South African Paramount’s Mwari COIN aircraft has been integrated with ASELSAN’s ASELFLIR-500 EO/IR system, marking the first foreign platform integration.
The first manned platform integration of ASELFLIR-500 has also become the first foreign platform integration, with the test onboard South African Paramount Group’s Mwari COIN aircraft.
ASELFLIR-500 has been integrated on the Bayraktar TB2 armed UAV, AKINCI UCAV, and ANKA-III stealth UCAV.
ASELFLIR-500, as the successor of CATS, is a medium-sized gimbal EO/IR for UAVs and manned fixed-wing platforms. The system incorporates an HD TV camera, an HD SWIR camera, and an HD MWIR camera for imaging alongside a laser designator with a 35 km range.
Mwari, as a COIN aircraft, adopts large and high-mounted wings for STOL capability and is powered by a PT6-66A turboprop engine providing 950 shp. The aircraft can loiter for up to 10 hours depending on configuration.
With six hardpoints and a payload capacity of 800 to 1000 kg, Mwari can carry Mokopa ATGMs and Mk-81/82 general-purpose bombs.
Author: Kaan Azman
Editor: Özgür Ekşi
