Portugal to purchase 12 NATO-configured A-29 Super Tucanos
The A-29N was first announced in 2023 by Embraer. (Photo: Embraer)
The €200 million investment also includes a flight simulator, goods and logistics support and full implementation and sustainment of the A-29N from Embraer.
Portugal has announced that it will invest €200 million (US$209 million) to acquire 12 A-29N Super Tucano aircraft from Embraer.
Announced via a statement from the Portuguese Council of Ministers on 12 December, the investment will also reportedly include a flight simulator and goods and logistics support, as well as full implementation and support of the aircraft.
The procedure to acquire the 12 aircraft will involve “strong participation of the Portuguese industry” with a view to configuring the aircraft “to NATO standards and specifications”, the government added.
Related Articles
Portugal signs contract for five KC-390s
This acquisition of the A29-N aircraft from Embraer means that Portugal will be the first European NATO country to operate the light attack aircraft.
The A-29N was first launched in 2023 by Embraer, with the manufacturer adding that it had already seen interest from “several European countries”. As of 2024, this reportedly amounts to fellow NATO country and C-390 customer the Netherlands, and C-390 customer Austria.
This announcement follows previous discussions between Embraer and the Portuguese government in June 2024, where the latter gave the green light for the start of “technical and business negotiations” to begin.
Portugal is already supported with an Embraer production line via OGMA – a state-owned Embraer-authorised maintenance and manufacturing centre.
In 2019, Portugal announced its intention to acquire five C-390 Millennium aircraft from Embraer. With two aircraft now delivered, OGMA is heavily involved in the manufacturing process of this NATO order, which includes the fuselage centre.
According to CNN, the procedure for acquiring the A-29N aircraft will be similar to that of the C-390 Millennium, with it supporting the A-29N production. In 2023, four Portuguese aeronautical firms signed an MoU with Embraer to develop technologies for the Super Tucano – meaning that Embraer will manufacture the Super Tucano using NATO standards in partnership with OGMA.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Air Warfare
-
![June drone digest: Landmark CCA contract and deep-strike capability flourishes at Eurosatory]()
June drone digest: Landmark CCA contract and deep-strike capability flourishes at Eurosatory
June 2026 saw the landmark acquisition of the first fighter-type Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA), while the month also hosted Eurosatory, which showcased deep-strike capabilities and production deals with the civilian industry.
-
![Rapid APKWS integration sparks “strong” demand from Typhoon customers]()
Rapid APKWS integration sparks “strong” demand from Typhoon customers
The recent operational use and success of the APKWS laser-guidance kit on the UK RAF's Typhoons has driven demand from other Eurofighter customers for integration of the system on their own combat aircraft fleet, according to BAE Systems.
-
![Eurosatory 2026: Wartime iteration gives Ukraine an edge as future UAV exporter]()
Eurosatory 2026: Wartime iteration gives Ukraine an edge as future UAV exporter
As industrial-scale drone production proves its battlefield worth in Ukraine, what happens to that production capacity and knowhow once the guns fall silent – and is Ukraine about to become one of the world’s most credible UAV export partners?
