FlightCom Magazine 21adopt a low-cost jigless construction method
for the aircraft. Moreover, 98% of the parts
are sourced from South Africa, many from
Aerosud and the factory itself.
Instead of designing an aircraft as a
concept and only then wondering how to
create or source the parts and establish
manufacturing processes, Aerosud was able
to design the aircraft from the parts and
processes up. This also enabled a far more
accurate prediction of design tolerances,
costs, and timelines.
Paramount Group, the other major
partner in the AHRLAC programme,
brought with it capabilities that were no less
important. This began with a strong and
innovative product vision that came from
a series of market and design studies they
carried out in 2009, and thereafter a steady
and stable funding stream, without which the
project would not have been possible.
Paramount also has impressive systems
development and integration capabilities,
particularly from its Advanced Technologies
division (formerly ATE), and has therefore
been able to fulfil this crucial role in the
programme. On-board systems, such as
avionics, mission computers, sensors andweapons are a huge part of any military
aircraft, and any new type that either lacks
in those areas, or cannot easily integrate new
capabilities, has no value.
Finally, the company has brought to bear
its impressive marketing skills and experience
gained by selling complete military systems
into a diverse set of markets, from high-tech
developed nations to developing nations on
tight budgets. That there were already twoAHRLAC customers, albeit for smallish
orders, before the first factory brick was laid
is testament to this.
Mention must also be made of
the contribution provided by Incomar
Aeronautics, which was contracted to
provide technical assistance ranging from
control of the test flying programme and the
supply of test pilots (headed by Johannes
Joubert), to model and process verification,
and certification assistance, amongst other
areas.
In short, the AHRLAC programme has
been able to progress as far as it has because
it’s an example of a good partnership, with
each of the companies involved providing a
set of skills and capabilities that the others
generally lacked, along with the quality of
management capable of handling competing
interests when they arose.
It also shows that any country looking
to grow its aerospace sectors should invest
in the upstream skills, in areas like process
engineering, systems engineering, and high
tech component manufacturing, long before
it attempts the big, ambitious and risky
projects.98% of the parts are sourced
from South Africa, many from
Aerosud and the factory itself.
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