Summary

  • Portugal’s Council of Ministers approves acquiring Embraer A-29N Super Tucano for its air force.
  • A-29N offers enhanced features, including single-pilot operations and NATO-compliance.
  • The acquisition will strengthen Portugal’s defense capabilities and enhance its participation in peacekeeping and humanitarian missions.

Portugal is pushing ahead with plans to acquire the Embraer A-29N Super Tucano turboprop. The country’s air force is expected to acquire around a dozen A-29N’s, which have also attracted interest from other nations.

Portugal opts for the Super Tucano

According to a report by AirDataNews, Portugal’s Council of Ministers has given the green light for the Portuguese Air Force to acquire Embraer’s A-29N Super Tucano. This will now pave the way for official negotiations to begin for the turboprop, which has already been chosen by over 15 militaries worldwide.

According to a statement from the Council of Ministers, this will entail “the beginning of technical and negotiating discussions with a view to the eventual acquisition.” At this stage, nothing is official regarding the number of planes to be acquired, but reports suggest Portugal will acquire up to 12.

In April 2023, Embraer revealed it would be offering a new, NATO-compliant version of the A-29, or EMB 314 Super Tucano, called the A-29N, with the ‘N’ standing for NATO. This version of the plane offers additional equipment and features, such as single-pilot operations and a new datalink, enhancing the Super Tucano’s functionality. For example, its added features will enable the turboprop to participate in JTAC (Joint Terminal Attack Controller) training missions and be equipped with virtual, augmented or mixed-reality solutions.

The right fit?

Portugal has allocated over 180 million euros ($195 million) for the acquisition of a new close air support aircraft, and the versatile A-29N is certainly capable of this role. The plane can also be used extensively as a training aircraft and has reconnaissance capability – on top of this, the A-29N is designed specifically with NATO customers in mind.

An Embraer A-29 Super Tucano parked on an airfield.

Photo: ThalesAntonio | Shutterstock

Portugal is also a customer of Embraer’s KC-390 Millenium military transport, placing an order for five of the advanced lifters. The country’s air force currently operates two of the jets, with the second airframe arriving only a couple of weeks ago. Together, the A-29N and KC-390 will not only significantly enhance Portugal’s defensive capabilities, but prove a major asset on peacekeeping and humanitarian missions, particularly around Africa.

Related

Embraer Delivers 2nd KC-390 Millennium Multi-Mission Aircraft To Portuguese Air Force

There are now eight of the versatile military lifters in service globally.

Embraer has strong ties in Portugal, including subsidiary company OGMA. Portugal’s endorsement of the A-29N will likely benefit the Brazilian planemaker, which is eager to secure additional foreign customers. The Netherlands is rumored to be interested in the aircraft, too, while Embraer is said to be close to a deal with the Paraguayan Air Force for six airframes. Embraer’s defense division will be making an appearance at the upcoming Farnborough International Airshow (FIA) later this month, with the A-29N and KC-390 Millennium on display.

Do you think Portugal has made the right choice with the Embraer A-29N Super Tucano? Let us know in the comments section.

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