A-29s Used In Surveillance And Training

Aero-News learned Wednesday that Embraer recently delivered the 50th A-29 -- the designation given to the Super Tucano trainer by the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) -- in a ceremony  at the Company’s Gavião Peixoto plant, in Brazil. The event was attended by civilian and military dignitaries and Embraer executives.

"With the delivery of the 50th A-29, we are moving ahead with one more phase of an historic and successful partnership between the FAB and Embraer," said Luiz Carlos Aguiar, Embraer Executive Vice President, Defense and Government Market. "By developing the concept of basic commonality of systems, equipment, symbology and state-of-the-art interfaces between the A-29, and the jets F-5M and A-1 (as the AMX is designated by the FAB) that are in the process of being modernized, the FAB stands out on the world scene. As a part of these efforts, designing and developing the means for bringing the concept to life, Embraer is challenged to invest, more and more, in the Company’s technical and industrial development, so as to contribute to the evolution of our Air Force."

The Super Tucano -- together with the Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft EMB 145 AEW&C (Airborne Early Warning & Control) and the EMB 145 RS/AGS (Remote Sensoring, Air-to-Ground Surveillance), which are called R-99A and R-99B, respectively, by the FAB -- forms the aerial segment of the Amazon Integrated Surveillance System (Sistema de Vigilância da Amazônia – SIVAM), and also is a part of the basic and advanced training programs for FAB pilots.

"Putting the A-29 into service with the FAB represents a technological leap that brought us into the fourth generation of military aviation," said Aeronautics Commander, FAB General Juniti Saito. "The delivery of the 50th aircraft represents the consolidation of one more profitable partnership between the Brazilian Air Force and Embraer."

Besides the 50 Super Tucano aircraft in action with the FAB, another 10 Super Tucano planes serve with the Colombian Air Force. Embraer says the Super Tucano is the only turboprop aircraft manufactured in the world capable of handling surveillance and anti-insurgent combat missions, and still be used for training.

The Super Tucano is an evolution of the Tucano basic trainer, of which around 650 are in service with 15 air forces, worldwide.

FMI: www.embraer.com, www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/brazil/airforce.htm