Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucano

infobox Aircraft
name = EMB 314 / A-29 Super Tucano

---

caption =
type = Counter-insurgency
manufacturer = Embraer
first flight = 1996
introduction = 2003
retired =
status = In service
primary user = Brazilian Air Force
more users = Colombian Air Force
Blackwater Worldwide
Chilean Air Force
produced =
number built = 124
unit cost =
developed from = Embraer EMB-312 Tucano
variants with their own articles =

The Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucano, also named ALX or A-29 is a turboprop aircraft designed for light attack, counter insurgency (COIN) and pilot training missions, incorporating modern avionics and weapons systems. It is currently in use by the air forces of Brazil, Colombia, Guatemala and the Dominican Republic. Embraer has plans to sell it to other countries in Asia and the Middle East. Besides pilot training, it is heavily employed in monitoring operations in the Amazon region.

Design and development

The request for a light attack aircraft was part of the Brazilian government's SIVAM (Amazon Monitoring System) Project. This aircraft would fly with the R-99A and R-99B aircraft currently in service and would be responsible for intercepting illegal aircraft flights and patrolling Brazil's borders.

The ALX Project was then created by the Brazilian Air Force, which was also in need of a military trainer to replace the Embraer EMB 326GB Xavante. The project of the new aircraft was suited to the Amazon region (high temperature, moisture, and precipitation; low threat). The ALX was then specified as a turboprop engine aircraft with a long range and autonomy, able to operate in night and day, in any meteorological conditions, and able to land on short airfields lacking infrastructure.

The first flight of a single-seat Super Tucano production aircraft occurred on 2 June 1999. The first flight of the two-seat version occurred on 22 October 1999.

On 11 January 2006 Embraer had a potential sale of 24 units to Venezuela fall through. [http://www.defesanet.com.br/intel/crise_al_54.htm] Fact|date=September 2008

Twenty-four Super Tucano (variant AT-29) were purchased by the Colombian Air Force in a 234 million USD deal, purchased directly from the Brazilian company Embraer. The first three planes arrived in the morning of December 14, 2006 to the military airfield of CATAM in Bogotá. Two more planes were delivered on the week of December 16, 2006, ten more in the first semester of 2007 and the rest in June 2008. [cite web |url=http://www.eltiempo.com/justicia/2006-12-15/ARTICULO-WEB-NOTA_INTERIOR-3366966.html|title=Aterrizaron en Colombia los tres primeros aviones Supertucano para la Fuerza Aérea|date=2006-12-14| publisher=El Tiempo| accessdate = 2006-12-15]

One Super Tucano has also been purchased by a subsidiary of Blackwater Worldwide, an American private military contracting firm. [http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2008-06-01-blackwater-brazlian-fighter-plane_N.htm] USAToday.com - Report: Blackwater buys Brazilian-made fighter plane, 2 June 2008] [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,361322,00.html FoxNews.com - Report: Blackwater Worldwide Purchases Brazilian-Made Fighter Plane, 2 June 2008. ] The plane did not include the machine guns normally attached to the wings.

Reports from The Associated Press are claiming that Embraer is close to closing a deal with the United States for the sale of eight 314-B1 Super Tucanos to be used in Iraq, possibly for border patrol. [http://www.comcast.net/articles/news-world-latinamerica/20080602/Brazil.US.Embraer/ Dead link|date=July 2008]

Variants

;A-29A : Single-seater for attack and armed reconnaissance (on interdiction tasks), attack and cover (on close air support tasks), able to intercept and destroy low performance aircraft.;A-29B : Twin-seater for the same tasks as the single seat version, also used in training and advanced aerial control (on monitoring tasks).

Operators

;BRA
* Brazilian Air Force - 99 units;COL
* Colombian Air Force - 25 units [cite web |url=http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/folha/dinheiro/ult91u433850.shtml|title=Embraer vende Super Tucano para governo do Chile |publisher=folhaonline|accessdate=2008-08-16] , to replace Rockwell OV-10 Bronco and Cessna A-37 Dragonfly.;DOM: 10 units (ordered in June, 2007);USA:
* Blackwater Worldwide (private company) - 1 twin-seater variant for pilot training (delivered in February 2008), possible further orders for counter-insurgency role. [ [http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htairfo/articles/20070827.aspx Warplanes: Blackwater Buys Brazilian Bombers ] ] [ [http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/the-penny-drops-coin-aircraft-for-blackwater-03703/ The Penny Drops: COIN Aircraft for Blackwater? - Defense Industry Daily ] ] [ [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,361322,00.html FOXNews.com - Report: Blackwater Worldwide Purchases Brazilian-Made Fighter Plane - International News | News of the World | Middle East News | Europe News ] ]

;CHI: 12 ordered. [cite web |url=http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/folha/dinheiro/ult91u433850.shtml|title=Embraer vende Super Tucano para governo do Chile |publisher=folhaonline|accessdate=2008-08-16] ;GUA: 10 (ordered in 2008).;ECU: 24 ordered. [cite web |url=http://ultimosegundo.ig.com.br/economia/2008/08/15/governo_do_chile_compra_12_avioes_supertucano_da_embraer_1568937.html|title=Governo do Chile compra 12 aviões Supertucano da Embraer |publisher=ultimosegundo|accessdate=2008-08-16]

pecifications (EMB 314)

aircraft specification

plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop
crew=One pilot on single seat version, one pilot plus one navigator/student on double seat version
length main=11.33 m
length alt=37.17 ft
span main=11.14 m
span alt=36.55 ft
height main=3.97 m
height alt=13.02 ft
area main=19.4 m²
area alt=208.82 sq ft
height alt=13.02 ft
empty weight main=3,020 kg
empty weight alt=6,658 lb
loaded weight main=4,520 kg
loaded weight alt=9,965 lb
max takeoff weight main=5,200 kg
max takeoff weight alt=11,464 lb
engine (prop)=Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-68C
type of prop=
number of props=1
power main=1,600 hp
power alt=1,193 kW
max speed main=593 km/h
max speed alt=320 knots, 368 mph
range main=4,820 km
range alt=2,995 mi
ceiling main=10,670 m
ceiling alt=35,008 ft
climb rate main=24 m/s
climb rate alt=79 ft/s
armament=
* 2x 12.7 mm FN Herstal M3P machine guns
* 1x 20 mm cannon pod below the fuselage
* 4x 70 mm rocket launcher pods
* Conventional and intelligent bombs
* 2x AIM-9 Sidewinder or MAA-1 Piranha or Python 3/4 air-to-air missiles
* External stores on 5 hardpoints

ee also

aircontent
related=
* Embraer EMB 312 Tucano
* Short Tucano
similar aircraft=
* KAI KT-1
* PA-48 Enforcer
* Pilatus PC-21
* PZL-130 Orlik
* T-6 Texan II
lists=
see also=

References

External links

* [http://www.embraer.com.br/english/content/aeronaves/super_tucano.asp Embraer Super Tucano page in English]
* [http://www.fab.mil.br Brazilian Air Force]
* [http://www.sipam.gov.br SIPAM]
* [http://www.sivam.gov.br SIVAM]
* [http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=063_1182300981 EMB-314 shoot-down video.] Video of Colombian Tucano shooting down light airplane over Colombian jungle.