Embraer to Convert Super Tucano into Drone Hunter
Embraer announced a new operational concept for its A-29 Super Tucano aircraft, expanding its mission portfolio to include counter-drone operations designed to address evolving battlefield threats.
According to a press release from Embraer, the A-29’s new configuration integrates sensors, data links, and precision weapons to detect, track, and destroy unmanned aerial systems (UAS) effectively and at low cost. The update leverages the platform’s existing capabilities while introducing mission-specific systems optimized for counter-UAS engagements.
The company said the enhanced A-29 employs dedicated data links to receive target coordinates, an Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) sensor for laser tracking and designation, and a combination of laser-guided rockets and wing-mounted .50-caliber machine guns to neutralize hostile drones. The operational concept (CONOPS), Embraer noted, allows current and future A-29 operators to integrate counter-drone missions into their standard mission sets with minimal modification.
“We continue to expand the A-29’s capabilities to address the most recent challenges faced by many nations worldwide,” said Bosco da Costa Junior, President and CEO of Embraer Defense & Security. “The continued challenges in modern warfare and the recent conflicts worldwide have shown the urgent need for solutions to fight drones. The A-29 is the ideal tool to counter UAS effectively and at low cost, adding to the aircraft’s already extensive mission set that includes close air support, armed reconnaissance, advanced training, and many others.”
The A-29 Super Tucano, long regarded for its versatility and ruggedness, is a turboprop aircraft designed for combat and training operations in harsh environments. Its robust design allows it to operate from unimproved airstrips and forward operating bases, supporting a wide range of missions including close air support, air interdiction, border surveillance, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR).
Embraer said the aircraft’s combination of agility, advanced avionics, and cost efficiency makes it particularly suited for nations seeking a practical solution to emerging aerial threats. With more than 600,000 flight hours logged globally, the Super Tucano is currently in service with 22 air forces worldwide, establishing itself as the leading light attack and multi-mission aircraft in its category.
Equipped with advanced avionics, a human-machine interface, and an integrated communications suite, the A-29 can perform precision engagements with minimal ground support. Its low maintenance requirements and high operational availability continue to make it an attractive choice for countries balancing defense readiness with cost constraints.
Embraer’s initiative also highlights how middle-tier defense manufacturers are responding rapidly to the proliferation of unmanned threats, a trend increasingly relevant to both U.S. tactical aviation and partner-nation security cooperation programs.