Panama signs deal for Embraer Super Tucano aircraft

Embraer and Panama have finalised a contract for the purchase of four A-29 Super Tucano aircraft. The fleet will be operated by the Panamanian National Air and Naval Service (SENAN) as a new platform for surveillance and protection.

“It is an honour for Embraer to see another Latin American country choose the A-29 Super Tucano to leverage its surveillance, reconnaissance and protection capabilities. Panama’s choice of the Super Tucano, a world leader in its category, will certainly serve as a strong ally to support the country in its mission to maintain national sovereignty,” said Bosco da Costa Junior, President and CEO of Embraer Defense & Security.

The announcement forms part of the organisation’s programme to strengthen and expand operational capacity, providing significant support to the national security initiative currently in progress. With the signing of this contract, Panama becomes the eighth Latin American country to select the A-29 Super Tucano, joining Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay and the Dominican Republic.

The Super Tucano has collected more than 600,000 flight hours; To date, 22 air forces have chosen the aircraft, while several other nations have expressed interest in the platform thanks to its proven reliability, availability, robustness and low operating costs.

The Super Tucano is designed for air forces requiring a proven, comprehensive, efficient, reliable and cost-effective single-platform solution, offering exceptional operational flexibility. It is capable of performing a wide variety of missions, including air patrol, special operations, tactical coordination (TAC), ISR, border surveillance and monitoring, counter-illicit activity operations, reconnaissance, air escort, as well as basic, operational and advanced pilot training.