As part of efforts to restore technical-military cooperation with the United States and regain access to U.S.-origin military equipment and materiel, the Uruguayan government has announced it will move forward with modifications to its controversial “Shoot-Down Law,” in effect since 2020. The initiative responds to objections raised by Washington, which has long maintained that Uruguay’s aerospace control legislation contradicts international civil aviation agreements—such as the Montreal Protocol—by allowing for the potential shootdown of aircraft suspected of illicit activity.
The suspension of cooperation by the U.S. has had direct consequences for the Uruguayan Air Force’s capabilities, particularly regarding the maintenance of its Cessna A-37B Dragonfly attack aircraft—decades-old assets that require constant servicing and are currently non-operational. On this matter, Minister of National Defense Sandra Lazo confirmed that the Executive Branch plans to amend the regulation “by decree” before the end of the year, thus addressing the contentious points. She stated: “We’re not talking about repealing the law. It needs to be amended; it’s a matter of terminology. Once that’s resolved, there’s no issue.”
The so-called “Shoot-Down Law” was enacted during the administration of Luis Lacalle Pou as part of the Urgent Consideration Law (LUC). It established a protocol for intercepting, identifying, and—if necessary—neutralizing aircraft violating national airspace. Although the protocol has been activated at least 13 times since the law came into effect, the shootdown phase has never been carried out. In this regard, Lazo emphasized that less extreme alternatives now exist: “Today, you can escort an unidentified aircraft and invite it to leave without needing to shoot it down.”
The opposition rejected the Executive’s decision and questioned what it sees as a loss of national sovereignty. Senator Javier García of the National Party and former Minister of Defense argued that the move constitutes capitulation to external pressure: “Changing the so-called shootdown law at the request of the U.S., as Minister Lazo announced, is unprecedented. […] Allowing the U.S. to have veto power over Uruguay is unacceptable.” He warned that removing the shootdown option could weaken the fight against drug trafficking: “Drug traffickers will be applauding. We’re handing them the sky as their official transit route—here, they can’t be shot down. In Brazil, yes; in Uruguay, no. Which country will they use?” he posted on social media.
The government, however, insists that the decision is based solely on legal and technical considerations. “Uruguay is a signatory to the Montreal Protocol, which sets clear rules for civil aviation. We adhere to and signed that agreement. This law contradicts it,” Lazo stated in a televised interview. She also emphasized that the Air Force has already proven it can act effectively without resorting to force: “There have been multiple successful interceptions without a single shot fired,” she said, adding, “This is not political or ideological—it’s strictly a matter of legality.”
In parallel with the legal changes, the Uruguayan Air Force will receive six new A-29 Super Tucano aircraft from Embraer. The first two are expected to arrive in 2025. Their arrival will allow the gradual retirement of the A-37B Dragonfly fleet, which—despite being in a different category as a jet-powered attack aircraft capable of aerial refueling and carrying a heavier weapons load—now faces severe logistical issues due to reliance on restricted U.S.-made components. In contrast, the A-29 Super Tucano is a turboprop aircraft equipped with advanced avionics, electro-optical sensors, and capabilities for COIN (counterinsurgency) and ISR (intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance) missions.
*Images used for illustrative purposes only.
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