Portuguese Air Force shows off its first A-29 Super Tucano attack aircraft

Small single-engine turboprop aircraft are filling a growing gap in the military aviation market.

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Europe is no exception to this process. So far, Spain, France, and Switzerland have adopted aircraft of this type —the Pilatus PC-21— as advanced trainers. Poland has also had a very similar aircraft, the domestically produced PZL-130 Orlik, for training its future military pilots since 1994. Germany and Greece, in turn, opted for an American model, the Beechcraft T-6 Texan II, for these missions.

Portugal will soon join that group of countries, but with a difference. In December 2024, the Portuguese government announced the purchase of 12 Embraer A-29N Super Tucano aircraft for the Portuguese Air Force (FAP). This Brazilian-made aircraft can be used as an advanced trainer, but its primary role is light attack and counterinsurgency, for which it features Kevlar armor on its cockpit and fuselage.

The FAP has not had any advanced training aircraft since it retired its 50 Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet As, aircraft purchased second-hand from Germany in 1993. Yesterday, the FAP published a news item on its website showing its first Super Tucano: "Still in the skies of Brazil and before heading to Portugal, the third KC-390 aircraft performed a flight alongside what would become the first Portuguese A-29N Super Tucano, both aircraft manufactured by Embraer."

The FAP adds the following: "The acquisition of 12 A-29N Super Tucano aircraft was formalized at the end of last year, and delivery of the first units is expected at the end of this year. The A-29N, which has just begun its flight test campaign, is a robust platform, proven in real operations, especially suitable for close close air support, reconnaissance and surveillance, advanced pilot training and special operations missions. This new version incorporates systems compatible with NATO standards and configurations adapted to the requirements of the Air Force."

The A-29N variant is the first Super Tucano built by Embraer in a NATO configuration (the N stands for NATO), specifically with the aircraft being sold to Portugal. On Thursday, July 17, " rel="noopener" target="_blank">Embraer noted: "The A-29N Super Tucano variant will feature advanced avionics, NATO-specific communication systems, and other undisclosed capabilities tailored to meet NATO’s operational needs."

La empresa brasileña señala que estos aviones pueden cubrir misiones de "close air support, air patrol, special operations, interdiction, JTAC, forward air control (FAC), tactical coordination (TAC), armed ISR, border surveillance, reconnaissance, escort, and training at all levels – from basic to advanced, including transition to air superiority fighters and JTAC/LIFT and FAC training".

Likewise, Embraer has highlighted: "Recently, the global A-29 fleet surpassed 600,000 flight hours. With over 290 units ordered, the A-29 has already been selected by 22 air forces worldwide. " The Super Tucano is a development of the EMB-312 Tucano, designed by the Hungarian engineer Joseph Kóvacs (1926-2019) and which made its first flight on August 16, 1980. Embraer manufactured a total of 637 Tucanos, mostly (133) for the Brazilian Air Force, which has been using it as a training and light attack aircraft.

Embraer began developing the Super Tucano in the 1990s as a helicopter hunter. This aircraft is designed for larger areas of the Amazon rainforest, which require aircraft capable of flying at low altitudes, operating on unprepared airfields, with low fuel consumption and long endurance. The A-29Ns could be especially useful for Portugal in the country's missions in Africa, where Portuguese forces often undertake counterinsurgency missions with no air support other than helicopters. It should be noted that the Super Tucano has already been selected by the US Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) as a special operations aircraft, with between three and six units delivered by 2021.

The Super Tucano can reach a speed of 590 km/h (360 mph), with a range of 1,330 km (830 mi) and a service ceiling of 10,668 meters (35,000 ft). It's a fairly maneuverable aircraft for a turboprop, capable of maneuvers between -3.5 and 7 G.

In terms of armament, it carries two internal 12.7 mm FN Herstal machine guns located in the wings and has five weapon racks (one ventral and four in the wings), and can carry 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 also 70 mm rocket launchers. Among its additional systems, the Super Tucano can carry an AN/AAQ-22 Star Safire II thermal imaging camera. An excellent light attack and counterinsurgency platform, certainly.

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Images: Força Aérea Portuguesa / Embraer.