Chile has received its first batch of four Embraer EMB-314 Super Tucano trainer/light attack aircraft from a 2008 order for 12 examples.
Handed over at the Brazilian manufacturer's São José dos Campos site in late December, the armed turboprops will be used to deliver a new pilot training capability for the Chilean air force, and operate beneath its Lockheed Martin F-16 fighters for possible combat duty.
"The Chilean air force will now have the flexibility of the best light-attack aircraft for counter-insurgency and irregular warfare [missions]," says Orlando José Ferreira Neto, Embraer's vice-president, defence market.
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Both images © Embraer |
In addition to delivering the Super Tucano aircraft, Embraer's deal with Santiago also includes the provision of a package of logistics support. It is also providing training services including mission planning and debriefing equipment and a flight simulator.
Embraer also during December delivered its first two of eight EMB-314 light attack aircraft on order for the Dominican Republic. The company has previously delivered 25 Super Tucanos to Colombia, while the Brazilian air force has so far received 83.
Chile's air force already has nine CASA-built C-101 jet trainers in use, plus 19 Enaer T-35s, according to Flightglobal's MiliCAS database.
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Source: Flight International
