As part of the modernization process of its attack aviation, the first three new A-29N Super Tucano aircraft of the Portuguese Air Force arrived at the facilities of the Portuguese company OGMA in Alverca do Ribatejo. These aircraft, recently transferred from Embraer’s plant in Gavião Peixoto (Brazil), constitute the first delivery within the contract signed in December 2024, through which Portugal becomes the launch customer of this version adapted to NATO standards.
The acquisition of the A-29N is included in the 2023 Military Programming Law and forms part of the Close Air Support Program (OCMA). The agreement, valued at 180.5 million euros, covers a total of twelve aircraft that will be assigned to Squadron 103 “Caracóis,” a unit that had lost capabilities after the retirement of the Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet trainers in 2018. With this incorporation, Portugal regains a key platform for advanced pilot training and for carrying out tactical missions in national and international scenarios.
The first three A-29N landed in Portugal just eight months after the signing of the contract, demonstrating Embraer’s speed and flexibility in its production and delivery processes. Once at OGMA, the aircraft will undergo integration of equipment and systems that will allow them to meet NATO’s demanding operational requirements, ensuring their full interoperability in joint operations.
The A-29N Super Tucano is an evolution of the successful model developed by Embraer, with more than 600,000 accumulated flight hours and presence in 22 air forces around the world. Its new variant incorporates V/UHF and SATCOM communication systems, Link 16 datalink, DACAS module, as well as a self-defense suite with electronic alerts and countermeasures. It also features an advanced electro-optical sensor that enables intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions, transmitting real-time video to ground units.
In addition to its proven performance in close air support (CAS), air interdiction, patrol, and advanced training, the A-29N stands out for its ability to operate from unprepared runways and in environments with limited infrastructure. This flexibility, together with its low operating and maintenance costs, makes it a highly efficient option for air forces requiring versatility in multiple missions with a single system.
OGMA, as a key industrial partner in the program, will not only receive and adapt the A-29N, but will also play a fundamental role in systems integration and in expanding technological capacity in Europe. Embraer had already announced an investment of 90 million euros aimed at strengthening the Portuguese facilities, with the goal of tripling their production capacity and consolidating OGMA as a reference center for defense aeronautics in the region.
It is worth noting that the company is also participating in the adaptation of the KC-390 Millennium tactical transport aircraft to NATO standards, an aircraft already in service with the Portuguese Air Force. With the arrival of the first A-29N, the Portuguese Air Force takes a decisive step in the modernization of its aerial assets and in the recovery of lost strategic capabilities.
*Image credits: Embraer
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