The resolution of the Council of Ministers was published, approved last week, which authorizes the continuation of negotiations initiated by the previous Government to purchase A-29s for the Air Force.
The resolution of the Council of Ministers that authorizes the “beginning of technical and business discussions” with the Brazilian company Embraer, with a view to the eventual acquisition of A-29 Super Tucano aircraft, was published on Friday in Diário da República.
Defense Minister, Nuno Melo, will be responsible for conducting negotiations, which had already been initiated by the previous Government. In April last year, the then prime minister, António Costa, and the President of Brazil, Lula da Silva, signed a memorandum of understanding that aimed at “the development of technologies related to the A-29 Super Tucano aircraft, in its recently launched A-29N version, aimed at responding to the needs of NATO member countries”.
Embraer describes the A-29 Super Tucano as a “light attack aircraft, armed reconnaissance and advanced training”, that can carry out “surveillance, aerial interception and counterinsurgency”. These aircraft would take the place of the old Alpha Jet of the Portuguese Air Force, who stopped flying six years ago.
The follow-up given by the Government of Luís Montenegro to the negotiations initiated by his predecessor is part of the objective of strengthening the Defense industry, both in terms of investment, as well as existing resources, including companies in the sector.
In accordance with the resolution of the Council of Ministers, approved at the meeting of 4 July, the eventual acquisition of A-29 Super Tucano results from the “Close Support Aircraft” project, enrolled in the Military Programming Law, which aims to reinforce close air support capabilities in military operations with deployed national forces, particularly not African continent.
The “necessary improvements” that Embraer aircraft require for participation in operations within the scope of NATO and for the satisfaction of the missions of the Portuguese Armed Forces in question “can be designed and implemented with the involvement of the cluster Portuguese aeronautics within the scope of the Defense Technological and Industrial Base (BTID)", but no diploma.
