AHRLAC, a joint venture between South Africa's Paramount Group and the Aerospace Development Corporation, began the final assembly of its first production AHRLAC light attack/ISR aircraft on September 19 at its new Wonderboom factory in Pretoria. The aircraft, MSN1, is one of two that will be completed before the end of the year for two separate customers. Both are to be completed in the Mwari ITAR-free armed configuration that is managed and marketed by Paramount. AHRLAC is also offered by Bronco Combat Systems in an ITAR-restricted, U.S.-targeted version known as Bronco II.
As this production milestone was reached, AHRLAC’s two development aircraft were participating in the Africa Aerospace and Defence (AAD) show, which is held biennially at Waterkloof air force base near Pretoria. The pair flew a formation routine. The second aircraft, designated PDM, is a production-representative machine that differs from the first, experimental XDM aircraft by having retractable landing gear, enlarged nose cone for housing sensors such as the Leonardo Osprey radar and electro-optic turrets, Martin-Baker Mk 16 ejection seats, and an onboard oxygen generating system. Between them, the two aircraft have amassed better than 500 flying hours.
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