Embraer has announced the sale of up to six A-29 Super Tucano aircraft to Uruguay's Air Force (FAU). The contract, part of a fleet renewal programme aimed at expanding the FAU's operational capacity, includes the acquisition of one aircraft with a commitment to purchase five additional units. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2025 and will include mission equipment, integrated logistics services and a flight simulator.
With this purchase, Uruguay becomes the sixth South American nation to operate the A-29 Super Tucano, joining Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Paraguay. The aircraft is valued for its operational versatility in the region, where it is deployed for various missions, including the control of illegal activities, border monitoring, reconnaissance, and advanced training. A regional fleet of over 160 Super Tucanos currently operates across South America, enduring some of the continent's most challenging environments—from the humid Amazon rainforest to the cold southern regions of Chile, the arid deserts of the north, and the mountainous terrains of Colombia and Ecuador.
Uruguayan Minister of Foreign Affairs Omar Paganini highlighted the significance of the purchase, stating, “Uruguay seeks to strengthen its airspace surveillance and threat response capabilities, and it does so by relying on Brazilian technology, which offers a very suitable platform for these purposes, such as the A-29 Super Tucanos.”
Echoing this sentiment, Uruguayan Minister of National Defence Armando Castaingdebat remarked, “With this addition, we are taking a great leap forward in improving our defence capabilities and responding to the needs of controlling our territorial sovereignty and fighting crime in all its forms.”
