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42-563: Since 2006, Paramount Group has been expanding its presence in the aerospace sector. During 2011, the company unveiled the AHRLAC ( Advanced High Performance Reconnaissance Light Aircraft ), a long-range reconnaissance and surveillance aircraft; it is the first military fixed-wing aircraft to be designed and built indigenously in Africa. In 2013, Paramount Group acquired South African aerospace firm Advanced Technologies and Engineering (ATE); during

84-677: A 19% stake in the South African aerospace company Aerosud . During February 2011, Paramount Group announced the launch of a joint venture with Abu Dhabi - based defence business International Golden Group for the latter market and distribute Paramount Group’s products and services in the United Arab Emirates . In September 2011, the company unveiled a new project, the AHRLAC Holdings Ahrlac ( Advanced High Performance Reconnaissance Light Aircraft ),

126-676: A business rescue plan was announced for AHRLAC, with Paramount taking full control of the Aerospace Development Corporation (ADC) and its subsidiaries, according to the proposition. In September 2020, ADC stated that production of the Ahrlac had restarted. The company claims to have made multiple sales of nine aircraft to two unnamed air forces. The first example was delivered on 23 September to an unnamed air force. A total of nine Mwari aircraft are on order. Paramount Aerospace Industries claims that they can build three

168-510: A controlling stake in ship builder Nautic Africa; it stated its intention to produce a new range of vessels, claiming it would help Africa protect against piracy . Two years later, the company began construction of a state-of-the-art naval production facility located in Cape Town . During September 2018, it acquired the South African boat manufacturer Austral Marine. During February 2014, Paramount Group announced that it had acquired Aerosud as

210-436: A development partnership with Paramount with the aim of producing a militarized version of the Ahrlac. Under this agreement, Boeing shall develop an integrated mission system that will provide the Ahrlac with intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) and weapons system capabilities; this equipment is presented as being optional, and some customers may prefer to opt for simpler systems instead. The militarized version of

252-611: A full-scale mockup of the Ahrlac was constructed, alongside a quarter-scale flight-capable model that was later used for a total of 80 test flights. The first full-scale prototype, designated as the Experimental Demonstrator (XDM), was completed using design for manufacture technology, which allowed for jigless construction to be performed, thus producing both time and cost savings. Of the aircraft's 6,000 components, 98 per cent had been designed using CATIA software and were domestically manufactured. In May 2014,

294-453: A large mission bay for avionics beneath the two-person cockpit, and the lower fuselage consists of a variety of interchangeable conformal modular units. These modules allow the aircraft to be outfitted with a variety of sensor systems such as infrared and optical cameras, synthetic aperture radar , electronic intelligence gathering and various electronic warfare packages. Additionally, electro-optical turrets can be installed both on

336-408: A memorandum of collaboration to develop products together across a wide range of areas, including humanitarian aid , disaster relief , anti-poaching and border protection . Since forming this partnership, the two companies have jointly worked on several projects pertaining to aviation technologies. In March 2016, Boeing announced that it had entered into a development partnership with Paramount with

378-511: A pair of prototype unmanned vehicles, which had received the name "Mwari", had been produced. The Mwari UAV is considerably smaller than the manned Ahrlac counterpart, possessing a reduced flight endurance of only 4 hours along with a sensor turret in the nose. The UAV was renamed "Mwewe", as the Mwari name is used for an armed version of the full scale manned Ahrlac. In March 2016, American aerospace firm Boeing announced that it had entered into

420-454: A part of its strategy to rapidly expand its presence within the aerospace and defence markets. Shortly thereafter, the company was renamed Paramount Aerospace . Furthermore, around the same time frame, a new division of the company, Paramount Robotic Systems , was created with the goal of developing autonomous capabilities with airborne, land and sea applications. During July 2014, Paramount Group and American aerospace company Boeing signed

462-558: A single Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6 A turboprop engine; it has a top speed of 310 mph, roughly double that of most helicopters and similar to larger military UAVs such as the General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper , along with a flight endurance of seven hours. It is flown by a crew of two, who are seated in tandem configuration, both being provided with Martin-Baker ejection seats and HOTAS (hands on stick-and-throttle) control functionality. The narrow airframe

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504-587: A total of nine aircraft to two unnamed countries and that the first would be delivered immediately; the announcement was made at Africa Aerospace and Defence show on 21 September 2022. This marks the first sale of the aircraft and South Africa's first sale of a fixed-wing aircraft in 20 years. As of 28 February 2019, the AHRLAC program has been placed into business rescue with the Wonderboom factory being shut down and all 140 employees sent home. In August 2019,

546-499: A versatile low-cost aircraft designed for light attack and reconnaissance missions. The development programme was originally structured as a joint venture between Aerosud and Paramount Group. While originally intended as an alternative to unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), the company subsequently decided to develop an unmanned variant of the AHRLAC as well. During December 2011, the UK national newspaper The Daily Telegraph reported that

588-480: A year or five if demand requires more aircraft. In September 2023, the Democratic Republic of Congo ordered "several" aircraft. Mozambique already has some operational. The Ahrlac features a twin-boom , single-pusher-engine, high-mounted forward- swept wing configuration, giving the aircraft an unconventional external appearance and providing for excellent external visibility. It is powered by

630-548: Is a South African manufacturer and engineering company focusing on the rail, mining, energy, defence, and marine sectors. It is based in Vereeniging , South Africa. DCD Group specializes in engineering projects, including rail and military vehicle engineering, roller manufacturing, marine engineering, and mine engineering. DCD Protected Mobility manufactures the Husky VMMD , a counter-IED MRAP currently in use with

672-506: Is composed of a combination of metal and composite construction and is designed to provide maximum crew visibility. The aircraft overall is claimed to be inexpensive and easy to manufacture, AHRLAC's CEO, Dr Paul Potgieter, has contrasted the ease of assembly to that of a Meccano set. The Ahrlac has been designed to be capable of operating from austere runways and rough fields; it also possesses STOL (Short Take Off/Landing) and rapid deployment capabilities. It has been envisioned that

714-503: Is reportedly readily expandable to double its current size, dependent on customer demand. In 2014, the developers revealed that, in addition to the previously-announced crewed model of the Ahrlac, they were also in the process of developing an unmanned variant as well. According to Janes , the unmanned model of the Ahrlac had its origins in the quarter-scale model that had been produced for flight testing purposes, which had revealed favourable tendencies towards such use. By September 2014,

756-425: Is shaped distinctly differently, being more specialised to its low-intensity warfare role. In addition to existing manned products, the Ahrlac is intended to compete with UAVs in the marketplace; Paramount claims that the aircraft will be cheaper to acquire and operate than UAVs since the manned models of the Ahrlac shall not need the expensive subsystems required for the remote control of unmanned aircraft. In 2011,

798-475: Is to be carried out for the Ahrlac's full lifecycle as well. By February 2015, the first prototype had completed 65 hours of incident-free flying; as a result, the test program proceeded to the next phase, under which the flight envelope was progressively expanded to explore and evaluate its handling, center of gravity, flight performance, airframe qualities, and rough field capabilities. According to Paramount, several prospective customers had shown interest in

840-661: The Maverick , Mbombe 6 , and Matador . AHRLAC Holdings Ahrlac The AHRLAC (Advanced High Performance Reconnaissance Light Aircraft), also known as Mwari , is a South African light reconnaissance and counter-insurgency aircraft developed by Paramount Aerospace Industries , which started out as a joint venture between the Paramount Group and Aerosud . It is designed to perform as an inexpensive, more versatile substitute for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and modern light attack aircraft. On 26 July 2014,

882-667: The United States Army , the United States Marine Corps , and the South African Defence Force . DCD Group was originally established in 1946 as DCD-Dorbyl Ltd., a merger of Dorman Long and Vanderbijl Engineering Corporation. It rebranded in 2012 as DCD Group Ltd. In February 2010, Westinghouse and DCD-Dorbyl announced cooperation on creating a plant for building modules for AP1000 reactors . The current CEO of DCD Group

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924-534: The Ahrlac conducted its maiden flight ; on 13 August 2014, the aircraft performed its first public flight display at Wonderboom Airport . Both armed and unarmed models of the aircraft are sold, as well as a potential unmanned version. In 2009, Paramount Group began working on a new light turboprop -powered counter-insurgency aircraft. The design study examined a fixed-wing aircraft as an affordable platform for both civilian and military applications as an alternative to unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The design of

966-489: The Ahrlac project was formally initiated. According to its developers, the aircraft has been designed with the needs of First World customers in mind. It has also been claimed by its designers that the Ahrlac is to be the first fully indigenous military aircraft developed in Africa; additionally, it shall be the first South African military aircraft of any sort since the Denel Rooivalk attack helicopter, In 2011,

1008-538: The Ahrlac shall be marketed under the name "Mwari". In February 2018, an announcement was made that the improved AHRLAC design will be marketed in the USA under the name "Bronco II" . In May 2020, BRONCO II, Paramount Group's Americanized variant of the AHRLAC, in partnership with Leidos and Vertex Aerospace, offered the light attack and surveillance aircraft to U.S. Special Operations Command, or SOCOM, for its Armed Overwatch program. Paramount announced that it had sold

1050-518: The Group CEO, Griessel held the position of CEO of Paramount's US-based subsidiary, Paramount USA. Hellenic Defence Systems (EAS) and Paramount Industries Greece announced a strategic partnership on 11 May 2023 for the indigenous production of long-range loitering munitions. Paramount said the co-development of the 'IRIX' system would help enhance Greece's defence capabilities and foster autonomy within its defence industry. The agreement also encourages

1092-520: The Paramount Group's Misplaced Pages article had been edited by accounts linked to the controversial public relations company Bell Pottinger . On 10 June 2013, Paramount Group announced that their takeover of Advanced Technologies and Engineering (ATE) was at an advanced stage. ATE had been operating under a business rescue plan for some time before Paramount decided on the takeover. During November 2013, Paramount Group announced that it had gained

1134-465: The aim of producing a militarized version of the Ahrlac; Boeing's contribution to the programme reportedly includes the development of an integrated mission system with intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) and weapons system capabilities for the aircraft. In April 2015, Paramount Group announced that it was in the process of taking over DCD Protected Mobility , formerly a division of South African industrial and engineering group DCD . Under

1176-811: The aircraft is also modular and can be added or removed entirely dependent on the mission requirements. Conformal fuel tanks carried underneath the tail booms have also been offered as an option for the type; when equipped with external fuel tanks, the Ahrlac is capable of a 2,000 nm ferry range. Armed Mwari models are presented as being ideal for low-intensity warfare, such as for combat against insurgents and armed criminal elements, as well as patrol work performed by civilian border guard and law enforcement agencies. Data from AW&ST, AHRLAC official site General characteristics Performance Armament Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era Related lists DCD (company) DCD Group Ltd. (formerly DCD-Dorbyl Ltd. )

1218-413: The aircraft shall perform various mission roles, including intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance (ISTAR) and counter-insurgency missions; coastal patrol , anti- smuggling and disaster relief capabilities are also projected mission profiles. In order for the Ahrlac to effectively engage in the diverse range of missions it is capable of, it features a reconfigurable nose,

1260-487: The aircraft, particularly from the Middle East ; the construction of the second prototype was also underway and had been proceeding smoothly so far. The initial prototype is claimed to have "matched all out initial predictions very closely". By September 2016, the prototype had accumulated 250 flying hours during tests, as well as a total of four deployments to the South African border and to neighbouring Botswana for

1302-462: The developers had identified an increasing level of market demand for such an aircraft. Critically, it was recognised that jet-powered aircraft such as the Sukhoi Su-25 that were typically being used in this role were often overly-equipped and quite costly to operate in such capacities; thus a strong emphasis on low-cost operations was established early on. In September 2011, design work on

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1344-586: The development and production of ground-based systems. During 2006, Paramount Group began developing its own portfolio of aerospace products, acquiring a number of surplus South African Air Force (SAAF) Dassault Mirage F1s that same year. Operated by its subsidiary, Paramount Aerospace Systems , the Mirage F1 fleet has been expanded over the years and is used for purposes such as providing aerial aggressor and ground crew maintenance training services to government customers. During 2009, Paramount Group purchased

1386-493: The flight test program commenced at Wonderboom Airport near Pretoria , the first prototype having been moved there from Aerosud 's facility in Centurion, Gauteng . In July 2014, the ground test phase was reportedly completed. On 26 July 2014, the first Ahrlac prototype conducted its maiden flight from Wonderboom. It was initially deployed on a 20-hour flight test program to contrast computer simulations against data from

1428-535: The following year, it announced the acquisition of the South African aerospace company Aerosud , its primary partner on the ARHLAC. Both firms have been integrated into the group. Paramount Group was established by South African entrepreneur and industrialist Ivor Ichikowitz in 1994; its headquarters were established in Sandton, South Africa. During its initial years of operation, the company largely focused itself on

1470-666: The latter to evaluate and develop a combat-orientated model of the former's M-345 trainer aircraft to suit the requirements of prospective African customers. It is reportedly planned for the aircraft to be updated with Paramount's Swift mission system. In January 2020, the company announced the establishment of a new division, Paramount Advanced Training and Support, which consolidates the group’s existing global training, support and skills development capabilities across its land, sea and air operations. In January 2022, Paramount Group announced that it had appointed Steve Griessel as its group chief executive officer. Prior to his appointment as

1512-628: The manufacturer stated that the price of the aircraft was projected at being under US$ 10 million per aircraft; the potential market for Ahrlac has been described as potentially being "in the hundreds or thousands of units". According to aviation author Bill Sweetman, the Ahrlac is likely to come at least partially into competition with the Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucano and the Beechcraft T-6 Texan II ; unlike either of those aircraft, it does not have any trainer heritage and thus

1554-511: The nose and belly of the aircraft. The avionics employ an open architecture , further adding to the ease of adding, upgrading and swapping components and systems. The armed Mwari version is designed to carry a single 20 mm cannon , which is internally mounted into the fuselage. Additionally, it is fitted with either four or six hardpoints for carrying weapons mounted under the wings, including rocket pods, unguided bombs , and various air-to-surface and air-to-air missiles . Armour for

1596-464: The participation of other Greek companies in the production supply chain. On August 15, 2024, Paramount Group filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, listing assets and liabilities between $ 1 billion and $ 10 billion. During 2000, Paramount Group launched the first of its vehicles, the Marauder . Since then, the firm has expanded its range to manufacture a variety of armoured vehicles, including

1638-408: The proposed aircraft drew on the company's prior experience producing helicopters, and several design elements, such as the steep tandem canopy adopted, have been attributed to this source of inspiration; the aircraft is intended to act as a viable alternative for helicopters. It had been conceived as an affordable intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) and light-strike platform, for which

1680-498: The prototype's real-world flight performance; during each of these flights, telemetry data was gathered inflight by a specially-equipped Pilatus PC-12 chase plane. The initial prototype is to be used to prove the flight characteristics and performance of the aircraft, while the second prototype, designated as the Advanced Demonstrator (ADM), shall be for testing armaments and mission systems. Advanced flight testing

1722-486: The purpose of operationally representative trials. An improvised trial flight had also been conducted during an outbreak of civil unrest in South Africa. By September 2016, the developers were in the process of building a new assembly line at Wonderboom, this facility is expected to produce the initial two production aircraft in 2017. The Wonderboom factory is to be capable of producing up to two aircraft per month; it

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1764-604: The terms of this agreement, Paramount took control of its facilities located in Isando, Kempton Park. By 2016, the business reportedly has government clients in 28 countries across five continents. along with partnerships with numerous leading international defence and aerospace players. At the time, Paramount Group was organised into four primary business units: maritime, combat systems, aerospace, and advanced technologies. On 20 September 2018, Italian aerospace manufacturer Alenia Aermacchi signed an agreement with Paramount Group for

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