São Paulo – This Monday (22nd), the Brazilian aircraft manufacturing company Embraer announced that it delivered A-29 Super Tucano military aircraft units to the Mauritanian Air Force. The aircraft were delivered last Friday (19th) at Embraer’s base in Gavião Peixoto, São Paulo. The units will be deployed in border surveillance missions. A clause in the contract prohibits disclosure of how many units have been delivered, how many were ordered, and for what price.
In March, upon announcing the sale of the A-29 Super Tucano to Mauritania, Embraer also revealed that it has signed sales contracts with the air forces of Burkina Faso, which has already received three units, and Angola, which has ordered six A-29 Super Tucano units and should receive three this year. Just like Mauritania, Angola and Burkina Faso have also informed that they will use the aircraft in border surveillance missions.
At the ceremony in which the aircraft were delivered to Mauritania, the president of Embraer Defence and Security, Luiz Carlos Aguiar, stated that the A-29 Super Tucano is “eliciting great interest” from African countries because it boasts low operational costs, is efficient, and proven in combat situations.
According to an Embraer press statement, the A-29 Super Tucano is already in use by the air forces of Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Dominican Republic, Burkina Faso and Indonesia. This turbo-propeller aircraft is capable of performing light attack operations, counter-insurgence and aerial interception. The aircraft can be equipped with various weapons, including 70 mm rocket launchers, air-to-air missiles, and laser-guided bombs. The A-29 Super Tucano can also land on unpaved strips.
In addition to the orders confirmed, Embraer is attempting to sell 20 units of the A-29 to the United States Air Force. In late 2011, the Brazilian company won a tender to supply the aircraft to the country. The losing company questioned the result, which led to the order being cancelled. In July this year, the Brazilians delivered a new proposal to the United States Air Force, but the result of the dispute should only be announced in January.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
