One of the greatest successes of the Brazilian aeronautical industry, the Embraer A-29 Super Tucano reached a historic milestone. The global combat turboprop fleet reached 550.000 flight hours, Embraer announced this Tuesday (26). Developed based on the needs of the Brazilian Air Force, the EMB-314 (as it is designated by Embraer) became the company's main military product. manufacturer.
The A-29 is operated in 15 different nations and has seen combat in Colombia, Afghanistan and the African continent, where it has proven to be a versatile, robust and reliable attack platform, accumulating 60 combat flight hours.
The global fleet of #A29 #SuperTucano reached the milestone of 550 thousand flight hours. If it's proven where it counts, it's the A-29 Super Tucano.#WeAreEmbraer #Embraer Stories pic.twitter.com/MZNHP6Imv7
- Embraer (@embraer) September 26, 2023
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Organically it is armed with a pair of .3 caliber FN M50P machine guns, installed in the wings. It has five hard points for loading conventional or intelligent weapons including bombs, missiles and rockets. It can also receive a FLIR station for ground reconnaissance/observation and weapons guidance.
The Super Tucano made its first flight in 1999 and entered into operation with the FAB five years later. So far, more than 260 units have been produced and the model remains competitive in the market.
in april to Embraer announced the A-29N, a variant that will be developed especially for NATO countries, a military alliance led by the United States (country that has also purchased the Brazilian turboprop). Portugal, which is interested in the model, could be the Super Tucano's first customer in Europe.
Months later, Embraer and FAB, who developed the Super Tucano together, announced the g of a Memorandum of Understanding, initiating studies for the modernization of the Brazilian A-29 fleet. The aircraft is currently used in the country to train new fighter pilots, airspace surveillance and defense and aerial demonstrations with the Esquadrilha da Fumaça.
