The Paraguayan Air Force is close to announcing an order for six A-29 Super Tucano aircraft, from Embraer, as part of its modernization and expansion of its operations.
On Thursday, the country’s president, Santiago Peña, the Brazilian Defense Minister, José Múcio Monteiro, and the CEO of Embraer, Francisco Gomes Neto, met to agree on the US$100 million financing that will be provided by BNDES , the Brazilian state development bank.
Embraer had demonstrated the light attack and advanced training aircraft in February, during the celebrations of the 101st anniversary of the Paraguayan Air Force.
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President Peña was present and even took photos aboard the demonstration Super Tucano.
The country’s government estimates the agreement at US$121.5 million, including the training of eight pilots and 12 maintenance technicians.
Last order in 2021
The A-29s should be used to train pilots who currently fly in six AT-27 Tucanos supplied in 1987 and which are already quite worn out.
Furthermore, the Super Tucano’s border patrol capabilities could be useful in combating drug trafficking in the region.
Embraer is seeking new orders for the aircraft, whose last announced operator was Nigeria, which received the A-29s through the United States government’s Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program.
Last year, the company launched the A-29N, a specific variant for NATO countries, but so far the model has no customers despite Portugal and the Netherlands having been associated with the aircraft.
