Embraer and Boeing at the Farnborough Airshow July 10 announced an agreement that further enhances the collaboration between the two companies and brings additional capabilities to Embraer’s A-29 Super Tucano through new weapons integration developments to meet future customer requirements.
The new weapons integration capacity enhances the solution presented to the U.S. Air Force Light Air Support program by not only meeting program requirements, but exceeding them in ways that are important to the customer.
“This new capability will take advantage of the versatility of the Super Tucano and will benefit our campaign in the United States,” said Luiz Carlos Aguiar, president of Embraer Defesa & Segurança. “With more than eight years in service and more than 160 aircraft delivered, the Super Tucano is a proven platform. The aircraft’s performance, operational effectiveness and costs to operate and maintain are well defined and documented.”
Today’s announcement follows the April signing of a broad cooperation agreement between Boeing and Embraer that established an important relationship between two of the world’s largest aerospace companies to cooperate in ways that enhance aircraft efficiency and safety, research and technology and sustainable aviation biofuels to create value for both companies and their customers.
“This agreement enables integration of Boeing products on a highly affordable turboprop aircraft that offers unique close air support capabilities to customers worldwide,” said Dennis Muilenburg, president and CEO of Boeing Defense, Space & Security. “Boeing direct attack weapons are combat-proven and in inventory with the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, and 27 international military customers.”
On June 26, Boeing and Embraer announced a collaboration on the KC-390 program to share some specific technical knowledge and evaluate markets where they may join efforts for medium-lift military transport opportunities.
To date, the Super Tucano fleet has logged more than 157,000 flight hours, including 23,000 combat hours, with no combat losses. The aircraft also is certified for more than 130 munitions configurations. It has been selected by 10 customers around the world.
