A-29s Used In Surveillance And Training
Aero-News learned Wednesday that Embraer recently delivered the
50th A-29 -- the designation given to the Super Tucano trainer by
the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) -- in a ceremony at the
Company’s Gavião Peixoto plant, in Brazil. The event
was attended by civilian and military dignitaries and Embraer
executives.
"With the delivery of the 50th A-29, we are moving ahead with
one more phase of an historic and successful partnership between
the FAB and Embraer," said Luiz Carlos Aguiar, Embraer Executive
Vice President, Defense and Government Market. "By developing the
concept of basic commonality of systems, equipment, symbology and
state-of-the-art interfaces between the A-29, and the jets F-5M and
A-1 (as the AMX is designated by the FAB) that are in the process
of being modernized, the FAB stands out on the world scene. As a
part of these efforts, designing and developing the means for
bringing the concept to life, Embraer is challenged to invest, more
and more, in the Company’s technical and industrial
development, so as to contribute to the evolution of our Air
Force."
The Super Tucano -- together with the Intelligence, Surveillance
and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft EMB 145 AEW&C (Airborne Early
Warning & Control) and the EMB 145 RS/AGS (Remote Sensoring,
Air-to-Ground Surveillance), which are called R-99A and R-99B,
respectively, by the FAB -- forms the aerial segment of the Amazon
Integrated Surveillance System (Sistema de Vigilância da
Amazônia – SIVAM), and also is a part of the basic and
advanced training programs for FAB pilots.
"Putting the A-29 into service with the FAB represents a
technological leap that brought us into the fourth generation of
military aviation," said Aeronautics Commander, FAB General Juniti
Saito. "The delivery of the 50th aircraft represents the
consolidation of one more profitable partnership between the
Brazilian Air Force and Embraer."
Besides the 50 Super Tucano aircraft in action with the FAB,
another 10 Super Tucano planes serve with the Colombian Air Force.
Embraer says the Super Tucano is the only turboprop aircraft
manufactured in the world capable of handling surveillance and
anti-insurgent combat missions, and still be used for training.
The Super Tucano is an evolution of the Tucano basic trainer, of
which around 650 are in service with 15 air forces, worldwide.