The Portuguese Air Force receives its first five A-29 Super Tucano attack aircraft

This Wednesday, December 17, the Portuguese Air Force took an important step in its aircraft renewal program.

Portuguese Air Force shows off its first A-29 Super Tucano attack aircraft
Portugal shows the capabilities of its KC-390 aircraft by carrying a Black Hawk helicopter

The OGMA facilities at the Alverca Military Complex hosted today the official handover ceremony of the first five A-29N Super Tucano aircraft for the Portuguese Air Force. These aircraft will have a dual mission as a close air support system and a training platform for future pilots. The event was attended by the Minister of National Defense, Nuno Melo, and the Chief of Staff of the Portuguese Air Force, General João Cartaxo Alves.

These five aircraft are the first of a fleet of twelve. The A-29Ns are equipped in NATO configuration. Portugal is the first European operator of this model and the first user worldwide of this version. The aircraft will be assigned to the Squadron 101 "Roncos", based in Beja, which has operated 16 Socata TB-30 Epsilon training aircraft since 1989, a French model assembled by OGMA in Portugal.

Regarding the new A-29Ns, General Cartaxo stated: "The formal delivery of these aircraft represents another decisive step in the modernization of the Air Force, reinforcing its robustness and technological capabilities. In addition to replacing pilot training equipment that has been in operation for almost four decades, this acquisition also allows for the strengthening of new capabilities, particularly in close air support in joint or combined operations, guaranteeing the armed protection of ground forces. At the same time, the Air Force reaffirms its position as a leader among its counterparts, operating the first A-29N Super Tucano with NATO configuration, which guarantees Portugal a position of strategic advantage and a return on investment for the national economy."

Minister Nuno Melo highlighted the capabilities of the A-29N: "We are talking about a new, proven air-to-ground attack capability to support deployed national forces. But we are also talking about new scenarios. The Super Tucano now offers the possibility of carrying out anti-drone combat missions, which demonstrates the flexibility of the aircraft chosen by the Air Force. And I emphasize the phrase 'chosen by the Air Force,' with political decisions backed by technical opinions."

In addition to the official delivery of these aircraft, the ceremony also included the signing of a letter of intent to establish an aircraft factory in Beja, capable of manufacturing the A-29N Super Tucano in Portugal, which, according to the Portuguese Air Force, will "generate skilled jobs that will benefit the Portuguese economy and industry. The aircraft produced on this assembly line are intended to meet the future needs of the Portuguese state, as well as other European nations, through intergovernmental negotiations, thus contributing to the strengthening of the defense industrial base in Portugal and Europe."

As we already saw here in July, the A-29N Super Tucano is manufactured by the Brazilian firm Embraer. Its main mission is light attack and counterinsurgency, for which it has Kevlar armor on its cockpit and fuselage. Embraer highlighted today that the Super Tucano has been selected by 22 air forces around the world and has accumulated more than 600,000 flight hours.

Unlike other similar aircraft, such as the Pilatus PC-21 purchased by Spain for the General Air Academy, the A-29 is armed with two internal 12.7 mm FN Herstal machine guns, located in the wings (although the aircraft delivered to Portugal today do not appear to have them mounted), and can carry up to five weapon hardpoints (one ventral and four in the wings), on which it can load up to 1,550 kg of armament, including AIM-9 Sidewinder, MAA-1 Piranha, and Python 4 short-range air-to-air missiles, AGM-65 Maverick guided air-to-surface missiles, Mk.81 and Mk.82 conventional bombs, various types of laser-guided bombs, and 70 mm rocket launchers. It can also carry an AN/AAQ-22 Star Safire II thermal imaging camera.

With this purchase, the Portuguese Air Force not only acquires attack and counter-drone capabilities, but also regains advanced training capabilities, which it has lacked since retiring its 50 Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet A aircraft, purchased secondhand from Germany in 1993. One advantage the new aircraft offers over these types of training jets is that the A-29 "can operate from unpaved runways in hostile environments without infrastructure," as highlighted by Embraer. Furthermore, "the aircraft requires minimal maintenance and offers a high level of reliability, availability, and structural integrity with low life-cycle costs."

P.S.: You can see here the video published by Embraer this Wednesday about the delivery of these aircraft (the video is in Portuguese, you can activate automatic Spanish subtitles in the bottom bar of the player):

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Photos: Força Aérea Portuguesa.