Paraguayan Air Force receives four A-29 Super Tucano aircraft
Six Super Tucano aircraft were ordered in July 2024, with Paraguay the fifth South American country to add the aircraft to modernise its fleet.
The USAF awarded two countermeasures contracts worth a total of $500 million. (Photo: USN/Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Ian Kinkead)
Armtec Countermeasures and Kilgore Flares are each working to provide the USAF with countermeasure flares under separate $250 million contracts from the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center.
Both companies will provide MJU-75/B magnesium teflon viton (MTV) flares, which equip rotary-wing and fixed-wing aircraft such as the C-130 Hercules, C-17 Globemaster and F-16 Fighting Falcon to protect against IR missiles.
The DoD expects Armtec and Kilgore to complete work on their contracts by March 2027.
MTV flares have been used for decades as a means of countering IR homing missiles. While the latest generation of SAM and air-to-air missiles feature improved seeker countermeasures against MTV flares, these countermeasures remain relevant as there are still many missile systems using older technology.
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Six Super Tucano aircraft were ordered in July 2024, with Paraguay the fifth South American country to add the aircraft to modernise its fleet.
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