Ahrlac - Reconnaissance Aircraft

The Advanced High-Performance Reconnaissance Light Aircraft (AHRLAC) is a revolutionary new South African-designed and developed aircraft, destined for a significant role in a wide range of civilian and military tasks around the world.

Click here for the AHRLAC Fact Sheet

Click here for the AHRLAC Technical Specification Document

Developed by Africa’s largest privately held defence company, Paramount Group, and aeronautical engineering and manufacturing experts Aerosud, AHRLAC is set to take the aviation market by storm, challenging dominant Western manufacturers with its low acquisition cost, reduced requirement for maintenance support and extensive operational capabilities.

AHRLAC offers a highly flexible form of “clip-on-clip-off” payload system which enables it to be transformed quickly between operational roles. It can stay in the air for seven to 10 hours, making it the ideal solution for patrolling large land areas, borders and oceans.

The two-crew aircraft can carry out a wide range of operations including surveillance, policing, border/coastal patrol and anti-smuggling; armed patrol and counter insurgency operations; disaster relief and emergency supply to remote areas; and intelligence gathering.

Key features of AHRLAC include:

Compact size
High wing for crew visibility and better field operation
Low purchase and operation costs
Simplified logistic support
High cruise and dash speeds (maximum cruise speed is 300 knots)
Payload capacity in excess of 800kg with full fuel and two crew
Large operating range (1 150 nautical miles on internal fuel)• Short Take-Off and Landing (STOL) capability, including from unprepared landing grounds, with a take-off distance 550m with full payload
Self-protection counter measures
Optional ejection seats
Light attack capability with 20mmm cannon, rocket pods and beyond visual range air-to-air and air-to ground missiles across four to six wing hard points