Key Points and Summary: The A-29 Super Tucano, a Brazilian-made light attack aircraft, is revolutionizing air forces worldwide. Designed for counterinsurgency and small-scale conflicts, it combines affordability with versatility.
-With its twin .50 caliber machine guns, bombs, and rockets, the A-29 excels in close air support and intelligence-gathering roles.
-Operating in 16 countries, this aircraft has logged over 500,000 hours, including 60,000 combat hours.
-It can take off from dirt runways, perform air policing, and loiter for extended missions. Affordable at $11 million per unit, it’s a go-to option for nations with limited defense budgets.
-Some even see it as a potential A-10 Warthog replacement.
A-29 Super Tucano Light Attack Airplane Has Become a Huge Hit
I have always been fascinated by the Embraer A-29 Super Tucano.
This is a Brazilian-made airplane perfectly designed to fight insurgents, terrorists, and transnational criminal gangs on the ground. It can also lead the fight in small wars.
It looks like a dual-seat P-51 Mustang.
This is no jet.
It is turbo-prop driven, but it has surprising speed and maneuverability. It is also great for nations in the developing world that can’t afford a jet fighter but still need to participate in counter-insurgencies and brushfire wars.
It is easy for new pilots to fly, and the weapons on board are impressive. Some even say it could be an A-10 Warthog replacement. Here is what we know about this remarkable plane.
A-29 Super Tucano: Just What the Afghans Needed
This warbird was a natural fit for the Afghan air force during the latter half of the war.
The idea was for the airplane to conduct close air support when the Taliban tried to take over friendly positions.
The A-29 Super Tucano could then swoop in with its twin .50 caliber machine guns, drop its two 500-pound bombs, and let loose with its deadly rockets.
Popular on the Overseas Market
The Afghan Air Force had eight Super Tucanos in 2016, and 20 were planned for 2018. The A-29 quickly racked up 2,000 combat sorties.
Sixteen different militaries now fly it.
More than 500,000 total hours have been flown, including 60,000 combat hours, according to the Embraer official website.
Countries have ordered 260 of the A-29 Super Tucanos.

An Afghan Air Force A-29 Super Tucano soars over Kabul, Afghanistan, Aug. 14, 2015. The A-29 is the Afghan Air Force’s latest attack airframe in their inventory. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Larry E. Reid Jr., Released)
The Super Tucano can also loiter over the enemy and collect intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance data to assist ground forces further.
This is also a good airplane to train on and help pilots get used to flying missions at a high sortie rate.
Yet Another Deal for the A-29
Four Super Tucanos have just been sold to an undisclosed country in Africa.
These A-29s will be essential in the lucky Air Force that purchased the small but powerful airplane.
“The A-29 Super Tucano is an extremely versatile aircraft that can carry out the most challenging missions under the most demanding conditions. It is the world leader in its category as it combines a combat-proven track record with advanced technology,” said Bosco da Costa Junior, President and CEO of Embraer Defense & Security.
Yes, This Plane Can Take Off and Land on a Dirt Landing Strip
Another great thing about the Super Tucano is that it does not need a long and fully developed runway. It can take off and land from dirt airstrips.
This is another reason it is popular in the developing world.
In 2024, Uruguay and Paraguay ordered the airplane. It will likely be used for counter-narcotics missions with the ability to hoover up intelligence data or make quick ground strikes if called upon.
Intercepting Enemy Aircraft in an Air Policing Role
The Super Tucano can also conduct air policing duties for small countries that need an airplane that can be quickly scrambled to answer adversarial fighters that encroach on a nation’s air defense identification zone.
This is perfect for air forces that do not have many jets to answer such a threat.
This airplane also has low maintenance costs and adequate support from Embraer for spare parts and other components to keep the Super Tucano in the air.
Excellent Specs
The Super Tucano has a speed of 368 miles per hour with a service ceiling of 35,000 feet. It has 3,420 pounds of external payload and can carry 1,100 pounds of fuel.
The endurance is seven hours, while the climbing rate is 3,200 feet a minute. The service life is about 15 years.
“The A-29 has a laser rangefinder for extremely accurate weapons delivery even when an Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) sensor is not carried. It is fully Night Vision Imaging System (NVIS)-compatible for night combat operations,” according to Sierra Nevade Corp.
Another redeeming quality of the Super Tucano is the affordable cost. It can be purchased for around $11 million per unit. That is a great bargain for countries without large defense budgets.
Much to Like in the A-29 Super Tucano
You can see the A-29 Super Tucano is an interesting airplane.
I like the multi-mission set and the ability to take on many different threats on the ground. The light attack airplane is a hit overseas. The developing world finally has an option that is not an expensive jet fighter.
The A-29 can allow small air forces to function in a modern world when insurgent wars spark up. They can also serve in the air policing roles to protect borders. New pilots take to the airplane well, and they can perform training duties, which can then quickly be transitioned to active duty.
I always knew the Super Tucano would be a hit when Afghanistan started buying it. The airplane makes sense for several different reasons. NATO countries are even getting in on the fun. Portugal made an order for Super Tucanos last year. This airplane will likely enjoy a long service record for numerous countries.
Give Brazilians credit for answering glaring needs and delivering an airplane that will be used worldwide in the coming years—no wonder some experts have floated this as an A-10 Warthog replacement.

A-10 Elephant Walk. Image: Creative Commons.
About the Author: Dr. Brent M. Eastwood
Brent M. Eastwood, PhD, is the author of Don’t Turn Your Back On the World: a Conservative Foreign Policy and Humans, Machines, and Data: Future Trends in Warfare, plus two other books. Brent was the founder and CEO of a tech firm that predicted world events using artificial intelligence. He served as a legislative fellow for U.S. Senator Tim Scott and advised the senator on defense and foreign policy issues. He has taught at American University, George Washington University, and George Mason University. Brent is a former U.S. Army Infantry officer. He can be followed on X @BMEastwood.

Jim
January 14, 2025 at 12:58 pm
A nice article, I didn’t know about the A-29… well, if it’s not American… it can slip under the radar.
This airplane would be ideal for interdiction missions on the United States border with Mexico (and, possibly, within Mexico, itself.)
The cartels which operate on the border and within Mexico are criminal gangs… a rough equivalent to the Barbary Pirates on the North African coast in 1801.
We went to war to end the pirates’ enslavement of American sailors and stealing of their cargo.
The A-29 would be an excellent ‘border’ attack aircraft. Interestingly, I find the small profile and prop driven power as being more compatible with a ‘police action’ plane south of the border.
Also, tactically, if a plane is based close to the line of military contact, it can be more rapidly called in & arrive over the battlefield to provide pinpoint munitions on tactical targets.
Well, some folks probably wouldn’t want it… after all, it isn’t American made. But I would submit to buy it from Brazil would improve diplomatic relations with that nation… an important objective.
Also, if it proved effective for U. S. tactical purposes… it’s strictly a tactical aircraft… then the U. S. could buy a license from Brazil for domestic production within the United States.
Also, because of its low cost, if needed, “swarms” of A-29’s could be concentrated where tactically needed.
Mission flexibility is an excellent attribute for any weapons system… the A-29 delivers it.
A good example of ‘more bang for the buck,’ we need it.
Jim
January 14, 2025 at 4:55 pm
I say, do both, keep the A-10 warthog, and bring on the A-29.
As long as the air frames are sound on the A-10 warthog, they serve an indispensable role in close ground support (and potentially, border patrol & enforcement… they’d do a good job south of the border…) which super duper, hi-tech, overhead action can’t perform.
Close to the ground matters.
Easy maintenance matters, too.
Ready at the flight line matters.
Searching for new funding, a new project… doesn’t matter if it doesn’t work… too much of that scratchy stuff recently.