India, Uruguay are one step closer to buying Embraer Super Tucano

Embraer A-29N Super Tucano loaded with Paveway laser-guided bombs.

The Brazilian defense company Embraer is gradually establishing itself on the military aircraft market after several new orders and new contracts being finalized. Having placed the new C-390 transport aircraft in Austria, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic and South Korea, Embrar is currently in advanced negotiations with two nations for the Super Tucano trainer-light combat aircraft.

As confirmed at the end of June by Portuguese Defense Minister Nuno Melo, the Portuguese Air Force (Força Aérea Portuguesa, FAP) is close to acquiring the A-29N Super Tucano. The purchase of the aircraft is being approved by the Portuguese court.

Embraer offered Portugal the A-29N which is a version of the Super Tucano with systems adapted for NATO countries. If the order is finalized, Portugal will become Super Tucano's first customer in Europe. The FAP has planned to deploy the new A-29Ns within Esquadra 103 Caracóis, thus resuming its pilot training operations that had been suspended after the Alpha Jet's withdrawal in 2018. We first posted about this possible deal in November 2020.

In addition to Portugal, the Government of Uruguay confirmed in recent days that it has officially started negotiations with Embraer for the supply of six A-29 Super Tucano aircraft. The Government of Montevideo has planned to allocate 100 million dollars to cover the purchase of aircraft, spare parts and initial training and support services.

The Uruguayan Air Force (Fuerza Aérea Uruguaya, FAU) currently has seven Cessna A-37B Dragonfly aircraft in service out of the fifteen initially introduced. The new Super Tucanos will support the A-37B fleet in close air support, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR) and COIN (COunter-INsurgency) operations.

Written by Matteo Sanzani

Image: Embraer