Documents
Brazil Embraer Defense & Security
A-29 Super Tucano
A turboprop light attack and advanced trainer aircraft designed for counter-insurgency, close air support and pilot training in low-cost, austere-environment operations. It is one of the most widely exported light attack aircraft, in service with more than a dozen air forces.
In service since 2003 · 15 operator countries
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02
590
km/h
1,330
km range
10,668
m ceiling
1,550
kg payload
💲 ≈ $10,000,000, Base aircraft pricing in recent export contracts clusters closely around this figure: Chile's 2008 order worked out to about USD 10 million per aircraft, Colombia's contract to about USD 9.4 million, and Ecuador's to about USD 11.25 million. Fully equipped versions with sensors, weapons integration and extensive training or logistics packages have been reported as high as USD 18 to 30 million per aircraft in other deals.
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
National export licensing
Subject to Brazil export-control approval; verify eligibility with the manufacturer.
Channel: Direct commercial / G2G
Fielded & proven
Widely fielded · 15 operators
In service since 2003. Status: active · ~260 built.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
$25M – $35M
Acquisition is only ~30% of lifecycle cost, operating & support dominate over ~25 yrs. Rough 2.5–3.5× the unit price. How we estimate this →
Interoperability
No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.
Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Compatible munitions & weapons
Publicly reported weapons the A-29 Super Tucano can carry. Linked items have a full spec page.
Full specifications
Performance
Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.
| Max speed Maximum level speed. For aircraft this is at optimal altitude; for ground vehicles, top road speed. Higher means faster response and better kinematic performance. | 590 km/h |
|---|---|
| Range Maximum distance: ferry range for aircraft, operational range for vehicles, maximum engagement distance for missiles. Higher means more standoff or persistence. | 1,330 km |
| Service ceiling Maximum operating altitude. Higher gives energy advantage and sensor horizon. | 10,668 m |
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
| Main armament Primary weapon: main gun, cannon or missile type. | 2× 12.7 mm FN Herstal machine guns (wing-mounted) |
|---|---|
| Hardpoints External stations for weapons and pods. More means bigger and more flexible loadouts. | 5 |
| Weapons payload Maximum ordnance weight the platform can carry. Higher means more strike capacity per sortie. | 1,550 kg |
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
| Length Overall length including gun/probe where applicable. | 11.38 m |
|---|---|
| Wingspan Wingtip-to-wingtip span. | 11.14 m |
| Empty weight Weight without fuel, ammunition or crew. | 3,020 kg |
| Combat weight Fully loaded weight. Lighter eases transport and bridging limits; heavier often means more armor. | 5,400 kg |
| Crew Personnel required to operate. Fewer reduces exposure; autoloaders trade a loader for mechanical complexity. | 2 |
Propulsion
Engine, power and fuel.
| Engine Powerplant model and type. | Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-68C turboprop |
|---|---|
| Engines Number of engines. Twin-engine gives redundancy at higher cost. | 1 |
| Engine power Engine output power. Higher moves more weight faster. | 1,600 hp |
| Propulsion type Turbofan, turboshaft, diesel, gas turbine, solid-fuel rocket, ramjet… | Turboprop |
Program
Cost, production scale and operators.
| Unit cost Approximate flyaway/unit cost where public. Defense pricing varies hugely by contract, offsets and configuration. Lower is cheaper. | $10,000,000 |
|---|---|
| Units built Total production run. Higher means proven manufacturing, mature logistics and spares availability. | 260 |
| Operator countries Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem. | 15 |
Specifications compiled from public Embraer Defense & Security and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-02.
Compare with rivals
See how it stacks up
Leonardo M-346 Master 
Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) T-50 Golden Eagle 
Yakovlev Yak-130 Head-to-head comparisons
A-29 Super Tucano vs
L-15 Frequently asked questions
What is the top speed of the Embraer Defense & Security A-29 Super Tucano? +
The Embraer Defense & Security A-29 Super Tucano has a maximum speed of 590 km/h.
What is the range of the Embraer Defense & Security A-29 Super Tucano? +
The Embraer Defense & Security A-29 Super Tucano has a maximum range of 1,330 km.
What is the weapons payload of the Embraer Defense & Security A-29 Super Tucano? +
The Embraer Defense & Security A-29 Super Tucano can carry up to 1,550 kg of weapons payload.
How much does the Embraer Defense & Security A-29 Super Tucano weigh? +
The Embraer Defense & Security A-29 Super Tucano has a combat weight of 5,400 kg.
How many crew does the Embraer Defense & Security A-29 Super Tucano require? +
The Embraer Defense & Security A-29 Super Tucano requires a crew of 2.
What is the main armament of the Embraer Defense & Security A-29 Super Tucano? +
The Embraer Defense & Security A-29 Super Tucano's primary weapon is the 2× 12.7 mm FN Herstal machine guns (wing-mounted).
What engine does the Embraer Defense & Security A-29 Super Tucano use? +
The Embraer Defense & Security A-29 Super Tucano is powered by the Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-68C turboprop.
What is the Embraer Defense & Security A-29 Super Tucano used for? +
The Embraer Defense & Security A-29 Super Tucano is a trainer & light attack typically used for close air support.
How many countries operate the Embraer Defense & Security A-29 Super Tucano? +
The Embraer Defense & Security A-29 Super Tucano is operated by 15 countries.
How much does the Embraer Defense & Security A-29 Super Tucano cost? +
The Embraer Defense & Security A-29 Super Tucano has an approximate unit cost of 10,000,000 USD. Defense pricing varies by contract, offsets and configuration, treat this as directional.
Similar systems
Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI)
T-50 Golden Eagle
Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI)
KT-1 Woongbi
Yakovlev
Yak-130
Hongdu Aviation Industry Group
JL-8
Related coverage
