Summary
- Embraer and Paraguay confirm deal for 6 A-29 Super Tucano’s worth almost $100 million.
- Deliveries to begin next year as Paraguay modernizes air capabilities with versatile platform.
- Super Tucano excels in training, attack, support missions, with over 260 orders worldwide and counting.
Embraer has announced the sale of six A-29 Super Tucano to the Paraguayan Air Force (FAP). The agreement also includes the provision of support logistics and mission equipment.
Embraer pens deal with Paraguay for six Super Tucano’s
The Brazilian planemaker confirmed the deal at the Farnborough International Airshow (FIA 2024) this week, continuing the A-29 Super Tucano’s hot streak of attracting orders from around the globe. News of the impending deal first emerged in May when Paraguay signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) in a deal valued at almost $100 million, and will also include a simulator and pilot/technician training.
Photo: SERGIO D’LUCIA | Shutterstock
Fabio Caparica, Commercial Vice President for Latin America at Embraer Defense & Security, commented,
“We are honored by the Paraguayan Air Force (FAP) decision and very pleased to be able to announce more A-29 Super Tucano sales, which is a leading aircraft in the international market in its segment. We are confident that the A-29 meets the current and future needs of the FAP.”
Paraguay has been a loyal customer of Embraer in the past, having operated the EMB-312 Tucano and EMB-326 Xavante – in fact, the FAP plans to modernize its current in-service EMB-312 Tucano fleet in a deal with the Brazilian Air Force. The multi-mission light attack Super Tucano will likely see heavy usage in the country’s battle against drug traffickers and has proven itself capable in this role with other regional air forces, including Colombia.
Deliveries start next year
Embraer says the agreement will see the first delivery take place sometime in 2025. According to Air General Júlio Rubén Fullaondo Céspedes, the FAP is in the process of modernizing its air capabilities – with the Super Tucano, it can count on an incredibly versatile platform capable of performing a variety of attack and support missions.
The aircraft is also an excellent training aircraft and is capable of excelling at other roles too, including Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC), armed intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), forward air controller (FAC), air and tactical coordinator (TAC), and air escort, among others.
The plane’s technology includes advanced HMI avionics systems, target identification and weapon systems. It also offers exceptional operational versatility, being capable of flying from unpaved runways in harsh environments, and is also highly cost-efficient in terms of maintenance.
Over 260 orders and counting
The light attack aircraft has now garnered over 260 orders from a wide range of customers and is currently in-service with 16 different countries. Embraer says the Super Tucano has now passed 550,000 flight hours, of which 60,000 of those hours are categorized as in combat.
Photo: moh_bagusov2 | Shutterstock
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The type is currently operated by 16 air forces worldwide.
As Simple Flying reported earlier this month, Portugal will become the first operator of a NATO-configured variant – the A-29N – with plans to acquire up to 12 of the planes. With Embraer having secured plenty of NATO interest for its C-390 Millennium transport – including a recent deal with Austria and the Netherlands – it will hope to bag more European customers for the Super Tucano in the coming years.