After years of searching for a new combat aircraft, Uruguay chose its new vector this week: the Embraer A-29 Super Tucano. The acquisition of Brazilian turboprops was confirmed to senators by Defense Minister Armando Castaingdebat on Monday (08).
According to El Pais, there will be six EMB-314 aircraft, in a purchase valued at US$100 million, financed over a period of between 10 and 15 years. Speaking to the Senate's National Defense Committee, Castaingdebat said that the arrival of the Super Tucano would be a "before and after" for the Uruguayan Air Force (FAU), in what is a “policy of attempting to shield the Uruguayan border.”
Although Embraer has not yet confirmed the negotiations, it is good news for and empresa, which has gained more customers in the military sector with the KC-390 tactical freighter. Just last week, the Portuguese government authorized the start of negotiations for the purchase of the A-29, marking a possible entry of the turboprop into Europe and NATO.
If completed, it will be the country's first purchase of military aircraft since 1981. According to the survey World Air Forces 2024, the FAU fleet is made up of 40 planes and helicopters. The country's main combat platform is the Cessna A-37 Dragonfly, a ground attack version of the T-37 Tweet trainer. At least seven planes are still with the FAU, although sources indicate that only two are in flying condition.
These are veteran aircraft and Montevideo has been looking for replacements for around 20 years, but the country's low budget poses difficulties. Several models were evaluated, including South Korea's lightweight supersonic T-50 Golden Eagle and Italy's M346 Master jet trainer. Now, Uruguay appears to have dropped the hammer, selecting a proven platform.
Operated by 17 countries, the A-29 Super Tucano is the brand leader in its category. An evolution of another Embraer success, the EMB-312 Tucano, the A-29 carries out missions such as armed reconnaissance, ground attack, surveillance and border protection and training fighter pilots.
Armed with a pair of .50 machine guns and capable of using smart weapons, the turboprop has already been used in combat in South America, Africa and the Middle East. Its main is Brazil, which acquired almost 100 aircraft as part of a broad modernization of the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) in the 2000s. In addition to operational tasks, the FAB also uses the Super Tucano in the Esquadrilha da Fumaça, its demonstration team aerial.
