FMS contract sees Sierra Nevada sustain Lebanese Super Tucanos
Lebanese Air Force A-29 Super Tucanos. (Photo: LAF)
Sierra Nevada Corporation will sustain the Lebanese Air Force’s fleet of A-29 (EMB-314) Super Tucano trainer/light attack aircraft under a new two-year contract worth up to $14.02 million.
The sole-source FMS contract, issued by the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, ‘will provide continued support of the six overseas based A-29 aircraft, training devices, mission planning/debrief systems, line replaceable units, alternate mission equipment, ground support equipment, test equipment, commercial technical publications, and associated spares to provide follow-on sustainment’, the DoD announced on 30 September.
Sierra Nevada was among the five main contractors on a $462 million FMS deal in 2015 to provide the Super Tucanos to Lebanon.
The six aircraft arrived in June 2018; Shephard Defence Insight gives an out-of-service date of 2042.
The US State Department describes security assistance for the Lebanese Armed Forces as ‘a key component’ of US policy in the Middle East.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Air Warfare
-
January Drone Digest: MALE, rotary-wing and loitering munition UAVs dominate early 2026
The first month of 2026 has seen activity in the MALE, rotary-wing, and loitering munition UAV markets, with significant investments and commitments from Germany, Turkey, the UAE and the US. At the same time, questions over loitering munition performance in Ukraine highlight the growing scrutiny alongside rising demand.
-
Singapore Airshow 2026: Early adopters and big spenders point to UAV market opportunities
While an estimated $37.99bn is still to be awarded across the Asia-Pacific uncrewed aerial vehicle market, the balance of potential future spending is unevenly split between various countries, with significant opportunities to be found in the collaborative combat aircraft space.
-
Bayraktar TB2: The $4.11 billion market success of a cost-effective MALE UAV
The success of the Bayraktar TB2 stems from it fulfilling a niche of providing reasonable capabilities at a low cost, leading to its acquisition by more than 30 countries including many in Africa; but there are reasons to be cautious about its potential future prospects.
-
Podcast: Critical Care episode 7 - Designing sustainment into the future
Sustainment has long been seen as a downstream concern — something to be managed after procurement. But what happens when you flip that mindset?