Brazil’s Embraer Defense and Security and Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) will take part in the US Air Force's (USAF) capability assessment of non-developmental light attack platforms (OA-X).
Both companies will present the A-29 Super Tucano for the capability assessment. It is said to be the only light air support (LAS) aircraft in the world with a USAF Military Type Certificate.
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The OA-X assessment is expected to begin in July at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico, US.
SNC Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance (ISR) business area senior vice-president Taco Gilbert said: "SNC is proud to participate in the USAF's effort to enhance warfighter support and bring greater value and affordability to the American taxpayer.
"We're proud to present the US-made, combat-proven A-29 as part of this experiment."
The operation is in line with the USAF's strategy to explore the benefits of acquiring a new, low-cost, non-developmental light attack aircraft to provide close air support and other missions in permissive and semi-permissive environments. It will also reduce fighter pilot training costs and accelerate pilot seasoning.
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By GlobalDataEmbraer Defense and Security president and CEO Jackson Schneider said: "The A-29 is uniquely suited for training and seasoning fighter pilots.
"This means more highly-trained pilots more quickly and less expensively while allowing other platforms to do the work they do best."
Built by Embraer, the A-29 is currently in service with several air forces across the globe.
The turboprop aircraft can be used to perform a wide range of fighter and ISR missions.
The USAF-certified A-29 is combat-proven in Afghanistan and in theatres around the globe.
Image: A US Super Tucano in flight. Photo: courtesy of the US Air Force.
