Lisbon signed an agreement to purchase 12 of the turboprop-powered counterinsurgency and training aircraft for €200 million ($210.3 million) on Dec. 16, following ministerial approval of the buy earlier this month.
The aircraft will be configured into an A-29N (N for NATO) configuration. It will be equipped with data links, enhanced radio and navigation systems and identification friend or foe transponders.
Local companies Centro de Engenharia e Desenvolvimento de Produto (CEiiA), Empordef Tecnologias de Informação, S.A. (ETI), GMVIS Skysoft, S.A. (GMV) and MRO house OGMA will be involved in the development project through an agreement with Embraer signed in April.
“The project will involve strong participation from Portuguese industry in highly technological areas, with a view to reconfiguring aircraft to NATO standards and specifications,” Portuguese defense officials said ahead of the signing.
CEiiA is an aerospace engineering company that has previously supported KC-390 development. ETI is a simulation and training company, and Skysoft, now part of Spain’s GMV group, is an aerospace software house.
As well as the 12 aircraft, the contract with Portugal also covers the purchase of a flight simulator and a logistics support package.
Lisbon revealed in 2023 that it planned to acquire a close air support aircraft as part of an uptick in national defense spending.
The aircraft are expected to fill the gap created by the retirement of the Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet and will primarily support training and Portugal’s United Nations missions in Africa.
Go back
Investment
Portugal Becomes First European Customer For Super Tucano
Portugal has become the first European country to acquire Embraer’s A-29 Super Tucano.
Aviation Week/AICEP
16th Dec 2024
