“While most of us were asleep at this side of the globe, Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer has started flying the A-29B Super Tucanos bound for the Philippine Air Force from Embraer’s production facility in Sao Paulo City, to the eastern Brazilian city of Recife, which is the staging point for their delivery travel to the Philippines,” MaxDefense Philippines said in a Facebook post August 30.
The Philippine Air Force (PAF) said in one of its publications that it is “expecting the delivery of six (6) Super Tucano Close Attack Aircraft from Brazil this year. This will be another game changing aircraft that will enhance the attack capability of the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines).”
According to Embraer, the aircraft in PAF service will be deployed for close air support, light attack, surveillance, air-to-air interception, and counterinsurgency missions.
“We are honored to be selected by the Philippine Air Force, our second operator in the Asia-Pacific region, and with the confidence expressed by our customer,” said Jackson Schneider, president and CEO of Embraer Defense & Security in 2017. “The Super Tucano is the best light attack aircraft in the market and we are confident that it will accomplish with excellence the missions it was selected for.”
(Mintfo)