Portugal Becomes First NATO Customer for Embraer’s A-29N Super Tucano
On 16 December 2024, Portugal signed a contract with Brazilian manufacturer Embraer to purchase 12 A-29N Super Tucano aircraft worth around €200 million. The ceremony took place at the OGMA facilities in the presence of the Chief of Staff of the Portuguese Air Force, General João Cartaxo Alves. With this purchase, Portugal becomes the first customer of the new A-29N model.
The A-29N Super Tucano, specially configured for NATO member states, is a new version of the Embraer EMB 314 turboprop light attack aircraft. The base variant is a proven model that has logged more than 570,000 flight hours, including 60,000 hours in combat operations in more than 15 countries.
Embraer stressed that the new Super Tucanos would be equipped with “advanced avionics, NATO-specific communication systems, and other non-disclosed new capabilities” in line with the Portuguese Air Force’s versatile operational needs, such as Advanced Pilot Training, Light Attack, Close Air Support (CAS) and Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions, but did not provide further details.
According to the Portuguese Air Force, the Portuguese industry will work closely with Embraer during the configuration of the A-29N in line with NATO standards. This collaboration will contribute to the development of the Technological and Industrial Defense Base (BTID) and will give Portugal a more visible position in the global aviation industry.
“We would like to thank the Portuguese Ministry of National Defense and Air Force for the trust they place in Embraer solutions. This contract gives us the opportunity to contribute to the modernization of the Portuguese Air Force and to further deepen our strong partnership, paving the way for additional industrial cooperation with the local defense industry,” said Bosco da Costa Junior, President and CEO of Embraer Defense & Security.
The contract includes 12 aircraft, along with flight simulators and spare parts logistics support services; however, neither Embraer nor the Portuguese government has disclosed delivery plans for the Super Tucanos. With the aircraft’s arrival, the Portuguese Air Force will regain advanced training aircraft capabilities that it has been lacking since the retirement of the Alpha Jet in 2018.