Portuguese Defence Minister João Nuno Lacerda Teixeira de Melo announced that the country would soon procure the A-29N Super Tucano as a NATO-compliant version of the light attack turboprop. Minister de Melo announced the National Defence Committee on June 25, 2024, but he did not reveal the delivery schedule or the number of aircraft to be supplied. Portugal is known to be interested in between eight and 12 new light attack aircraft.
The Portuguese Air Force (Força Aérea Portuguesa, FAP) is looking for aircraft capable of carrying out Close Air Support (CAS) missions with a €180.5 million program budget. The A-29N reaches a top speed of 593 kilometres per hour and can remain in the air for approximately 3.5 hours. It can be equipped with machine gun turrets of various calibres, 70 mm rockets, air-to-air and air-to-surface missiles, free-fall bombs and guided bombs.
