PAL Aerospace to equip Mwari with ISR equipment

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PAL Aerospace to equip Mwari with ISR equipment

7:36 CAT | 28 Jun 2023

FILE - For illustration purposes only.At the end of 2021 DR Congo placed an order for six Mwari aircraft units for the Forces Armées de la République Démocratique du Congo, while Mozambique received at least three aircraft a year later. Mozambique’s military is the launch customer for Paramount’s Mwari. [File photo: Paramount]

The Canadian firm will supply intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR)systems for the Mwari aircraft designed by Paramount for Mozambique. Two orders have already been placed with the South African manufacturer, encompassing three aircraft for Mozambique’s military and six for DR Congo’s.

Canadian firm PAL Aerospace has been contracted to integrate intelligence and surveillance systems into Mwari aircraft designed by Paramount. The Mwari is a twin-turboprop aircraft that is used for a variety of missions, including surveillance, reconnaissance, and light attack.

The contract with PAL Aerospace signed this year June, is worth an estimated $10 million and will see the company integrate a number of systems into the Mwari, including a radar, electro-optical/infrared sensor, and communications suite. The upgraded Mwari aircraft will be used by the air forces of Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

At the end of 2021 DR Congo placed an order for six Mwari aircraft units for the Forces Armées de la République Démocratique du Congo, while Mozambique received at least three aircraft a year later. Mozambique’s military is the launch customer for Paramount’s Mwari.

The Mwari is marketed as a relatively inexpensive alternative to high-end military aircraft for surveillance, maritime patrol and counter-insurgency operations. It can also be used for training. The Mwari has been designed to easily perform multiple missions thanks to an innovative Interchangeable Mission Systems Bay (IMSB), located in the belly of the aircraft, providing near-endless sensor and payload options which can be integrated and be swapped out in less than two hours. Open-architecture and flexible systems allows for the quick and low-cost integration of new pods, avionics, cargo, special mission equipment, weapons and sensors.

In March last year, it was revealed that the Mwari light attack and surveillance aircraft will soon be integrated with ISR and weapons systems by South African defence company Paramount for the launch customer.

Pal Aerospace which is the systems integrator, PAL will equip the aircraft with AIMS-ISR software via its subsidiary CarteNav Solutions. The AIMS-ISR software enables users to plan missions with interactive geo-referenced Moving Maps for planning, execution, and review of ISR mission data. It also allows the gathering of important data quickly and accurately with control of primary and secondary mission sensors, including Radar, EO/IR, ViDAR, AIS and more.

Paramount announced in September last year that it has sealed deals with unnamed customers for nine of its Mwari turboprop ISR and light attack aircraft, stating that a total of nine customisable Mwaris were currently on order.

At the time, Paramount Aerospace Industries CEO Mike Levy said that the orders for nine new Mwaris for the two separate air forces represent an important milestone in Paramount Aerospace Industries’ commercial success and has resulted in full serial production of Mwaris at Paramount Group’s Wonderboom National Airport aircraft factory. Paramount Aerospace Industries CEO Mike Levy says the milestone is a “proud moment” for Paramount and Africa’s aerospace industry.

The Mwari has been seen operating in the restive Cabo Delgado region in Mozambique, although, there has been no official statement from Paramount regarding the deployment of the unarmed Mwari to the country.

Pal Aerospace will also provide training and support to the air forces of Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The contract with PAL Aerospace is a significant win for the Canadian company and is a sign of the growing importance of the African market for intelligence and surveillance systems.

The contract with PAL Aerospace is part of a wider trend of African countries investing in intelligence and surveillance capabilities. This is being driven by a number of factors, including the increasing threat of terrorism and the need to monitor borders and natural resources.
Pal Aerospace also operate a Bombardier Dash 8 intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province. PAL Aerospace has been carrying out maritime surveillance flights in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Seychelles since September at the request of the US military’s Africa Command (Africom).

By Sarah Lesedi

Source: Military Africa