Over 260 A-29 Super Tucanos have been assembled at production facilities in Brazil, Portugal, and the United States. While Brazil produces its own Super Tucanos for domestic use and export, some are also assembled in Jacksonville, Florida, with modifications made by Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) in Colorado.
The aircraft built in the US for the United States Air Force feature American weapons and sensor technology. SNC handles configuration requirements for each customer fleet, offering a Total Package Approach that includes production, training, delivery, and lifecycle sustainment. “Customers can also have confidence in the SNC-enhanced A-29’s airworthiness,” states SNC.
Super Tucanos from Jacksonville are destined only for US customers or foreign military sales arranged by the Pentagon. Orders from countries like Paraguay and Uruguay do not go through the US assembly line. Most orders are processed through Embraer’s plant in Brazil. In 2023, while no deliveries were made, around a dozen were built with four produced in Jacksonville.
In 2022, two new A-29 Super Tucanos were delivered to the US Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC). These aircraft support AFSOC’s mission to train international partner air forces. Congressman John Rutherford noted their role in training partners to face global adversaries effectively.
The US has significant bargaining power as a major defense market, often requiring foreign weapons to be built domestically. Examples include various military platforms built under license agreements within the country.
While sometimes a minor operator of the Super Tucano, the US has influenced international sales such as those to Afghanistan. The Light Attack/Armed Reconnaissance program initiated by the US Air Force aimed at procuring light attack aircraft was eventually canceled after reducing its order significantly.
The Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucano is recognized as an important product of Brazil’s defense industry and is widely exported worldwide. It serves as a light attack aircraft designed for counter-insurgency missions and carries various weapons including precision-guided munitions.
Embraer is known for its commercial jets but is also a leading defense contractor in Latin America. Its portfolio includes several types of military aircraft alongside other specialized aviation solutions.
