São Paulo – This Wednesday (28), Embraer announced the signing of contracts for sales of A-29 Super Tucano model aircraft to three African countries: Burkina Faso, Angola and Mauritania. According to the Brazilian manufacturer, the contracts amount to US$ 180 million and include logistics support, training and replacement parts.
Embraer announced in a press statement that the Burkina Faso Air Force has already received three units, and that the Angolan Air Force purchased six aircraft, of which it will receive three in 2012. However, the company would not disclose the number units purchased by the Mauritanian Air Force or the delivery dates. According to Embraer, the information is being kept secret at the buyer’s request. Angola and Burkina Faso will use the aircraft for border surveillance. Mauritania will deploy the units purchased in operations against insurgency.
The aircraft is capable of performing light attack, surveillance and aerial interception operations. After these new contracts, the A-29 Super Tucano will be used by nine different air forces. The model was used by the Colombian government, for instance, in fighting the country’s Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARC).
In late 2011, Embraer won a tender to sell 20 Super Tucano aircraft to the United States Air Force, but the tender was cancelled because the company bidding against Embraer questioned the result.
According to the president of Embraer Defence and Security, Luiz Carlos Aguiar, the aircraft’s capacity to operate in surveillance and counter-insurgency missions make it “ideal” for operations in Africa. “The proof is in the fact that several customers will soon be exercising their purchase rights, and the airplane has awakened the interest of several African nations,” said Aguiar, according to the statement issued by Embraer.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
