Training Key Role For Portugal’s Future Fleet Of Super Tucanos

LISBON, Portugal—With the procurement of the Embraer A-29 Super Tucano, Portugal is looking to streamline its pilot training pipeline and reduce the country’s reliance on the U.S.

In December, Portugal became the first European nation to order the A-29 in a new NATO configuration, designated A-29N, which sees it equipped with NATO-compatible data links, enhanced radio and navigation systems, and identification friend-or-foe transponders.

Now it has emerged that the A-29 procurement is part of a Portuguese effort to bring the training pipeline back into the country. Fast jet pilots destined for the F-16 currently train on the De Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk for elementary instruction, before moving on to the Aerospatiale/Socata TB-30 Epsilon for advanced training. Recent years have seen the service send students to the U.S. Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training Program (ENJJPT).

Portugal is a signatory to ENJJPT, but did not make regular use of the training system until 2023. With the A-29’s arrival, the Portuguese hope to provide training organically up to Phase Four, the stage that readies students for their frontline combat aircraft.

“By going with the A-29, the intent is to put the TB-30 aside and replace it with the A-29 ... and the intent is to perform the Phase 4 training here,” Brig. Gen. Joao Rui Ramos Nogueira, chief of the service’s Engineering and Programs Directorate, told journalists here March 26. “There is increased pressure on us for training, but ENJJPT is lacking slots for training and every air force is looking and asking for a solution ... This effort relieves that pressure.”

Portugal’s DHC-1s are among the oldest operational military aircraft in Europe, and the service is taking steps to replace these as well.

In February it was reported in the Portuguese media that 12 Cirrus-made aircraft of an undisclosed model would be ordered to replace the Chipmunk.

Portugal also plans to use the A-29s in the close support and counterinsurgency role, particularly in Africa, where the country’s military is deployed on peacekeeping missions.

Embraer believes more European countries will follow Portugal’s example in acquiring the Super Tucano because of the aircraft’s ability to tackle threats at less cost than the fighters that equip most European countries.

There also is interest from nations in the aircraft’s ability to “employ real weapon delivery for training,” Frederico Lemos, chief commercial officer for Embraer’s Defense and Security business, told reporters.