Embraer has announced that the A-29 Super Tucano is expanding its mission portfolio to counter modern unmanned threats.
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Relying on A-29 features in operation and new sensors, including specific datalinks for receiving initial target coordinates and queueing, the Electro-Optical/ Infra-Red (EO/IR) sensor for laser tracking and designation, as well as the laser guided rockets and the wing-mounted .50 machine guns for neutralizing targeted Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), the Operational Concept (CONOPS) defined by Embraer will allow current and future A-29 operators to add counter drone missions to their operational profiles whenever needed.
“We continue to expand the A-29’s capabilities to address the most recent challenges faced by many nations worldwide,” said Bosco da Costa Junior, President and CEO of Embraer Defense & Security. “The continued challenges in modern warfare and the recent conflicts worldwide have shown the urgent need for solutions to fight drones. The A-29 is the ideal tool to counter UAS effectively and at low cost, adding to the aircraft’s already extensive mission set that includes close air support, armed reconnaissance, advanced training, and many others.”
The A-29 Super Tucano is a versatile and powerful turboprop aircraft known for its rugged and durable design, which allows it to perform operations from unimproved runways and at forward operating bases in austere environments and rugged terrain. It is the global leader in its class with more than 600,000 flight hours.
The A-29 Super Tucano fulfills a wide range of missions such as advanced pilot training, Close Air Support (CAS), air patrol, air interdiction, Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC) training, armed Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), border surveillance, and air escort. Because of this unmatched combination of capabilities and operational flexibility, combined with its economical life cycle cost, the Super Tucano has been selected by 22 air forces around the world.