After receiving its first five units between August and November, the Portuguese Air Force (FAP) officially inducted its new Embraer A-29N Super Tucano light attack aircraft on December 17. The delivery ceremony was held at OGMA’s facilities in Alverca do Ribatejo and was attended by the Minister of National Defense, Nuno Melo, and the Chief of the Air Force General Staff, General João Cartaxo Alves, marking a new milestone in the modernization of Portuguese combat aviation.
The official event marked the delivery of the first examples of the A-29N model, a version adapted to NATO standards that will allow Portugal to recover capabilities in advanced training and close air support. In this way, the FAP will begin operations with the first batch of a total of twelve aircraft ordered in December 2024, positioning the country as the first European operator of this aircraft and the first worldwide to introduce the specific A-29N configuration.
The Portuguese Air Force had received its first three aircraft on August 31, 2025, following a transatlantic flight from Brazil that included stopovers in Recife, Fernando de Noronha, Cape Verde, and the Canary Islands. Two additional units arrived on November 8, completing the first five deliveries prior to the official induction. All aircraft were transferred to OGMA’s facilities for the integration of equipment and systems compatible with NATO’s demanding interoperability requirements.
During the ceremony, General João Cartaxo Alves highlighted that the arrival of the A-29N represents “another decisive step in the modernization of the Air Force, strengthening its robustness and technological capability.” He also noted that these aircraft will replace training systems with nearly four decades of service, while enabling the development of new tactical capabilities, particularly in close air support and combined missions with ground forces.
For his part, Minister Nuno Melo emphasized that the Super Tucano incorporates “a new, proven ground-attack air capability to support National Deployed Forces,” in addition to offering the ability to conduct counter-drone combat missions, demonstrating the versatility of the selected model. In his remarks, he also stated that the choice of the A-29N reflects a balance between political decisions and technical criteria, ensuring operational effectiveness and economic returns for the national industry.
As part of the same event, a letter of intent was signed for the installation of an aircraft manufacturing plant in Beja, which will enable the production of A-29N Super Tucano aircraft in Portugal. This project, driven by Embraer and OGMA, aims to strengthen the defense industrial base, positioning Portugal as a regional hub for the production and maintenance of light attack aircraft for potential European customers.
The A-29N Super Tucano, an evolution of the model developed by Embraer, has accumulated more than 600,000 flight hours and is in service with 22 air forces. Its new version incorporates SATCOM and Link 16 communications systems, a DACAS module, a self-protection suite, and advanced electro-optical sensors. These features provide high operational flexibility, allowing operations from unprepared runways and the execution of reconnaissance, training, or combat missions at low operating costs. In the coming days, the new A-29Ns will be transferred to Air Base No. 11 in Beja for assignment to Squadron 101 “Roncos,” thus consolidating Portugal’s return to the light attack and close air support segment.
Image credits: Portuguese Air Force.
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