Sixth African country signs for Super Tucano
The order is for four aircraft. (Photo: Embraer)
The order comes on top of other countries ordering aircraft in 2024, specifically Portugal, Uruguay and Paraguay.
Embraer has closed out the year with another order for its A-29 Super Tucano light attack and advanced trainer aircraft, this time to an undisclosed customer on the African continent.
The order is for four aircraft and the country joins five others in Africa. The value of the contract was not disclosed but unit price is likely to be US$13–$16 million per aircraft depending on ancillaries, supports and services included in the contract.
According to the company: “These aircraft will perform a wide spectrum of missions such as border surveillance, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), close air support, counterinsurgency and advanced flight training.”
There have been more than 290 A-29s ordered and according to the company these aircraft have completed more than 570,000 flight hours and 60,000 of those hours have been in combat.
In 2024, Embraer announced new sales of the Super Tucano to the Portuguese Air Force (A-29N), the Uruguayan Air Force and the Paraguayan Air Force.
In December 2024, Portugal announced that it would invest €200 million (US$209 million) to acquire 12 A-29Ns.
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 company previously announced the sale of six Super Tucanos to the Paraguayan Air Force in July 2024 at the Farnborough International Airshow. Deliveries are expected to begin in 2025 with the price tag estimated to be around US$100 million.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Air Warfare
-
![Attack drones versus CUAS – the future of warfare or just another trend?]()
Attack drones versus CUAS – the future of warfare or just another trend?
Demand signals for counter-drone technology are strong and the market is becoming crowded, but is this really the beginning of a new phase of warfare or will commentators be talking about something else 10 years from now?
-
![The 2020s: a decade of UAV spending growth]()
The 2020s: a decade of UAV spending growth
Total annual drone spending has increased nearly sixfold since the start of the decade, from $2.9 billion in 2020 to $16.3 billion in 2028, with Europe leading the rise.
-
![July drone digest: Sovereign production takes centre stage at Farnborough]()
July drone digest: Sovereign production takes centre stage at Farnborough
Farnborough International Airshow (FIA) 2026 revealed the growing scale of the UK’s uncrewed ambitions, with companies showcasing new CCA, autonomous wingmen and surveillance drones, while sovereign production emerged as a key factor for multiple programmes.
