Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) has finalized an agreement to purchase an A-29 Super Tucano light attack aircraft from Embraer, the Brazilian defense aircraft manufacturer.
The acquisition precedes an expected U.S. Foreign Military Sales (FMS) contract, which still requires approval from Congress and the State Department. The client nation remains undisclosed. By buying the aircraft early, SNC aims to start pilot training immediately once the contract is approved, potentially shortening the time needed to deploy the aircraft by a year.
Manufacturing will occur at Embraer’s Jacksonville, Florida, facility. The turboprop A-29 Super Tucano is capable of light attack, close air support, reconnaissance, and training missions, and can operate from short or unpaved airstrips.
With a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A engine delivering approximately 1,600 horsepower, the aircraft achieves speeds of 320 knots (368 mph/593 km/h), altitudes up to 35,000 feet, and a range of 720 nautical miles (1,333 km). Its 36-foot (11-meter) airframe supports machine guns, cannons, bombs, and air-to-air or air-to-ground missiles.
The A-29 features advanced weapons controls, secure communications, modern navigation, night vision, and high-resolution sensors, making it suitable for combat missions and pilot training in demanding operational environments.
