Embraer & SNC conduct inaugural flight of NAF Super Tucano
Embraer and Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) have confirmed that the first A-29 Super Tucano aircraft destined for Nigeria has conducted its inaugural flight.
The aircraft is the first in an order of 12 which will join the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fleet and carry out light attack and ISR missions once entering active service in 2021.
Jackson Schneider, president and CEO of Embraer Defence and Security, said: ‘The Jacksonville production line is active, and Embraer and SNC look forward to seeing these aircraft continue to roll of the line in the coming months.’
The contract was awarded in December 2018 and includes ground training devices, mission planning systems, mission debrief systems, spares and contiguous US interim contractor support and field representatives.
In February 2020, Chief of Air Staff of the NAF confirmed that aircraft serviceability rate had reached 82% compared to just 35% in July 2015.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Air Warfare
-
![Europe risks losing control of CUAS production capacity as manufacturers look abroad]()
Europe risks losing control of CUAS production capacity as manufacturers look abroad
European counter-drone developers are securing early orders in the Middle East while slow domestic acquisition processes threaten to redirect production capacity, expertise and investment away from Europe.
-
![India’s rotary-wing capability gap grows as IMRH programme delays persist]()
India’s rotary-wing capability gap grows as IMRH programme delays persist
With IMRH and DBMRH potentially years from service, India faces a widening rotary-wing capability gap that could drive further foreign purchases even as HAL and Safran build the foundations of an indigenous successor.
-
![AFA 2026: Swarm Aero eyes 2027 Gamera flight as Textron/Merlin reveal SkyCourier UX]()
AFA 2026: Swarm Aero eyes 2027 Gamera flight as Textron/Merlin reveal SkyCourier UX
Two new uncrewed aircraft concepts target very different US military requirements, from massed long-range strike to autonomous logistics. Shephard spoke with executives from Swarm Aero, Textron Aviation and Merlin Labs at this year's AFA Air, Space and Cyber conference to learn more about their capabilities.
-
![US Navy moves EA-18G Growler Block II electronic-attack upgrade into full-rate production]()
US Navy moves EA-18G Growler Block II electronic-attack upgrade into full-rate production
A US$184.25 million contract for Next Generation Electronic Attack Units advances the Growler’s modernisation as the US Navy confronts ageing systems, parts shortages and obsolescence.
-
![Could the next UAS market boom take place beyond the battlefield?]()
Could the next UAS market boom take place beyond the battlefield?
While the headlines remain dominated by the use of drones for combat operations in Ukraine and other conflicts, there are emerging use cases where the technology could usefully feed back into areas and missions outside the war zone.
