Embraer announced today the sale of up to six A-29 Super Tucano aircrafts to the Uruguayan Air Force (FAU). The contract, which is part of a fleet renewal program to expand the FAU’s operational capacity, includes the purchase of one aircraft plus a commitment to acquire five additional units, with deliveries scheduled to begin in 2025, including mission equipment, integrated logistics services and a flight simulator. Negotiations for this purchase had already been announced last month by Uruguay’s Minister of Defense, Armando Castaingdebat.
With this order, Uruguay becomes the sixth nation to operate the A-29 Super Tucano in South America, along with Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Paraguay. Due to its operational flexibility in the South American region, the aircraft is used for a variety of missions, mainly for control of illegal activities, border monitoring, reconnaissance and advanced training. A regional fleet of more than 160 Super Tucanos operates in the most austere and demanding environments in South America, from the hot and humid Amazon jungle, the cold regions of southern Chile to the desert heat further north, from the mountainous regions of Colombia and Ecuador to the Atlantic and Pacific coasts.
“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..
“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.
The Super Tucano, a popular choice
The A-29 Super Tucano is a light combat aircraft that has proven to be versatile and efficient in a variety of missions, from training to combat operations. With more than 260 units sold and accounting for 570,000 flight hours (of which 60,000 are in combat), it has earned a solid reputation in the industry.
This aircraft stands out for its ability to operate in a wide range of environments, from jungles to deserts, and its ease of maintenance. In addition, it has advanced avionics and weapons systems that enable it to perform tasks such as surveillance, reconnaissance, ground attack and close air support. Its robust design and ability to operate from unpaved runways make it ideal for missions in remote areas.
Thanks to these features, the Super Tucano has become a popular choice for air forces around the world looking for a cost-effective, multipurpose platform. According to Embraer, the aircraft proved to be an effective tool for missions such as:
- close air support,
- air patrol,
- special operations,
- air interdiction,
- JTAC,
- forward air controller (FAC),
- air and tactical coordinator (TAC),
- armed ISR,
- border surveillance,
- reconnaissance,
- air escort,
- basic, operational and advanced training,
- transition to air superiority fighters,
- JTAC/LIFT and FAC training.
