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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 (public figure)
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.
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.
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 Stronger than 11% of trainers
- 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 Stronger than 23% of trainers
- Service ceiling
Maximum operating altitude. Higher gives energy advantage and sensor horizon.
- 10,668 m Stronger than 13% of trainers
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 Stronger than 29% of trainers
- Weapons payload
Maximum ordnance weight the platform can carry. Higher means more strike capacity per sortie.
- 1,550 kg Stronger than 39% of trainers
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 Stronger than 82% of trainers
- Operator countries
Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem.
- 15 Top 3% of trainers
Specifications compiled from public Embraer Defense & Security and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations — treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-02.
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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.
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