Colombia’s defence ministry has closed its tender process for the $230 million acquisition of at least 22 light strike aircraft, confirming that Brazil’s Embraer is the only company to have submitted a bid.

Colombia plans to replace its Cessna A-37B and Rockwell OV-10A fleets with the new strike aircraft through the tender, which attracted early interest from several turboprop and light jet manufacturers.

Raytheon had intended to offer its T-6B Texan II for the requirement, but formally withdrew its bid last month. Company officials say that the defence ministry’s requirements – such as the specification of an internal gun mount – unfairly favoured Embraer’s EMB-314 Super Tucano. Lockheed Martin Aircraft Argentina also promoted its AT-63 Pampa to Colombia, but decided not to respond to the tender.

Other previous contenders included the Aermacchi MB339FD, Aero Vodochody L-159B, Avioane IAR-99 Soim, Catic K-8, Korea Aerospace Industries KTO-1 and Yakovlev Yak-130.

Source: Flight International

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