First public display of AHRLAC Advanced High-performance Reconnaissance Light Aircraft at AAD.

Since the launch of the AHRLAC project in September 2011 the Paramount team has spent 315,000 hours on the design and construction of the first prototype. Of the aircraft's 6,000 parts, 98% were designed using sophisticated CATIA software and produced locally by the engineering team.

In August 2014, the ARHLAC has performed its first public flight at Wonderboom Airport, north of Pretoria. Now Paramount Group is on the way to produce a second prototype of the ARHLAC to test all the weapon systems and sensors which can be mounted on the aircraft. These will include electronic warfare sensors, radars, optronics, anti-tank missiles, rockets and guns.

Developed by Paramount Group and Aerosud, the AHRLAC is the first all-new military aircraft developed in South Africa since the Rooivalk and highlights an impressive level of local expertise in design, engineering and flight qualification.

Now the first prototype of the AHRLAC which is showed at the AAD 2014 defense exhibition is reday to fly between 100 – 200 hours over the next six months to evaluate the AHRLAC’s full flight envelope and handling characteristics and validate the design.

A number of air forces have expressed interest in the aircraft and are in talks with Paramount. The AHRLAC promises to be a cost effective aircraft while still providing the platform and ability to carry surveillance, weapons, radar and electronic warfare systems.

AHRLAC is a compact twin-boom single-engine surveillance and light strike aircraft with a tandem-seated crew of two integrating design concepts from Combat Support Helicopters, Surveillance Platforms and Reconnaissance Aircraft.

It is lightweight, fast and manoeuvrable with an impressive mission loiter time and flexible payloads. It has been specifically designed for both civilian and military tasking including armed reconnaissance, electronic intelligence gathering, anti-terror operations, disaster relief and emergency supply, border control, resource monitoring, anti-poaching, close air support and airborne forward air control. AHRLAC also has the ability to carry a comprehensive weapons suite for specific mission applications.

The Aircraft is designed in such a manner to easily integrate equipment both physically and electronically in a “plug and play” manner.