Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucano

EMB 314 / A-29 Super Tucano
A-29 Super Tucano of the Colombian Air Force
Role Counter-insurgency and pilot training
Manufacturer Embraer
First flight 2 June 1999
Introduction 2003
Status In service (under production)
Primary users Brazilian Air Force
Colombian Air Force
Ecuadorian Air Force
Chilean Air Force
Produced 2003-
Number built 168
Unit cost $9-14 millions[1]

$430-500/hour (Operational Cost)[2][3]
Developed from Embraer EMB 312 Tucano

The Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucano, also named ALX or A-29 is a turboprop aircraft designed for light attack, counter insurgency (COIN), close air support, aerial reconnaissance and pilot training missions, incorporating modern avionics and weapons systems. It is currently in service with the air forces of Brazil, Dominican Republic, Colombia, Ecuador, Chile and Burkina Faso, and has been ordered by Indonesia, Angola and the United States. The aircraft was designed for high temperature and humidity for low threat environments. The Super Tucano is highly maneuverable, has a low heat signature, is capable of delivering precision guided munitions and is able to operate in extremely rugged terrains.

Contents

Design and development

The request for a light attack aircraft was part of the Brazilian government's SIVAM (Amazon Surveillance System) Project. This aircraft would fly with the R-99A and R-99B aircraft currently in service and would be responsible for intercepting illegal aircraft flights and patrolling Brazil's borders.

The ALX Project was then created by the Brazilian Air Force, which was also in need of a military trainer to replace the Embraer EMB 326GB Xavante. The project of the new aircraft was suited to the Amazon region (high temperature, moisture, and precipitation; low threat). The ALX was then specified as a turboprop engine aircraft with a long range and autonomy, able to operate in night and day, in any meteorological conditions, and able to land on short airfields lacking infrastructure.

The first flight of a single-seat Super Tucano production aircraft occurred on 2 June 1999, while the first flight of the two-seat version took place on 22 October 1999.

Operational history

Brazil

In August 2001, the Brazilian Air Force awarded Embraer a contract for 76 Super Tucano / ALX aircraft with options for a further 23. A total of 51 of these aircraft are two seater versions, designated AT-29, which are stationed at the Natal Air Force Base and replace the AT-26 Xavante advanced jet trainers which are approaching the end of their operational lives. The remaining 25 aircraft are the single seat A-29 ALX version. One of the main missions of the aircraft is border patrol under the SIVAM programme.

The first aircraft was delivered in December 2003. By September 2007, 50 aircraft had entered service. The final aircraft was delivered in May 2009.

Warning Shots

On 3 June 2009, two Super Tucano aircraft from the Brazilian Air Force vectored by an E-99, made ​​use of their 12.7 mm machine guns against a Cessna U206G drug trafficker coming from the border between Bolivia and Brazil. Intercepted in the region of Alta Floresta d'Oeste, and after exhausting all legal procedures before this action, one of the Super Tucanos fired a warning shot, forcing the aircraft to follow the Super Tucanos to Cacoal's airport. This was the first time since the Shut-Down Act become effective on 17 October 2004, in order to legalize the shut down of illegal flights. A total of 176 kg of pure cocaine base paste that could become almost a ton of cocaine were on board the Cessna 206, which anticipated his landing at Izidrolândia district of Alta Floresta d'Oeste, were found. The aircraft's two occupants were arrested by Federal Police in Pimenta Bueno after the escape attempt.[4]

Operation Ágata

On 5 August 2011, Brazil started Operation Ágata, part of a major "Frontiers Strategic Plan" launched by President Dilma Rousseff in June, with almost 30 continuous days of rigorous military activity in the region of Brazil’s border with Colombia, it mobilized 35 aircraft and more than 3,000 military personnel of the Brazilian Army, Brazilian Navy and Brazilian Air Force surveillance against drug trafficking, illegal mining and logging, and trafficking of wild animals. The A-29s of 1 / 3 º Aviation Group (GAV), Squadron Scorpion, made ​​the attack on an illicit airstrip with the use of onboard computers. In the attack, eight bombs 230 kg(507 lb) Mk 82 destroyed the airstrip.

RQ-450 was assigned for night operations to locate illegal remote jungle airstrips used by drug smuggling gangs along the border, sophisticated E-99 were assigned to guard the aircraft, while RQ-450 were locating the objectives for the A-29 Super Tucanos flying in darkness to bomb with extremely high accuracy provided by night-vision systems and computers capable of continuously calculating the bombs´ point of impact. [5]

On 15 September 2011, Brazil launched the Operation Ágata 2 on the borders with Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay. Part of this border is the infamous Triple Frontier. A-29s from Maringá, Dourados and Campo Grande with Northrop F-5 Tiger II/F-5EMs from Canoas intercepted a total of 33 aircraft during Operation Ágata 2.[6]

On 10 October 2011, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff stated on her weekly radio address that Brazilian forces had seized 62 tons of narcotics, made 3,000 arrests and destroyed three illicit airstrips, while over 650 tons of weapons and explosives have been seized.[7]

On 22 November 2011, Brazil launched the Operation Ágata 3 on the borders with Bolivia, Peru, and Paraguay. It involved 6,500 personnel, backed by 10 ships and 200 land patrol vehicles, in addition to 70 aircraft, including fighter, transport and reconnaissance aircraft. This was the largest Brazilian coordinated action involving the Army, Navy and Air Force against illegal trafficking and organized crime, along a border strip of almost 7,000 km. A-1(AMX), Northrop F-5 Tiger II/ F-5EM and A-29 Super Tucanos from Tabatinga, Campo Grande, Cuiabá, Vilhena and Porto Velho were employed in defending air space, supported by AEW&C´s E-99, equipped with a 250 km range radar capable of detecting low flying aircraft, and R-99, remote sensing and Surveillance.[8]

On 7 December 2011, Brazilian Ministry of Defence informed the nation that drug seizures were up by 1,319% over the last six months, compared to prior six months.[9]

Colombia

A total of 25 Super Tucanos (variant AT-29B) were purchased by the Colombian Air Force in a 234 million USD deal, purchased directly from the Brazilian company Embraer. The first three aircraft arrived in the morning of 14 December 2006 to the military airfield of CATAM in Bogotá. Two more aircraft were delivered on the week of 16 December 2006, 10 more in the first semester of 2007 and the rest in June 2008.[10]

Baptism of Fire

On 18 January 2007, a squadron of Super Tucanos from the Colombian Air Force, using the Mk 82, attacked positions of the FARC(Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) in an area of jungle. This action, which marks the baptism of fire of the Super Tucano. It was conducted in CCIP(Continuously Computed Impact Point) mode , and reported as a success in action.[3]

Operation Phoenix

See also: 2008 Colombian raid into Ecuador

In 2008, the Colombian Air Force used a Super Tucano armed with Griffin missiles inside Ecuadorian airspace during "Operation Phoenix", to destroy a guerrilla cell and kill the second-in-command chief of FARC, Raúl Reyes. This event led to a diplomatic break between the two countries.[11]

Operation Sodoma

On 21 September 2010, Operation Sodoma in the Meta department began, 120 miles south of the capital Bogotá. FARC commander Mono Jojoy was killed in a massive military operation in the early hours of September 22nd, a squadron of 25 Brazilian-made Super Tucano ground-attack aircraft launched seven tonnes of explosives on the camps, while some 600 special forces troops descended by rope from helicopters, opposed by 700 guerrillas. a total of 20 guerrillas died in the attack.[12]

Operation Odiseo

On 15 October 2011, Operation Odiseo started with a total of 969 different military bodies of the Colombian armed forces. A total of 18 aircraft participated in "Operation Odiseo". On 4 November 2011, five Super Tucanos were used to launch a heavy bombing of 100 lb(45 kg) and 250 lb(135kg), plus high-precision smart bombs. This operation ended with the death of the leader of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia, FARC), Alfonso Cano. It was biggest blow in the history of the of the guerrilla organization.[13]

Dominican Republic

In August 2001, Embraer announced the signing of a contract with the Dominican Republic for 10 Super Tucano aircraft, to be used for pilot training, internal security, border patrol and counter-narcotics trafficking missions. The order was reduced to eight aircraft in January 2009, for a total amount of US$ 93 million.[14] The first two Super Tucano aircraft were delivered to the Dominican Republic on 18 December 2009. Three were delivered in June 2010 and the remaining three in October 2010.[15]

In February 2011, Dominican Republic Air Force Chief of Operations, Col. Hilton Cabral stated: "since the introduction of the Super Tucano aircraft and ground-based radars, illicit air tracks into the Dominican Republic had dropped by over 80 percent." [16]

In August 2011, the Dominican Air Force said that since taking delivery of the Super Tucanos in 2009, it has driven away drug flights to the point that they no longer enter the country's airspace.[17]

Ecuador

Ecuador Air Force operates 18 Super Tucanos, they are established at Manta Air Base in two squadrons: 2313 "Halcones" (used for border surveillance and flight training) and 2311 "Dragones" (used for Counter-insurgency).[18]

On 23 March 2009, Embraer announced that negotiations over a nine-month-old agreement with the Ecuadorian air force have finally been completed. The deal covers the supply of 24 turboprop-powered Super Tucanos, with these to replace Ecuador’s ageing fleet of Cessna A-37 strike aircraft, and help re-assert control over the country’s airspace.[19]

In May 2010, after received its sixth Super Tucano from a contract worth $270 million, Ecuador announced a reduction in its order for the Embraer EMB-314 Super Tucano from 24 to 18 aircraft to release funds to buy some used South African Air Force Denel Cheetah C fighters. By cutting its order for the type, the Defence Ministry says the accrued savings would allow it to purchase the secondhand Cheetahs, and bolster the air force's flagging air defence component.[20]

United States

One Super Tucano has also been purchased by a subsidiary of Blackwater Worldwide, an American private military contracting firm.[21][22] The aircraft did not have the machine guns normally attached to the wings.

In 2008, the U.S. Navy began testing the Super Tucano at the behest of the U.S. Special Operations Command for its potential use to support special warfare operations,[23] giving it the official U.S. designation A-29B.[24] The Super Tucano is being offered in a U.S. Air Force competition for 100 counterinsurgency aircraft in 2009.[25]

On 12 April 2010, Brazil signed a defensive pact that opened negotiations for the acquisition of 200 Super Tucanos from Embraer to U.S. forces.[26] After excluding the AT-6 from the LAS Program on 16 November 2011, the U.S. Air Force has apparently chosen the Embraer Super Tucano to meet the Light Air Support (LAS) requirement.[27] Hawker Beechcraft's protest against its exclusion was dismissed.[28] For this procurement the avionics are to be supplied by Elbit Systems of America. Sierra Nevada, the US-based prime contractor will be building the Super Tucano in Jacksonville.[29]

Potential operators

Variants

A-29A 
Single-seater for attack and armed reconnaissance (on interdiction tasks), attack and cover (on close air support tasks), able to intercept and destroy low performance aircraft.
A-29B 
Twin-seater for the same tasks as the single seat version, also used in training and advanced aerial control (on monitoring tasks).

Operators

 Brazil
 Angola

 Burkina Faso:

 Chile:

 Colombia:

 Dominican Republic:

 Ecuador:

 Indonesia:

 United States:

20 A-29 aircraft on order for the Light Air Support role to be built in the United States by the Sierra Nevada Corporation.[57]

Specifications (EMB 314)

Data from Type Analysis: Embraer Tucano and Super Tucano[59]

General characteristics

Performance

Armament

Avionics

See also

Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

References

Notes
  1. ^ "Embraer espera vender até 40 Super Tucanos em 8 meses" (in Portugese). terra.com.br. Retrieved: 19 December 2011.
  2. ^ "Super Tucanos han volado 248 horas en cinco meses tienen RD" (in Spanish). Diario Libre, 30 April 2010. Retrieved: 20 December 2011.
  3. ^ a b "Embraer está perto de fechar contrato com a Defesa dos EUA" (in Portuguese). Estadao, 23 November 2011. Retrieved: 26 December 2011.
  4. ^ Casella, José Leandro P. Revista Força Aérea, Volume 59, August–September 2009, pp. 59–63.
  5. ^ "Brazilian Armed Forces Conclude Operation Agatha in Region Bordering Colombia". Diálago, 1 September 2011. Retrieved: 27 December 2011
  6. ^ "Operação Ágata 2 interceptou 33 aeronaves na fronteira" (in Portuguese). O Diario, 28 September 2011. Retrieved: 21 December 2011.
  7. ^ "Plano Estratégico de Fronteiras apreende 62 toneladas de drogas em quatro meses." planalto.gov.br, 10 October 2011. Retrieved: 21 December 2011.
  8. ^ "Novas operações conjuntas coíbem ilícitos em 7 mil quilômetros de fronteiras" (in Portuguese). Brazilian Ministry of Defence, 24 November 2011. Retrieved: 22 December 2011.
  9. ^ "Operação militar reduz oferta de drogas na faixa de fronteiras" (in Portuguese). Brazilian Ministry of Defence, 7 December 2011. Retrieved: 22 December 2011.
  10. ^ "Aterrizaron en Colombia los tres primeros aviones Supertucano para la Fuerza Aérea" (in Portugese)" El Tiempo, 14 December 2006.
  11. ^ Guevara 2008, pp. 52–55.
  12. ^ "The beginning of the end: Demise of the FARC’s top killer". The Economist, 30 September 2011. Retrieved: 23 December 2011.
  13. ^ "Cano'S death 'biggest blow in history' of FARC: Santos". Colombia Reports, 5 November 2011. Retrieved: 23 December 2011.
  14. ^ "8 Super Tucanos to Dominican Republic." Defense Industry Daily, 12 January 2009. Retrieved: 26 December 2011.
  15. ^ a b "EMB-314 Super Tucano / ALX, Brazil." airforce-technology.com. Retrieved: 26 December 2011.
  16. ^ "AFSOUTH Helps Support Tactical Dominican Air Force." "US Air Force," 10 February 2011. Retrieved: 26 December 2011.
  17. ^ "Why It's No Longer Raining Cocaine in the Dominican Republic" Time Magazine," 25 August 2011. Retrieved: 26 December 2011.
  18. ^ "Los Halcones A-29B" (in Spanish). fuerzaaerea.net. Retrieved: 28 December 2011.
  19. ^ "Ecuador finalises big Super Tucano order". Flight Global, 24 Mar 2009. Retrieved: 28 December 2011.
  20. ^ "Ecuador looks to trim Super Tucano purchase". Flight Global, 3 June 2010. Retrieved: 28 December 2011.
  21. ^ "Report: Blackwater buys Brazilian-made fighter plane." USAToday.com, 2 June 2008.
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  23. ^ "SkyLite Raider for USSOCOM." strategypage.com. Retrieved: 30 October 2010.
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  26. ^ "Acordo abre caminho para venda de aviões aos EUA, diz Jobim" ( in Portuguese). folha.uol.com. Retrieved: 30 October 2010.
  27. ^ "Hawker Beechcraft loses out on big Air Force contract". The Wichita Eagle, 18 November 2011. Retrieved: 26 December 2011.
  28. ^ "B-406170, Hawker Beechcraft Defense Company, LLC, December 22, 2011" US U.S. Government Accountability Office," 22 December 2011. Retrieved 26 December 2011.
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  30. ^ "Sobre a venda de aeronaves para o Peru" (in Portuguese). zarattinipt.com.br, 3 March 2011. Retrieved: 24 December 2011.
  31. ^ "El Ministerio de Defensa del Perú anuncia la producción de piezas y ensamblaje de aviones de ataque ligero KT-1" (in Spanish). Info Defesa, 21 November 2011. Retrieved: 26 December 2011.
  32. ^ "Brazilian aircraft and radars to combat drug trafficking in Central America". MercoPress, 28 September 2011. Retrieved: 20 December 2011.
  33. ^ "El Salvador Negotiates Fighter Jets". Central America Data, 26 November 2010. Retrieved: 26 December 2011.
  34. ^ "More Military Spending in Central America Giving Rise to Old and New Fears". In Sight, 24 October 2011. Retrieved 20 December 2011.
  35. ^ "Honduras Will Procure Four Super Tucanos from Brazil." Honduras Weekly, 3 September 2011. Retrieved 20 December 2011.
  36. ^ "U.S. ready to provide Lebanon with attack aircraft by 2013". Ya Libnan, 12 February 2010. Retrieved: 20 December 2011.
  37. ^ "Love on the Rocks: CASA’s $600M Venezuelan Plane Sale Hits Heavy Turbulence, Crashes". Defense Industry Daily, 14 February 2006. Retrieved: 20 December 2011.
  38. ^ "Chavez: U.S. impedem Embraer de vender jatos a Venezuela" (in Portuguese). defesanet.com.
  39. ^ "Presidente está a favor de la compra de aviones" (in Spanish). ABC, 9 October 2009. Retrieved 20 December 2011.
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  41. ^ "Mauritania boosts counter-terror capacities". Magharebia, 14 July 2011. Retrieved: 26 December 2011.
  42. ^ "A-29 Super Tucano Wins Air Force Bid for Light Air Support Mission." marketwatch.com, 30 December 2011. Retrieved: 2 January 2012.
  43. ^ "Embraer faz mais apostas no Super Tucano" (in Portuguese.) Poder Aéreo, 2 January 2012 Retrieved: 3 December 2012.
  44. ^ "Brasil concede crédito para a venda de seis aviões militares" (in Portuguese). RTP, 23 November 2011. Retrieved: 27 December 2011.
  45. ^ "F.A.N. terá seis novos caças-bombardeiros" (in Portuguese). Canal A, 30 November 2011. Retrieved: 27 December 2011.
  46. ^ "Três Super Tucanos fotografados durante voo de translado para Burkina Faso" (in Portuguese). Cavok, 7 Setember 2011. Retrieved: 7 September 2011.
  47. ^ "Embraer Looks To Wider Security Market". Aviation Week, 30 March 2011. Retrieved: 20 December 2011.
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  49. ^ "18 Super Tucanos to Ecuador." defenseindustrydaily.com Retrieved: 13 December 2011.
  50. ^ "Situação de Defesa Nacional no Equador" (in Portuguese). adesg-europa. Retrieved: 13 December 2011.
  51. ^ "Ecuador se apresta a recibir flota de aviones supersónicos de Sudáfrica"(in Spanish). Radio Sucre, 3 February 2011. Retrieved: 28 December 2011.
  52. ^ "Awal 2012, Delapan Calon Awak Super Tucano A-29 Diberangkatkan ke Brazil" (in Indonesian). surabaya.detik.com Retrieved: 20 December 2011.
  53. ^ "Air force to get new aircraft next year". The Jakarta Post, 2 July 2011. Retrieved: 13 December 2011.
  54. ^ "Warplanes: Blackwater Buys Brazilian Bombers." strategypage.com. Retrieved: 24 December 2011.
  55. ^ "The Penny Drops: COIN Aircraft for Blackwater?" Defense Industry Daily. Retrieved: 24 December 2011.
  56. ^ "Report: Blackwater Worldwide Purchases Brazilian-Made Fighter Plane." Fox News, 2 June 2008.
  57. ^ "A-29 Super Tucano wins Air Force bid for Light Air Shupport Mission." sncorp.com. Retrieved: 3 January 2012.
  58. ^ Navy eyes Super Tucano for SpecOps work
  59. ^ Rivas and Cicalesi 2007, p. 67.
  60. ^ "Tucano". sncorp.com. Retrieved: 12 December 2011.
  61. ^ "Super Tucano." Embraer Defense Systems. Retrieved: 19 December 2011.
  62. ^ http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/tougher-tucano-145189/ "Tougher tucano."] Flight Global, 26 March 2002. Retrieved: 4 January 2012.
  63. ^ a b "Greek Defense News, October 2008, p. 103". dbdc.gr. Retrieved: 20 December 2011.
  64. ^ "Brazilian Air Force". network54.com. Retrieved: 20 December 2011.
  65. ^ "Vídeo mostra o lançamento da bomba guiada SMKB-82 da Britanite por um Super Tucano da FAB" (in Portuguese). planobrasil.com. Retrieved: 20 December 2011.
  66. ^ "Dubai 2011: Paveway WiPak-ing a punch by WiFi." arabianaerospace.aero. Retrieved: 24 December 2011.
  67. ^ a b "Super Tucano - A29" (in Portuguese). Brazilian Air Force Retrieved: 10 December 2011.
  68. ^ "Rocket SBAT-70 (similar MK-40)". ibq.com.br Retrieved: 20 December 2011.
  69. ^ "Armas Guiadas" (in Portuguese). sistemasdearmas.com.br. Retrieved: 20 December 2011.
  70. ^ "Super Tucano - Mult-role" (in Portuguese). Embraer Defense Systems. Retrieved: 21 December 2011.
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  72. ^ "R&S®M3AR Software Defined Radios". rohde-schwarz.com. Retrieved: 20 December 2011.
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Bibliography
  • Guevara, Iñigo. "Operation Fenix - Columbian Airstrike at Dawn". Air International, Vol. 74, No. 4, May 2008, pp. 52–55. Stamford, UK: Key Publishing. ISSN 0306-5634.
  • Rivas, Santiago and Juan Carlos Cicalesi. "Type Analysis: Embraer EMB-312/314 Tucano and Super Tucano". International Air Power Review, Volume Twenty Two, 2007, pp. 60–79. Westport, Connecticut: AIRtime Publishing. ISBN 188058879X. ISSN 1473-9917.

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