# US SOCOM selects Bronco II for next stage of Armed Overwatch

- Link: https://www.military.africa/2021/05/us-socom-selects-bronco-ii-for-next-stage-of-armed-overwatch/
- Published: 2021-05-22T08:27:00+01:00
- Author: Sarah Lesedi

Bronco II, the special variant of the South African-made [Ahrlac multi-role aircraft](https://www.military.africa/2021/05/us-socom-selects-bronco-ii-for-next-stage-of-armed-overwatch/military.africa/2016/01/ahrlac-south-africas-deadly-ground-attack-plane)
have been selected by the United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM) to participate
in the Armed Overwatch flight demonstration.

The [Bronco II ](https://www.military.africa/2021/05/us-socom-selects-bronco-ii-for-next-stage-of-armed-overwatch/military.africa/2020/05/bronco-ii-light-attack-aircraft-returns-for-us-special-ops-armed-overwatch-mission)
will compete against the Textron Aviation Defence AT-6E Wolverine, L3 AT-802U Sky
Warden, MAG Aerospace MC-208 Guardian and Sierra Nevada Corporation M28/C-145 Wily
Coyote.

The [Bronco II ](https://www.military.africa/2021/05/us-socom-selects-bronco-ii-for-next-stage-of-armed-overwatch/military.africa/2020/05/bronco-ii-light-attack-aircraft-returns-for-us-special-ops-armed-overwatch-mission)
is being pitched to the United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM) for its
low intensity combat warfare requirements (LICW), under the Armed Overwatch Programme(
AOP).

SOCOM plans to procure 75 cheap aircraft for close air support (CAS), Precision 
airstrikes, and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions to 
support US Special Forces in counter insurgency operations.

![](military.africa/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/images-1.jpeg)

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

According to SOCOM, “The Armed Overwatch acquisition programme aims to provide Special
Operations Forces with deployable, affordable and sustainable manned aircraft systems
capable of executing close-air support, precision strike and armed intelligence,
surveillance and reconnaissance requirements in austere and permissive environments
for use in operations against violent extremist organizations.”

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To clinch the contract, the Ahrlac/Bronco II will have to compete and win against
the AC-208 (armed Cessna Caravan turboprop), M28/C-145 (a new armed version of the
Skytruck twin-engine light transport), AT-802U (armed version of the cropduster)
and AT-6E Wolverine trainer/light attack aircraft.

Although the [Sierra Nevada/Embraer A-29 Super Tucano](https://www.military.africa/2021/05/us-socom-selects-bronco-ii-for-next-stage-of-armed-overwatch/military.africa/2018/12/nigeria-air-force-12-embraer-a-29-super-tucano-light-attack-aircraft-deal-signed)
competed at the early stages, the aircraft failed to make the cut and was removed
from the contest.

SOCOM’s Armed Overwatch programme was halted in November last year, but flight trials
and demostrations have been resumed after a review.

SOCOM budgetted $101 million for the first batch with another $10 million per year
for the next seven years. A May 14 announcement by SOCOM indicates that the command
had also awarded a $19 million five fixed-price prototype project other transaction
agreements (OTAs) to five companies for prototype demonstrations in mid-2021.

Each company will fly four demonstration flights between 14 June and 23 July at 
Eglin Air Force Base in Florida.

If a prototype meets the requirements, the company could be requested to provide
a proposal for a follow-on production award later in 2022.

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Drones are disallowed in the contest on the grounds that they require a larger footprint
than manned aircraft.

Bronco II is a variant of the [Advanced High-Performance Reconnaissance Light Aircraft (AHRLAC),](https://www.military.africa/2021/05/us-socom-selects-bronco-ii-for-next-stage-of-armed-overwatch/military.africa/2016/01/ahrlac-south-africas-deadly-ground-attack-plane?v=65d8f7baa677)
it is a light reconnaissance and counter-insurgency aircraft made by AHRLAC Holdings,
a joint venture between the Paramount Group and Aerosud in South Africa.

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Paramount Group started designing the AHRLAC in 2009, it was later rebranded in 
2018 [in order to market the aircraft to the US Air Force which was seeking to procure light attack aircraft at the time.](https://www.military.africa/2021/05/us-socom-selects-bronco-ii-for-next-stage-of-armed-overwatch/military.africa/2018/03/bronco-ii-south-african-made-mwari-goes-to-the-us?v=65d8f7baa677)

Leidos, Paramount Group USA and Vertex Aerospace collaborated to pursue the Armed
Overwatch contract with the Bronco II intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance(
ISR) and light attack aircraft.

**Leidos** will act as the prime contractor while the US subsidiary of Paramount
Group will serve as the sub-contractor and will provide the Maintenance, Repair,
and Overhaul (MRO), Vertex Aerospace (formerly a business unit of L3 Technologies)
specializes in offering maintenance, life support, aerostructures fabrication, and
aircraft integration services, will also serve as the sub-contractor.  

Under Leidos, the Bronco II will be manufactured in Crestview, Florida, and is designed
to meet the specific needs of US Special Operations Command. Additional partners
for the Bronco II platform include Leonardo DRS, Dynetics, Beast Code, Fulcrum Concepts,
and Concord XXI aviation flight training.

In July 2018, the Mwari ISR and precision ground attack/strike aircraft secured 
its first customer. Paramount Group Executive Chairman Ivor Ichikowitz [announced](https://www.military.africa/2021/05/us-socom-selects-bronco-ii-for-next-stage-of-armed-overwatch/military.africa/2018/07/mwari-secures-first-launch-customer-rolls-off-production-line)
this during a press briefing at the Farnborough International Airshow on 18 July.

however, Paramount Aerospace Holdings, the subsidiary of Paramount Group [reportedly shut down its operations](https://www.military.africa/2021/05/us-socom-selects-bronco-ii-for-next-stage-of-armed-overwatch/military.africa/2019/12/an-industry-in-trouble)
in 2019 due to funding issues.

Although, in July 2018, Paramount Group Executive Chairman Ivor Ichikowitz announced
that the Mwari [has secured a launch customer and has begun rolling off the production line](https://www.military.africa/2021/05/us-socom-selects-bronco-ii-for-next-stage-of-armed-overwatch/military.africa/2018/07/mwari-secures-first-launch-customer-rolls-off-production-line?v=65d8f7baa677),
however, till date the launch customer is still unknown.

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