DefesaNet – Text in Portuguese Link
Santiago, Chile, March 28, 2012 – Embraer Defense and Security disclosed today that it has signed contracts with three African nations for the acquisition of the A-29 Super Tucano light attack and advanced training turboprop. The Burkina Faso Air Force, the first operator of this model in Africa, has already received three aircraft that are used on border patrol missions. The Angola Air Force recently acquired six of this aircraft for the same mission, and the first three will be delivered in 2012. Also, the Air Force of Mauritania chose the A-29 Super Tucano to carry out counter-insurgency missions. The total value of the contracts – including an extensive logistical, training, and replacement parts package – comes to more than USD 180 million.
“The Super Tucano is highly efficient and presents low operating costs. Its capability for surveillance and counter-insurgency missions makes it ideal for service on the continent of Africa,” said Luiz Carlos Aguiar, President, Embraer Defense and Security. “The proof is in the fact that several customers will soon be exercising their purchase rights, and the airplane has awakened the interest of several African nations.”
With these orders, nine air forces have now chosen the A-29 Super Tucano in Latin America, Africa and Southeast Asia, and the aircraft is already operating in six of them. The A-29 Super Tucano is capable of performing a broad range of missions that include light attack, aerial surveillance and interception, and counter-insurgency measures. With more than 130,000 flight hours and over 18,000 combat hours, the A-29 Super Tucano is equipped with the very latest avionics technology, including night vision, Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) system with laser aim, secure communications and data link package, as well as an unequalled weapons capacity, which makes it highly effective and gives the aircraft an excellent cost-benefit ratio.
About the A-29 Super Tucano
The A-29 Super Tucano is the result of a project developed according to the rigorous demands of the Brazilian Air Force (FAB). With more than 150 airplanes delivered, it has proven to be fully compatible with combat operations in complex environments. Besides its reinforced airframe for operating on unpaved landing fields, the airplane has advanced navigation and weapons aiming systems, which ensure high precision and reliability, when using either conventional or smart weapons, even under extreme conditions. The aircraft requires minimum logistical support for continual operations. The A-29 Super Tucano is operating with six air forces, successfully carrying out advanced training, border patrol, light attack, and counter-insurgency missions.
About Embraer Defense and Security
Embraer Defense and Security is a business unit of Embraer S.A., and has accumulated more than 40 years of experience. With its growing presence on the global market, the Company plays a strategic role in Brazil’s defense system by supplying over 70% of the fixed-wing fleet of the Brazilian Air Force (FAB). The product portfolio Embraer Defense and Security includes military airplanes, state-of-the-art radar technologies, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), and advanced information and communications systems, such as Command, Control, Communications, Computer and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) applications. Embraer’s airplanes and military solutions are found in 48 countries, serving more than 50 armed forces. The Company’s line of military aircraft includes the advanced training and light attack Super Tucano turboprop; the Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) family of jets, based on the successful and proven format of the ERJ 145 regional jet; commercial and executive jets that are customized for transporting government officials; the KC-390 military transport and refueling jet, which is currently under development; the modernization of airplanes for the armed forces; integrated logistical solutions for customers; and the advanced Training and Operation Support System (TOSS).
