Tuesday, August 27, 2024 Embraer announced today the sale of up to six A-29 Super Tucano aircraft to the Uruguayan Air Force, marking a significant expansion in the FAU’s fleet renewal program aimed at enhancing its operational capabilities. The agreement includes the immediate purchase of one aircraft and the option to acquire five more, with delivery commencing in 2025. This package also encompasses mission equipment, integrated logistics support, and a flight simulator.
“We are honored by the decision of the Uruguayan Air Force, another South American nation to choose the A-29 Super Tucano, an aircraft that is a reference in its segment in the international market. With this acquisition, Uruguay will have differentiated capabilities that will greatly contribute to the surveillance of its borders and increase FAU’s operational readiness,” said Bosco da Costa Junior , President and CEO of Embraer Defense & Security. “Uruguay seeks to strengthen its airspace surveillance and threat response capabilities, and it does so rely on Brazilian technology, which proposes a very suitable platform for these purposes, such as the A-29 Super Tucanos,” Uruguayan Minister of Foreign Affairs Omar Paganini said.
“With this addition, we are taking a great leap forward in improving our defense capabilities and responding to the needs of controlling our territorial sovereignty and fighting crime in all its forms,” said Uruguayan Minister of National Defense, Armando Castaingdebat. “It should be noted that since 1981 our country has not acquired new combat aircraft. It is precisely for this reason that the aforementioned purchase of aircraft will generate great motivation and professional satisfaction within the Air Force,” said the Commander in Chief of the Uruguayan Air Force, General Luis H.
De León. This acquisition positions Uruguay as the sixth South American nation to deploy the A-29 Super Tucano, joining Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, and Paraguay. The aircraft is renowned for its versatility, primarily employed for illegal activity control, border surveillance, reconnaissance, and advanced pilot training.
Across South America, over 160 Super Tucanos are currently in operation in diverse and challenging environments, ranging from the Amazon’s humidity to the arid deserts of the north, and from the mountainous terrains of Colombia and Ecuador to both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. Globally, the A-29 Super Tucano leads its class, with more than 260 units ordered and over 570,000 flight hours logged, including 60,000 in combat situations. Its popularity continues to grow among air forces worldwide due to its cost-efficiency, versatility, and comprehensive operational capabilities.
The A-29 Super Tucano is a multi-mission aircraft that excels in a variety of roles, including close air support, air patrol, special operations, and more. It features advanced targeting and weapons systems, robust communications capabilities, and state-of-the-art avionics integrated into a durable airframe designed for rough terrain and minimal infrastructural support. Its straightforward maintenance requirements ensure high reliability, availability, and structural integrity at a reduced life cycle cost.
.
