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Like the classic Bronco, the Mwari can be operated from a simple runway (hard ground or grass) of 550 meters. |
The rise of armed conflicts with low and moderate escalation in third world countries has made the market for turboprop engine aircraft with COIN (Counter Insurgency) qualifications unstoppable.
And regarding the COIN aircraft market, there is news that Paramount Aerospace Industries (part of the Paramount Group) announced that it has obtained customers and orders from several Air Forces for the revolutionary OV-10 distinctive COIN aircraft product, “Mwari”.
According to a press release from this South African manufacturer, there are orders for nine Mwari units. Coinciding with the largest defense exhibition in Africa, the Africa Aerospace & Defense Expo (AAD 2022), Paramount further revealed that deliveries are currently underway, but the manufacturer is keeping the name of the country that bought Mwari secret.
Mwari or known as the Bronco II, carries the shape of the tail wing of the legendary "goal" model typical of the OV-10 Bronco. But other than that, Mwari looks different, as this tiny plane only uses a single engine that is embedded behind the fuselage.
The Mwari engine is entrusted to the Pratt & Whitney PT6-66B engine with 950 PS power. The maximum speed is 504 km per hour, the flight altitude is up to 9,450 meters, while the flight range is up to 2,130 km with an endurance of about 7 hours.
Like the classic Bronco, the Mwari can be operated from a simple runway (hard ground or grass) of 550 meters.
For weapons, Mwari is not "neko-neko," this light aircraft with a maximum weight of 3.8 tons is equipped with an internal 20 mm F2 cannon and there are four wing hardpoints for attaching bombs, rockets and anti-tank missiles. The total payload that can be carried reaches 800 kg.
Apart from military needs, Mwari can also be prepared for the needs of law enforcement, namely as a vehicle for ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) with low operational costs.
For example, it can be used as a vehicle for monitoring and guarding border areas against drug smuggling and illegal migration.
The Mwari, which first flew since 26 July 2014, has been equipped with forward looking infrared (FLIR) cameras, synthetic aperture radars (SAR), and active and passive electronic warfare (EW) systems.
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