DefenseParaguay Takes Delivery of Four A-29 Super Tucanos in a Single Batch
As anticipated, Embraer delivered four A-29 Super Tucano aircraft to the Paraguayan Air Force on Monday in a single batch. The advanced turboprop planes flew from Embraer’s facilities in Brazil to Silvio Pettirossi Air Base, near the capital Asunción, where they were welcomed by President Santiago Peña and other senior government officials.
Operated by Paraguayan pilots trained in Brazil, the A-29s will serve in advanced training and close air support missions as part of the country’s airspace defense modernization strategy.
“The A-29 Super Tucanos, equipped with state-of-the-art technology, increase our effectiveness in executing airspace surveillance missions and providing a timely response to emerging challenges. Furthermore, this addition to our aircraft fleet represents the most important defense acquisition in the last 38 years,” said General Julio Fullaondo, Commander of the Paraguayan Air Force.
More deliveries on the way
While Embraer has not yet confirmed when the remaining two aircraft will be delivered, the short gap between the signing of the contract and the arrival of the first four jets is believed to have been made possible by the manufacturer’s stock of “white tail” aircraft—planes built without a designated customer, stored and ready for quick sale and delivery.
This marks Embraer’s first new A-29 delivery since 2021, when its partner Sierra Nevada Corporation supplied aircraft to Nigeria.
Over the past year, the Brazilian manufacturer has seen a resurgence in Super Tucano sales. New contracts were signed with Uruguay (six aircraft), Portugal (12 aircraft, marking the first NATO-standard A-29Ns), and two undisclosed customers.
One of these clients is believed to be an African country that ordered four aircraft; the other is suspected to be the Philippines, already an A-29 operator, which may have added six more to its fleet.
Looking ahead, Panama is expected to become the next customer for the A-29 Super Tucano. The Central American country has publicly expressed its intention to acquire four aircraft in the near future.
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