PAF receives the 'Super Tucanos'

Aviation Updates Philippines – The Philippine Air Force (PAF) has finally received four of its six brand-new Embraer A-29 Super Tucano attack and counter-insurgency aircraft as the flight of four landed at Clark Air Base on Saturday afternoon.

Before it landed in Clark, the 'Super Tucanos' made a low-pass over Cesar Basa Air Base, the current home of the 5th Fighter Wing. The four aircraft came from Brazil and flew its way home through the Middle East, Asia, and finally Vietnam before flying direct to the Philippines.

Per various reports from sources, two of the six aircraft did not arrive in Ho Chi Minh City on time for its last stop. AUP is still contacting sources to confirm the location and condition of these A-29s. 

The procurement of these six aircraft is part of the Php 4.87 billion Close Air Support Aircraft Acquisition Project of the Philippine Air Force under Horizon 1. According to MaxDefense Philippines, the A-29s are slated to replace the SIAI-Marchetti SF.260 and, eventually, the OV-10 Bronco.

The delivery of PAF's A-29 was delayed in part of the COVID-19 pandemic among other concerns. PAF's latest assets were initially scheduled to be delivered by batch beginning November 2019 until early-2020.

Aside from these close air support aircraft, the PAF is also expecting the delivery of its Gulfstream G280 private jet, currently in Guam, within the next few hours. The G280 will be designated as a Command and Control aircraft for the use of high-ranking officials, especially the President.

Photo from Burmarrad (Mark) Camenzuli