Atlas Aircraft Corporation
Encyclopedia
The Atlas Aircraft Corporation of South Africa
(also known as Atlas Aviation) was established in 1965 to manufacture a number of sophisticated military aircraft and avionics
equipment for the South African Air Force
, as well as for export. It was established primarily to circumvent an international arms embargo commenced in 1963 against the South African government because of its Apartheid policies.
With the establishment in 1968 of the South African government-sponsored conglomerate
named Armscor
(Armaments Corporation of South Africa), the Atlas Aircraft Corporation was also brought under Armscor's control.
In 1992 Atlas was absorbed into a new entity known as Denel
, becoming part of Denel Aviation
.
Atlas built and maintained a variety of aircraft:
Atlas also assisted the South African Air Force
to maintain its fleet of planes that had been purchased (mostly) prior to the onset of sanctions in the 1970s.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
(also known as Atlas Aviation) was established in 1965 to manufacture a number of sophisticated military aircraft and avionics
Avionics
Avionics are electronic systems used on aircraft, artificial satellites and spacecraft.Avionic systems include communications, navigation, the display and management of multiple systems and the hundreds of systems that are fitted to aircraft to meet individual roles...
equipment for the South African Air Force
South African Air Force
The South African Air Force is the air force of South Africa, with headquarters in Pretoria. It is the world's second oldest independent air force, and its motto is Per Aspera Ad Astra...
, as well as for export. It was established primarily to circumvent an international arms embargo commenced in 1963 against the South African government because of its Apartheid policies.
With the establishment in 1968 of the South African government-sponsored conglomerate
Conglomerate (company)
A conglomerate is a combination of two or more corporations engaged in entirely different businesses that fall under one corporate structure , usually involving a parent company and several subsidiaries. Often, a conglomerate is a multi-industry company...
named Armscor
Armscor (South Africa)
Armscor , the Armaments Corporation of South Africa is a South African government-supported weapon-producing conglomerate that was officially established in 1968, primarily as a response to the international sanctions by the United Nations against South Africa that began in 1963 and...
(Armaments Corporation of South Africa), the Atlas Aircraft Corporation was also brought under Armscor's control.
In 1992 Atlas was absorbed into a new entity known as Denel
Denel
Denel Ltd is a South African state owned aerospace and defence technology conglomerate established in 1991. It was created when the manufacturing subsidiaries of Armscor were split off in order for Armscor to become the procurement agency for South African Defence Force , now known as the South...
, becoming part of Denel Aviation
Denel Aviation
Denel Aviation is a division of Denel, the South African armaments company. It is primarily focused on maintenance, repair and overhaul of both Rotary and Fixed Wing Aircraft and associated components and GS & TE, in support of the South African Air Force, its primary customer....
.
Atlas built and maintained a variety of aircraft:
- Impala MkIAermacchi MB-326The Aermacchi or Macchi MB-326 is a light military jet aircraft designed in Italy. Originally conceived as a two-seat trainer, there have also been single and two-seat light attack versions produced. It is one of the most commercially successful aircraft of its type, being bought by more than 10...
(the Aermacchi MB-326Aermacchi MB-326The Aermacchi or Macchi MB-326 is a light military jet aircraft designed in Italy. Originally conceived as a two-seat trainer, there have also been single and two-seat light attack versions produced. It is one of the most commercially successful aircraft of its type, being bought by more than 10...
two-seat military jetJet engineA jet engine is a reaction engine that discharges a fast moving jet to generate thrust by jet propulsion and in accordance with Newton's laws of motion. This broad definition of jet engines includes turbojets, turbofans, rockets, ramjets, pulse jets...
trainer aircraft designed in ItalyItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and the Impala MkII, a single seat light-attack version.) - Atlas CheetahAtlas CheetahThe Atlas Cheetah is a fighter aircraft currently operated by the Ecuadorian Air Force. It was operated by the South African Air Force between 1986 and 2008. It was first built as a major upgrade of the Dassault Mirage III by the Atlas Aircraft Corporation of South Africa in South Africa and is...
(a fighter aircraftFighter aircraftA fighter aircraft is a military aircraft designed primarily for air-to-air combat with other aircraft, as opposed to a bomber, which is designed primarily to attack ground targets...
built as an upgrade of the Dassault Mirage IIIDassault Mirage IIIThe Mirage III is a supersonic fighter aircraft designed by Dassault Aviation during the late 1950s, and manufactured both in France and a number of other countries. It was a successful fighter aircraft, being sold to many air forces around the world and remaining in production for over a decade...
.) - OryxAtlas OryxThe Atlas Oryx is a medium-sized utility helicopter manufactured by the Atlas Aircraft Corporation of South Africa.-Design and development:...
(an upgraded version of the Aérospatiale PumaAérospatiale PumaThe Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma is a four-bladed, twin-engined medium transport/utility helicopter. The Puma was originally manufactured by Sud Aviation of France.-Development:...
helicopterHelicopterA helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
.) - Bosbok (Italian designed light observation aircraft.)
- KuduAermacchi AL-60-External links:* * *...
(Italian designed light utility aircraft.)
Atlas also assisted the South African Air Force
South African Air Force
The South African Air Force is the air force of South Africa, with headquarters in Pretoria. It is the world's second oldest independent air force, and its motto is Per Aspera Ad Astra...
to maintain its fleet of planes that had been purchased (mostly) prior to the onset of sanctions in the 1970s.
See also
- Armscor (South Africa)Armscor (South Africa)Armscor , the Armaments Corporation of South Africa is a South African government-supported weapon-producing conglomerate that was officially established in 1968, primarily as a response to the international sanctions by the United Nations against South Africa that began in 1963 and...
- List of aircraft of the South African Air Force
- Military history of South AfricaMilitary history of South AfricaThe history of South Africa chronicles a vast time period and complex events from the dawn of history until the present time. It covers civil wars and wars of aggression and of self-defense both within South Africa and against it...