Missiles (optional): load on 4 optional hardpoints includes 4 x ATM Atlas Swift or HOT-3 anti-tank missiles or 4 x AAM V3C Darter or Mistral air-to-air missiles or 4 x ML Matra 155 18x68 mm or Thomson-Brandt 68-36 36x68 mm unguided rockets or 4 pods with 20 mm cannon or 12.7 mm or 7.62 mm machineguns
The Atlas Oryx (named after the Oryxantelope) is a medium-sized utility helicopter manufactured by the Atlas Aircraft Corporation (now Denel Aviation) of South Africa. It is an upgraded and remanufactured version of the Aerospatiale 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%.
The Oryx is currently in service with several squadrons of the South African Air Force, with about 51 being available.
It can carry up to 20 fully equipped troops or 6 wounded on stretchers with attendants or 3,000 kg freight carried in the cabin or 3,200 kg freight on an external sling.
There is also 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.
Two Oryx helicopters have also been modified for operations in the Southern Ocean and the Antarctic, for which they have been painted in the red and white colour scheme as illustrated in the photograph accompanying this article.
