In a significant step toward expanding its presence in the European military market, Embraer has officially confirmed the maiden flight of the new variant of its Super Tucano attack aircraft, which is set to equip the Portuguese Air Force in the near future. This milestone for the Brazilian company also coincided with the official delivery of the third KC-390 Millennium to the institution.
Officially designated as the A-29N and first unveiled at the 2023 edition of the LAAD defense fair, this variant of the Brazilian aircraft has been designed to meet the operational requirements of potential NATO operators, with the Portuguese Air Force serving as its launch customer.
The acquisition is part of the Close Air Support Program (OCMA, in Portuguese), included in the 2023 Military Programming Law (LPM), and involves the purchase of a total of twelve (12) aircraft through an investment of €180.5 million.
The new A-29Ns will be assigned to Squadron 103 “Caracóis,” filling the capability gap left by the retirement of the Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jets in 2018. These aircraft will be used for a variety of missions, including advanced training, close air support (CAS), intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR), and joint terminal attack controller (JTAC) training.
The first test flight, confirmed by Embraer today, July 17, marks the official start of the flight test campaign for the new A-29N. It also coincides with the delivery of the third KC-390 to the Portuguese Air Force, which has additionally expanded its original order of five aircraft by confirming the purchase of one more unit.
“We are extremely proud to make a significant contribution to strengthening the operational capabilities of the Portuguese Air Force with the KC-390 and the A-29N. This delivery and joint flight are important milestones that reflect our commitment to supporting Portugal’s defense with efficient and innovative solutions, always grounded in our strong and enduring partnership,” said Bosco da Costa Junior, President and CEO of Embraer Defense & Security.
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