A vary rare SAAF Oryx helicopter was operating over Helderberg today.
Oryx 1208 is one of a kind operated by 17 Squadron, and one of a number of SAAF aircraft to be deployed in a COMINT/EW role for the Air Force. Other similar platforms include a mission modified C47TP Dakota of 35 Squadron operated from Cape Town.
Oryx no 1208 of 17 Squadron, is based at AFB Waterkloof. This COMINT/EW airborne platform is able to pinpoint, intercept and interrupt communication during air, land and sea battles and flies with similar sensors which were once used on 60 Squadron's EW Boeing 707s.
Read more about the history and retirement of the SAAF's Boeing 707-328C fleet here.
Open sources such as Janes Defence reveal that this Oryx deploys warflying in a frequency spectrum ranging from 20-1000Mhz, with extension to the 1.45Mhz band, and can be deployed against voice and data links, such as those used on the SAAF Super Lynx (22 Squadron) and the Gripen C and D fighters.
Indeed a rare and unique visitor of the Air Force to Cape skies.
Warflying has evolved today and missions can be flown by small remotely controlled drones which are as hard to spot as they are to shoot down.
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