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 Ecuadorian Air
Force Commander, Gen. Rodrigo Bohorquez
informed in a press conference that the
Ecuadorian Air Force (FAE) will purchase 24
light strike turbo props Embraer EMB-314
Super Tucano, along with fast response
radars and a further upgrade of the existing Kfir C-2/CE fleet. The budget for the
purchase is USD 270 mio and the decision was
taken based on price, versatility and
for being the most adaptable aircraft to the
country's needs, specially with border
control and counter-insurgency. Also,
President Rafael Correa made a public
statement where the FAE will be modernized
in a faster pace due to the recent intrusion
of Colombian airplanes (Super Tucanos) on last March 1st where FARC leader Raul Reyes
was killed in a night attack to a hidden
camp in Ecuadorian soil. |
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The EMB-314
Super Tucano, also called ALX or A-29 is a turboprop
aircraft conceived for the light attack role,
counter-insurgency and training, with modern flight
controls and weapons systems. Is being extensively
used by the Brazilian Air Force and the Colombian
Air Force to monitor operations over the Amazonas
basin and the rain forest. |
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Built
by Embraer, made the first flight on June 2 1999 and
enter operational service with the Brazilian Air
Force in 2000. Until now 126 planes were built. |
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Variants |
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A-29A - One seat, for reconnaissance and air
support with a capability to intercept and destroy
small aircrafts. |
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A-29B - Two seats, with same functions as the
A-29A and also being used s a trainer. |
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Users |
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Brazil - Keeps operating 99 aircrafts |
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Colombia
- Recently acquired 25 units for counter-insurgency
role. |
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Dominicanan Republic - Received 2 aircrafts
early this year and expects to receive further 8
until the end of the year. |
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Indonesia - Showed interest to buy
A-29A's and B's to replace their aging OV-10F Broncos. |
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Brazilian
Air Force (Juliano Damasio) |
Colombian
Air Force (Fabio Laranjeira) |
Humor by
Roberto Bertazzo |
Humor by
Roque (Diario El Comercio) |
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| Specifications |
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Overall Lenght: |
11.30 m
(37 ft 4
in) |
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Span: |
11.14 m (36 ft 6 in) |
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Height: |
3.97 m (13 ft) |
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Wing Area: |
19.4 m2 (208.82 sqft) |
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Weight Empty: |
3,020 kg (6,658 lbs) |
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Normal Weight on Take Off: |
4,520 kg (9,965 lbs) |
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Maximum Weight on Take Off: |
5,200 kg (11,464 lbs) |
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Maximum Speed: |
593 kph (368 mph) |
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Service Ceiling: |
10,670 m (35,006 ft) |
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Range: |
4,820 km (2,995 mi) |
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Power Plant: |
Pratt & Whitney PT6A-68C |
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Armament: |
2 x 12.7 mm machine guns |
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1 x 20 mm cannon |
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4 hard points for 70 mm rockets |
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Standard or Smart Bombs |
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2 x AIM-9 Sidewinder air-air missile, or
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2 x MAA-1 Piranha air-air missile, or |
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2 x Phyton 3 or 4 air-air missile |
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| Modeling |
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There
is only one resin kit known in 1/72 scale and
manufactured by Duarte Models from Brazil and
distributed by
Liberty Quality Kit. Click the picture below to
see a complete review of this kit by
Francisco
Bonilla and published at
Aircraft Resource Center. |
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