The US Air Force (USAF) has awarded a firm-fixed-price, indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract to Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) and Embraer to deliver the Light Air Support (LAS) aircraft as part of its partner-building efforts in Afghanistan and other nations.

Under the $355m contract, 20 A-29 Super Tucano aircraft will be delivered to USAF along with pilot training and support for all maintenance and supply requirements for the aircraft, as well as other related support equipment.

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The aircraft, including ground training devices (GTD) such as simulators and planning stations, will be provided by Embraer, while in-field logistic support, pilot and maintenance training will be provided by SNC.

The A-29 Super Tucano, designed for counterinsurgency missions, will be used by the USAF to conduct advanced flight training, aerial reconnaissance and light air support operations.

The Tucano aircraft, powered by a PT6A-68A turboprop engine, is equipped with conventional and laser-guided bombs, air-to-air missiles, electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) sensors and secure radios with datalink communications.

The aircraft, capable of operating in extremely rugged terrain and austere conditions, features intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities and provides a range of munitions configurations including precision-guided munitions.

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The LAS programme aims to provide a low-cost, non-developmental solution for the warfighter to help meet their requirements in a counterinsurgency environment.

Work will be carried out at the companies’ facilities in Jacksonville, Florida, US, with parts and services supplied by 70 US-based companies.

More than 150 A-29 Super Tucanos are currently in use worldwide and have logged over 130,000 flight hours, including 18,000 combat hours.