Mirage F1 package acquired by the Paramount Group and Aerosud.

The Paramount Group and Aerosud have announced that they have acquired the full complement of French designed Mirage F1 fighter aircraft from the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).

As part of the deal the Paramount Group and South African based Aerosud have also acquired all the spares and infrastructure to upgrade, maintain and support the aircraft.

According to Ivor Ichikowitz, the executive chairman of Paramount, the group was looking for a world class partner in the aerospace sector that was as committed as they were to retaining the extensive Mirage F1 skills pool and expertise in South Africa - they selected Aerosud.

Aerosud CEO Dr Paul Potgieter says that the alliance is based on the premise that both parties have a vested interest in supporting and growing the South African aviation industry, and expanding its reach into the rest of Africa, the Middle East, South America, and beyond.

The South African Mirage F1 specialization represented by the Aerosud Paramount partnership has a world-class competence to maintain and service the aircraft and Ichikowitz says that there are many years of flying time left in the aircraft, using African technical expertise.

As a result of this alliance Paramount has now extended their offering from land-based solutions to the complex area of aviation-related systems. The alliance is already paying dividends with one deal concluded and aircraft delivered to the first client, and several more deals in the pipeline.