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One of the Philippine Air Force A-29B Super Tucano attack aircraft in the Embraer hangar in Sau Paolo, Brazil, in late 2019.
MANILA, Philippines – Six new Brazilian-made attack aircraft are expected to be delivered to the Philippines over the weekend as part of the country’s ongoing effort to modernize its ill-equipped armed forces.
Embraer’s A-29B Super Tucano jets will land at the former US airbase in Clark, Pampanga on Saturday (September 19), sources and flight trackers said. The delivery was originally set for the end of 2019, but was delayed several times for reasons still unknown.
The planes will be flown by Brazilian pilots, although the Philippine Air Force (PAF) pilots had already begun training on how to fly the plane.
The aircraft’s journey to the Philippines began from Sao Paulo, Brazil in late August and included stops in Spain, Egypt, Bangladesh, the United Arab Emirates, India, Thailand and Vietnam.
The planes will be formally handed over to the PAF next week.
The six attack aircraft are part of a P4.9 billion agreement signed by the Philippine government with Embraer in 2017. They were slated for deployment for close air support, light attack, surveillance, air-to-air interception and counter-insurgency operations.
The turboprop aircraft will be part of the PAF’s 15th Strike Wing and will support and eventually fully replace the remaining Air Force OV-10 Bronco and SF-260 attack aircraft.
Embraer described the Super Tucanos as “durable, versatile and powerful turboprop aircraft capable of carrying out a wide range of missions, even operating from unimproved runways.”
At least 14 air forces around the world are using the Super Tucano.
TSB
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