São Paulo, Brazil, 30 November 2017 – Embraer announced today a firm order for six A-29 Super Tucano light attack and advanced training aircraft from the Philippine Air Force (PAF). After a comprehensive public bidding process participated by several manufacturers from around the globe and complying with the stringent evaluation processes the Super Tucano was selected as part of the PAF’s ongoing modernization plan. The aircraft will be deployed for close air support, light attack, surveillance, air-to-air interception, and counterinsurgency missions. Deliveries will start in 2019.
“We are honored to be selected by the Philippine Air Force, our second operator in the Asia-Pacific region, and with the confidence expressed by our customer”, said Jackson Schneider, president and CEO of Embraer Defense & Security. “The Super Tucano is the best light attack aircraft in the market and we are confident that it will accomplish with excellence the missions it was selected for”.
The A-29 Super Tucano is a versatile and powerful turboprop aircraft capable of carrying out a wide range of missions, even operating from unimproved runways. To date, the Super Tucano has already been selected by 14 air forces worldwide. Once the delivery of these aircraft is completed, they will be turned over to and maintained by the 15th Strike Wing of the Philippine Air Force on close air support missions, mostly against islamist terrorists and narco-traffickers around the wide archipelago of the country. The 15th Strike Wing is nowadays based in Danilo Atienza Air Base in Cavite; this unit is responsible for air support mostly using ageing Rockwell OV-10 Broncos. <>
