Key Points – The Embraer A-29 Super Tucano, a Brazilian-designed turboprop light attack aircraft, has proven highly effective in counterinsurgency and ground support roles, notably with the Afghan Air Force against the Taliban.
-Armed with a 20mm cannon, machine guns, rockets, and precision-guided munitions (including laser-guided weapons), its maneuverability, long loiter time, and precision targeting make it invaluable for supporting ground troops in environments where air supremacy is established.
-Its success has spurred growing international interest, including from US Special Operations Command and air forces in Portugal, Uruguay, and Paraguay, as an affordable and capable platform for specific combat scenarios.
Meet the A-29 Super Tucano
The A-29 Super Tucano is a turboprop light attack aircraft designed and built by Embraer, which has been helping the Afghan Air Force battle insurgents for many years in Afghanistan. It has received rave reviews regarding its performance in theater as a platform that can support ground troops fighting enemies or insurgents.
The aircraft proved successful in attacking Taliban fighters for many years.
Given this success, some lawmakers and foreign governments are hoping that Brazil can increase its foreign military sales of the plane to help allied forces in vital areas of global conflict.
The Embraer-built the A-29 turboprop Super Tucano light attack plane has a storied and significant history that continues to propel the platform across a growing swath of allied countries looking to acquire the aircraft.
A-29 Super Tucano Attacked Taliban
After performing well in support of the Afghan Air Force, the A-29s have increasingly been in demand around the globe and even inspired members of Congress to request additional planes to support Special Operations Command.
As a light attack aircraft, the Super Tucano is particularly helpful in providing air-to-ground support in counterinsurgency combat scenarios where air supremacy is achievable.
The aircraft may not be best positioned for a great power conflict where it would have to operate against advanced air defenses. Yet, there are many global hotspots where United States Special Operations Forces continue to deploy, and they could greatly benefit from the kind of light-attack support offered by the A-29.
Former Congress Rep. Michael Waltz R-Fla., wow the Trump Administration’s National Security Advisor, told Warrior Maven several years ago that SOCOM greatly needed the aircraft.
A-29 for Special Operations
“There are plenty of countries that have an extremist threat — the Middle East and South and Central Africa. SOCOM (Special Operations Command) is asking for this for Nigeria, Somalia and Libya. It is a perfect platform for where we are fighting,” former Rep. Michael Waltz, (R) Fla., told Warrior Maven several years back.
“They have a longer time and can stay close to the fight. They are interoperable in a very close-knit way with operations on the ground,” Waltz said.
Tactically speaking, the A-29 is positioned to both maneuver and provide suppressive supporting fire to ground troops under enemy fire and also pinpoint targets for precision strikes. This precision is extremely critical for counterinsurgency efforts, given that enemy fighters often deliberately seek to blend in, hide, or obscure themselves amid civilian populations. For example, an aircraft with accurate targeting and a laser rangefinder might be well positioned to identify enemy targets in a congested or high-risk environment.
A-29s are turboprop planes armed with one 20mm cannon below the fuselage able to shoot 650 rounds per minute, one 12.7mm machine gun (FN Herstal) under each wing, and up to four 7.62mm Dillion Aero M134 Miniguns able to shoot up to 3,000 rounds per minute.
Super Tucanos are also equipped with 70mm rockets, air-to-air missiles such as the AIM-9L Sidewinder, air-to-ground weapons such as the AGM-65 Maverick, and precision-guided bombs. It can also use a laser rangefinder and laser-guided weapons.
Laser rangefinders are particularly critical as they enable aircraft to pinpoint individual moving targets by providing exact distance to aircraft-mounted weapons.
The Super Tucano is a highly maneuverable light attack aircraft able to operate in high temperatures and rugged terrain. It is 11.38 meters long and has a wingspan of 11.14 meters; its maximum takeoff weight is 5,400 kilograms. The aircraft has a combat radius of 300 nautical miles, can reach speeds up to 367 mph, and hits ranges up to 720 nautical miles. Its 300 nautical-mile range positions the aircraft for effective attacks within urban environments or other more condensed combat circumstances.
The Brazilian A-29 Super Tucano has, in recent years, been expanded to incorporate the Portuguese Air Force, the Uruguayan Air Force, and the Paraguayan Air Force.
About the Author: Kris Osborn
Kris Osborn is the President of Warrior Maven – Center for Military Modernization. Osborn previously served at the Pentagon as a highly qualified expert in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army—Acquisition, Logistics & Technology. Osborn has also worked as an anchor and on-air military specialist at national TV networks. He has appeared as a guest military expert on Fox News, MSNBC, The Military Channel, and The History Channel. He also has a Masters Degree in Comparative Literature from Columbia University.
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