Four A-29 Super Tucano aircraft will arrive in Paraguay, significantly strengthening the country’s air fleet. According to Defence Minister Óscar González, this delivery represents the first batch of a six-unit order. The remaining two aircraft are expected in the coming months. The first four jets will arrive by the end of June 2025.
Embraer delivers Paraguay’s new combat aircraft
Embraer, Brazil’s leading aerospace manufacturer, built the A-29 Super Tucano aircraft. According to official sources, Lieutenant Colonel Fabio Crispín Candia travelled to Brazil to oversee test flights and conduct a comprehensive review of the aircraft’s technical documentation.
The total order includes six Embraer EMB-314 Super Tucanos, classified in Paraguay as light fighter jets but internationally recognised as light attack aircraft. The acquisition cost the Paraguayan government approximately US$105 million.
Super Tucano Paraguay: missions and training plans
The Paraguayan Air Force is preparing for the integration of the Super Tucano aircraft into its operations. The training of pilots and maintenance crews is included in the acquisition agreement.
The A-29 Super Tucano jets will primarily combat drug trafficking, enhance airspace security, and intercept unauthorised flights. Authorities expect the upgraded fleet to significantly boost air patrol capabilities and strengthen Paraguay’s territorial surveillance systems. This forms part of a broader initiative to improve national defence and project regional security readiness.
Radar network to support Super Tucano operations
The deployment of the Super Tucano aircraft is part of a wider defence strategy that includes the installation of new radar systems. These radars are expected to be rolled out over the next 30 months.
One of the radars, currently undergoing repairs in Israel, will be installed in a strategic location to detect illegal air traffic, providing essential support for the new aircraft’s surveillance missions. This aligns with Paraguay’s broader goal of achieving 100% territorial radar coverage, as highlighted in recent national defence plans. Additionally, the government has proposed an update to the Army’s ground vehicle fleet, which has seen no major upgrades since 2012.
Costs of Paraguay’s aircraft deal
Paraguay will finance the aircraft acquisition through a 12-year loan agreement with a fixed annual interest rate of 4.56%. Payments will be made in equal instalments every six months, starting after a two-and-a-half-year grace period. The loan was negotiated by the Ministry of Economy and Finance, while the Ministry of National Defence will oversee the aircraft’s operational use through the Paraguayan Armed Forces and Air Force.
