The Guatemalan government has confirmed that it is finalising negotiations with Brazilian and Spanish banks to finance the planned purchase of a defence package to include six Embraer EMB-314 Super Tucanos.
Local officials said the Guatemalan air force is likely to initiate negotiations for the Super Tucanos later this year, once the financing arrangements have been settled. The service hopes to receive its first examples in late 2012.
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Guatemala first selected the Super Tucano in late 2009 to replace its current two Cessna A-37B Dragonflys in countering drug-related illegal flights. At that time, the air force had intended to buy 10 of the aircraft, but persistent funding problems have, until now, precluded an acquisition from being completed.
Also included in the planned $166 million package are a new surveillance radar and air traffic control radars to be manufactured by São Paulo-based Atech.
Source: Flight International
