SNC buys single Super Tucano in anticipation of A-29 FMS deal

Brazil’s Embraer and US-based Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) announced on 23 September 2025 that have entered into an agreement for the sale of one A-29 Super Tucano light attack aircraft to SNC. The sale is being made in advance of a pending Foreign Military Sales (FMS) case for which the customer has not been named

SNC’s early investment in the aircraft allows the companies’ foreign partner to immediately begin pilot training upon the signing of the anticipated contract award. It also reduces time to initial operational capability (IOC) by as much as a year, according to A-29 designer Embraer.

The aircraft will be manufactured at the Embraer defence production line located in Jacksonville, Florida. Over the course of a decade, SNC and Embraer have worked together to deliver nearly 50 A-29s for US and Foreign Military Sales customers (three A-29Cs are operated by the US Air Force Special Operations Command).

“It is with great satisfaction that we see the A-29 made in the United States continuing its successful history,” Frederico Lemos, chief commercial officer at Embraer Defense & Security, was quoted as saying in an Embraer press release. “The Super Tucano offers unmatched light attack and multi-mission capabilities that are both effective and affordable to meet US and allied forces’ needs. At the same time, we are confident that our relationship with SNC, which extends for more than 10 years, will continue to expand given that an increased number of FMS customers are seeing a growing need for this sort of capability.”

“SNC is well known for investing early and often in programmes we believe in to expedite progress and performance on behalf of the warfighter,” added SNC senior vice president of strategy and technology Ray Fitzgerald. “By proactively pursuing this aircraft we are happy to provide faster IOC and increased training time for the pilots who will soon fly this aircraft. We’ve long known the benefits of the A-29 Super Tucano and with increasing FMS demand worldwide, we’re proud to continue offering this outstanding aircraft to the US and its allies and we look forward to continuing our longstanding relationship with Embraer.”

The A-29 Super Tucano fulfills a wide range of missions such as advanced pilot training; close air support; air patrolling; air interdiction; joint terminal attack controller training; armed intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR); border surveillance; and air escort duties.