programme was launched . The sanctions era encouraged the local aviation industry to become self - sufficient in producing helicopter components and , with the knowledge to assemble pre - manufactured helicopters , led to the technical skill for producing complete Puma helicopters , should the need arise . This included complete airframes and dynamic components such as gearboxes , rotor blades and turbines and hot section parts . The engine intakes are fitted with locally produced dust filters and ensure higher efficiency and reliability . It is an upgraded and remanufactured version of the Aérospatiale Puma , equivalent to the Eurocopter Super Puma , and offers a performance improvement over the original , in addition to cutting the operating costs by 25 to 30 % . First examples were fitted with the latest dust filters as were then in use on the SAAF Puma . These units had a moveable auxiliary air intake on the front . A newly designed dust filter was later fitted without the auxiliary air intake . Should one of the engines fail , the remaining powerplant has sufficient power for the Oryx to complete its mission . If an engine fails in flight , the management system automatically advances the power setting on the remaining engine . This ensures the Oryx sustains flight with very little crew input , during such an emergency . The basic airframe is still that of the original Puma , but the structure was modernized by extensive use of locally produced carbon - composite materials . These materials result in an airframe that is lighter and more rugged , which increases the Oryx ' s endurance and maneuverability . The obvious external difference is the new modified tailboom which is slightly longer ( 50 cm ) , than the Puma . By mid - 1991 , the SAAF acknowledged that the Oryx was in service , as a replacement for the Puma and Super Frelon . It was shown for the first time to the public at an open day at Potchefstroom in August ' 91 . The Oryx is currently in service with several squadrons of the South African Air Force , with about 35 being in service . The Oryx is a multi - role helicopter . Its main uses in the SAAF are : medium to heavy transport and communications flights , task force rapid deployment operations , fire fighting , and search & rescue missions . It can carry up to 20 fully equipped troops , or 6 wounded on stretchers with 4 attendants , or 3 , 000 kg freight carried in the cabin , or 4 , 500 kg freight on an external sling . Tasks for the SA Navy include transport , replenishment at sea , force multiplication , reconnaissance , search & rescue , etc . Most Oryx are equipped with a 50m hydraulic hoist , rated for up to 2 personnel , for use in rescue operations . Additionally a large metal A - frame structure can be fitted in the cargo bay which allows up to 4 personnel to rappel or abseil from the aircraft simultaneously . Oryx operating from coastal squadrons are fitted with emergency flotation gear on the sponsons and nose . Foreign involvement . In early April 1986 Armscor set about a clandestine project to acquire the Makila turboshaft engines which had already been successfully flown on the SA 330R , and the development of the Super Puma . In a complex operation believed to involve Beverley Securities Incorporated , Aerospatiale , Portuguese Air Force , INDEP and OGMA ; Armscor agreed to pay for the upgrade of the Portuguese Air Force Puma ’ s which entailed fitting Makila 1A turboshafts to the standard Puma airframe . This upgrade package was supplied in “ kit ” form by Aerospatiale . This deal was worth about $ 3 billion and Aerospatiale continued delivering these “ kits ” to Portugal where , apart from those used by the Portuguese upgrade , the rest were delivered to South Africa via a front company in Zaire over a five - year period . IAR supplied 50 Puma airframes without tailbooms in 1986 , and this helped South Africa to develop the Oryx . South Africa chose the IAR airframe over existing airframes due to the Romanians use of carbon - composite materials which are lighter , stronger and also include sponson fuel tanks , which give an extended range . Mid Life Upgrade . In 2006 , the SAAF initiated a mid life upgrade for 35 Oryx helicopters to extend their service life to the 2015 - 2020 timeframe . Due to budgetary restrictions , the upgrade will be limited to airframe life extensions , with a limited communications and navigation upgrade . It was initially planned to do a full glass cockpit upgrade . Variants . In its basic platform the design of the Oryx offers a number of advantages and this was further developed from an early stage in the program . With the Rooivalk now in service , this combat helicopter will escort the Oryx in a high threat environment . However , as an interim measure an Oryx with door mounted machine guns did appear . Oryx helicopters are constantly refined and updated . A full glass cockpit is planned for a future update . The latest addition is the fitting of flare dispensers and the update of the Threat Warning Receivers . There is an electronic warfare ( stand - off communications jamming / radar jamming ) version of the Oryx that is equipped with the Grinaker Systems Technologies ( GST ) GSY 1501 jamming system , among others . The first Oryx variant with a large log periodic antenna on the starboard side was regarded as quite an effective EW platform . This platform is capable of disrupting key communications during various stages of modern , air - , land - , and sea battles . In addition it is used as an effective training aid to the SANDF , to test their function as an effective fighting force , despite any EW methods employed against the SA Forces . A further advantage is , EW equipment in use by the SA Forces can be effectively evaluated and calibrated under simulated battlefield scenarios . One variant has its main cabin doors replaced by dome shaped antennas . The Oryx Mk . 2 contains such a number of differences , that a different model number is used , to distinguish the type . Although , operated and flown by 22 Squadron SAAF , these helicopters were specifically build for use by the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism , as part of the South African National Antarctic Programme . Two Oryx helicopters have been modified for operations in the Southern Ocean and the Antarctic , for which they have been painted in the red and white colour scheme . Highly effective , de - icing equipment , of up rated specification , was the central requirement of the Mk . 2 program . The project received the go - ahead on 15 March 1996 , with Lt Col K . Viljoen as project leader . The project was completed three weeks ahead of schedule and the two helicopters delivered to 22 Sqdn , during October 1997 . One of the Mk . 2 Oryx helicopters was written off subsequent to a crash landing in July 2004 .