Home Aerospace

Mwari secures first launch customer, rolls off production line.

Patrick Kenyette by Patrick Kenyette
July 21, 2018 - Updated on February 3, 2020
in Aerospace
Reading Time: 2 mins read
ADVERTISEMENT
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Paramount Group Mwari

The Mwari ISR and precision ground attack/strike aircraft made by Paramount Group, South Africa has secured a customer. Paramount Group Executive Chairman Ivor Ichikowitz announced this during a press briefing at the Farnborough International Airshow on 18 July.

The South African defense company’s CEO also disclosed that the Mwari have begun rolling off the production line, with the first launch customer to be revealed soon.

ADVERTISEMENT

“We are in an active sales campaign and we are getting excellent customer feedback. More importantly, we are starting negotiations with a number of key players around the world.”

You Might Also Like

Nigeria’s C-130H completes in-house PDM

Belgium delays Chad’s plans to arm it’s Cessna 208 aircraft

USAF KC-135R Stratotanker aircraft in South Africa to enhance partnership

“The system has matured dramatically and we are starting to find use cases for the aircraft that we didn’t originally anticipate.”

Paramount Group is currently offering the Mwari as the Bronco II to the United States which is searching for new planes to fulfill it’s Low Intensity Combat Warfare (LICW) role.

According to Ichikowitz, the unique capability of the Mwari is its modular mission system which allows for a rapid interchangeable components for different mission profiles. This can be done in a few minutes by technicians using basic tools.

Other similar aircraft currently being used for light attack/strike and Reconnaissance missions are re-purposed commercial and trainer aircraft, which would require significant re-engineering process. However, Ichikowitz notes that the Mwari was bourne out of a customer requirement rather than an engineering-driven process. He explains that, Most of our customers could not afford different aeroplanes for different applications.”

As a multi-mission aircraft, the Mwari can undertake a wide range of roles which includes special forces missions that require the rapid finding, fixing, and finishing of targets, as well as pipeline patrol and anti-poaching. The swappable modules allow it to have reconnaissance, intelligence gathering, close air support, training, cargo and light attack capabilities

The Mwari can be packed with a variety of sensors, with the aircraft able to support sensor systems such as the L3 Technologies MX-25. Paramount Group have reported that the Thales Avni infrared linescan unit and Hensoldt Argos II electro-optical nose turret, have also been integrated into the Mwari.

A credible alternative to Western low-cost aircraft,  it can fly for seven hours on internal fuel alone and land on austere airstrips. Despite this capabilities being suited for the African environment, the Mwari is still unable to find a customer in the continent.

Recommended posts

Tags: South Africa

Join 154,765 others in receiving our trusted defence news

Unsubscribe

Related News

Denel G6 Rhino, a South African mine-protected self-propelled howitzer.

Denel Integrated Systems Solutions positions for growth

January 28, 2023
USAF KC-135R Stratotanker aircraft in South Africa to enhance partnership

USAF KC-135R Stratotanker aircraft in South Africa to enhance partnership

January 28, 2023
Paramount Group is now targeting the domestic market is offering the 8×8 Mbombe 8 as an affordable indigenous alternative to the Badger vehicle

Paramount offers Mbombe 8 for South Africa’s uncertain Badger acquisition

January 16, 2023
Funding mars SANDF Cyber Command

Funding mars SANDF Cyber Command

January 13, 2023
ADVERTISEMENT

Facebook

ADVERTISEMENT
en_US
fr_FR ar ru_RU zh_CN tr_TR en_US
en_US English
en_US English
fr_FR Français
ar العربية
ru_RU Русский
zh_CN 简体中文
tr_TR Türkçe