As Military News reported a few months agoon July 4, the Portuguese Council of Ministers decided in a resolution communiqué to hold technical talks on the acquisition of A-29N Super Tucano aircraft from Embraer . The talks have now been successfully concluded – Portugal will purchase a total of twelve of the turboprop fighter trainer.
An official statement says: “The procurement will lead to a strong participation of the Portuguese industry on a technological level.” This probably refers to the OGMA plant in Alverca (of which Embraer holds 65 percent); the contract also includes training and maintenance services and logistics support services from Embraer there, as well as the design and development of the NATO-specific configuration (hence the letter “N” in the type designation).
In the future, OGMA will also be the “hub” for any other NATO and EU user countries, should such countries be added – which EMBRAER is working on. However, reports of a production line at OGMA are – at least for the time being – inaccurate.
The process of “NATOfizing” is similar to the procedure for the C-390M, a transport aircraft manufactured by Embraer in Brazil, which, as is well known, was also chosen by the Austrian Armed Forces in a joint procurement process with the Netherlands. the Austrian Armed Forces also opted for in a joint procurement process with the Netherlands. Following production, modifications will be made in Europe to adapt the aircraft to the specific requirements of alliances such as NATO and the EU. This involves alliance communication systems, for example, and the corresponding adaptations cannot be made in Brazil. For non-NATO member Austria, this work on the C-390M is carried out by Fokker in the Netherlands.
The comeback of machine guns in the wings
The A-29 Super Tucano is a versatile, cost-effective system designed specifically for operations in low threat environments. It can carry a wide range of weapons, including precision-guided munitions. According to the manufacturer, Portugal has decided to equip the aircraft with two .50 caliber (12.7 millimeter) super-heavy machine guns in the wings. The fully integrated weapon management system (SMS) is designed to manage five NATO standard external load stations and offers flexibility for up to 160 external load combinations. However, it should be noted that the weapons must be procured separately by the customer.
The A-29 (without NATO certification) is currently in service in 15 countries. Its robust design is specially designed for longevity and operations in harsh conditions, with low maintenance requirements. The aircraft can be operated on unpaved runways and offers high survivability thanks to active and passive protection systems such as radar warning receivers, missile proximity warning systems and automated decoy launchers. The intuitive controls allow pilots to concentrate fully on the mission, while armored cockpit sides and a protected engine compartment provide additional protection. The modern on-board systems include a gimbal with electro-optical and infrared sensors, an integrated laser marker for precise close air support and secure tactical communication and navigation systems. https://militaeraktuell.at/elbit-selbstschutzsysteme-bundesheer-c-390m/ In spring 2023, representatives of the LTA department of the Armaments Directorate visited the LAAD defense fair (-> Impressions of the LAAD Defense & Security 2023) visited the Embraer plant in Gavião Peixoto (São Paulo state). Like the author, they were shown the production line for the C-390M and the A-29 Super Tucano. This demonstration obviously met with interest – probably also with a view to a possible successor to the PC-7 aircraft of the army.
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