Following the supply earlier this 12 months, the primary Portuguese Tremendous Tucanos have been retrofitted with NATO-compatible techniques.
The Portuguese Air Power (Força Aérea Portuguesa – FAP) acquired on Dec. 17, 2025, the primary 5 of its A-29N Tremendous Tucanos transformed to NATO requirements from Embraer, the service and the corporate introduced. The retrofit of the mission techniques, communication, avionics, navigation and knowledge hyperlinks required for the alliance’s army operations passed off on the amenities of OGMA, an Embraer subsidiary.
The 5 airframes are part of a 12-aircraft order, price €200 million ($210 million), signed in Dec. 2024. The primary three plane landed at OGMA’s amenities in Alverca do Ribatejo on Aug. 31, 2025.
The FAP introduced on Nov. 8, 2025, the supply of two extra plane. All Tremendous Tucanos will fly to Air Base No. 11 in Beja for formal supply to Squadron 101 “Roncos”, the FAP mentioned in a press release.
Whereas Portugal is the primary European operator of the A-29 Tremendous Tucano, the FAP added that its A-29s are additionally the primary on the earth within the A-29N configuration. The ‘N’ designation represents the NATO customary configuration.
The A-29Ns in Portuguese service shall be used each for pilot coaching, mild assault and reconnaissance roles. Each FAP and Embraer underscored the plane’s counter-drone functionality, and the broader Brazilian-Portuguese partnership driving Lisbon’s industrial, technological improvement and employment technology targets.
A #ForçaAérea dá um passo decisivo no reforço das suas capacidades.
Os primeiros #A29N Tremendous Tucano, com configuração #NATO, inauguram uma nova period na instrução de pilotos e no apoio aéreo próximo, colocando #Portugal na linha da frente da aviação militar europeia.#SuperTucano pic.twitter.com/uJ64wkth37
— Força Aérea Portuguesa (@fap_pt) December 17, 2025
This mirrored within the signing of an LoI (Letter of Curiosity) for “the set up of an aeronautical manufacturing unit in Beja, with the capability to fabricate A-29N Tremendous Tucano plane in Portugal, producing expert jobs that may profit the Portuguese economic system and trade,” the FAP launch mentioned.
The Tremendous Tucano is a broadly used coach plane, operated by 22 air forces which collectively flew 600,000 flight hours. The U.S. Air Power and Portugal are two outstanding customers, with the previous’s Check Pilot College receiving three items early in October 2024.
‘Very important for Portuguese air pressure modernization and future operations’
The handover that passed off at OGMA’s facility was attended by the Minister of Nationwide Defence, Nuno Melo, and the FAP Chief of Employees, Normal João Cartaxo Alves. Alves mentioned the supply of the NATO-compatible A-29s mark a “decisive step” within the FAP’s modernization, “reinforcing its robustness and technological capability.”
“Past changing pilot coaching tools that has been in operation for nearly 4 many years, this acquisition additionally permits for the strengthening of recent capabilities, specifically in shut air assist in joint and/or mixed operations, guaranteeing the armed safety of forces on the bottom. In parallel, the Air Power reaffirms itself as a benchmark amongst its peer forces, working the primary A-29N Tremendous Tucano with NATO configuration, guaranteeing Portugal a place of strategic benefit and a return for the nationwide economic system,” Alves mentioned.
Defence minister Nuno Melo emphasised the “confirmed floor assault” functionality the A-29 brings. “We’re additionally speaking about new situations. The Tremendous Tucano now gives the opportunity of finishing up anti-drone fight missions, proving the flexibleness of the plane chosen by the Air Power. I emphasize ‘chosen by the Air Power’, with political choices supported by technical opinions,” said Nuno Melo.
Counter-drone A-29 Tremendous Tucano
An unidentified drone incursion at a French Navy (Marine Nationale) nuclear submarine base earlier this month and Russian drones intruding into Polish airspace in mid-September had once more upheld the significance of cost-effective, easy platforms to counter low cost and uneven unmanned threats. The necessity for such capabilities has additionally been strengthened in constant warfare traits, from the Ukrainian entrance to the Center East.
Embraer had implied concerning the A-29 being upgraded with the APKWS II system in its counter-UAS position pitch for the plane, leveraging the guided rocket system’s confirmed utility towards Houthi threats. An indication of that fusion would additional enhance prospects for the Tremendous Tucano in flashpoints going through drone, low-intensity battle and insurgency threats.
The present A-29s have two wing-mounted .50 cal machine weapons and an EO/IR (Electro-Optical/Infra-Crimson) sensor turret, permitting a fundamental counter-drone functionality.
NEWS | Embraer delivers first A-29N Tremendous Tucano to the Portuguese Air Power @fap_pt and declares potential meeting line in Portugal. Learn full information: @OGMA_PT pic.twitter.com/A0Yb48oofl
— Embraer (@embraer) December 17, 2025
“Counting on A-29 options in operation and new sensors, together with particular datalinks for receiving preliminary goal coordinates and queueing, the Electro-Optical/ Infra-Crimson (EO/IR) sensor for laser monitoring and designation, in addition to the laser guided rockets and the wing-mounted .50 machine weapons for neutralizing focused Unmanned Aerial Methods (UAS), the Operational Idea (CONOPS) outlined by Embraer will permit present and future A-29 operators so as to add counter drone missions to their operational profiles at any time when wanted,” Embraer had mentioned in its C-UAS pitch for the A-29.
A-29’s and Embraer’s future
Embraer Protection and Safety’s CEO Bosco da Costa Junior mentioned the supply speaks to the broader Brazilian and Portuguese “strategic partnership,” which now consists of the FAP’s A-29N Tremendous Tucano improve, the KC-390 and the LoI for an meeting line for the A-29. “There’s rising curiosity in using the A-29 for counter-UAS missions in Europe, and a possible meeting line in Portugal paves the best way for the event of recent enterprise and broader cooperation with the Portuguese protection trade,” additional added the CEO.
The brand new meeting line proposed in Beja would, if authorized, turn into the third such facility on the earth, after Gaviao Peixoto, Brazil, and Jacksonville, Florida. Aviation Week quoted a press release by the Portuguese Ministry of Nationwide Defence, which talked about that the power would additionally assemble A-29s for future European customers.
As we speak, Embraer delivered the primary 5 A-29N Tremendous Tucanos to the Portuguese Air Power and signed a Letter of Intent for potential institution of an A-29N meeting line in Portugal, the primary nation to function the NATO’s A-29 configured plane. Watch now to study extra. pic.twitter.com/PCV9tVmkN7
— Embraer (@embraer) December 17, 2025
The Tremendous Tucano’s coach and ISR-strike functionality has already been operationally confirmed. Origin nation and the A-29’s first person Brazil additionally introduced in late 2024 a significant improve of its 68 A-29A/Bs (army designation of the EMB 314) to the A-29M customary, which amongst others, included a BR-2 datalink to community with its Saab F-39E Gripens.
This could additionally assist Gradual Transferring Intercept (SMI) roles towards small plane carrying narcotics. Portugal can also be an Embraer C/KC-390 Millenium person, amongst different present and future European operators together with Sweden, Czech Republic, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Slovakia and Austria.
