The Brazilian and Peruvian governments have signed a wide-ranging defence agreement covering mutual assistance and the procurement of new materiel and services for the latter's armed forces.
Among the key items within the mid-February agreement are the planned purchase of Embraer EMB-314 Super Tucanos, modernisation of Peru's EMB-312 Tucanos and the nation's participation in Embraer's KC-390 tactical transport programme.
Budgetary constraints have repeatedly thwarted Peruvian air force plans to acquire Super Tucanos to replace its remaining Cessna A-37B light strike aircraft. However, during Peruvian defence minister Alberto Otárola's recent visit to Brazil, it was disclosed that negotiations for the purchase of 10 EMB-314s had been initiated. An order is expected to value about $150 million.
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Peru has also discussed its possible entry into the EMB-312 Tucano modernisation programme, jointly developed by the Brazilian air force and Embraer.
Otárola said Lima intends to cycle 20 Tucanos through Embraer this year. Its air force took delivery of 30 EMB-312s from 1987, but subsequently sold six to Angola. Its active inventory includes 16 of the type, as recorded by Flightglobal's MiliCAS database.
Peru's interest in potentially acquiring an undisclosed number of KC-390s to support its army is conditional on its aerospace companies securing an industrial role in the programme.
Source: Flight International
