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Indonesia Selects Super Tucano
Indonesia has decided to go ahead with the purchase of eight Embraer EMB-314 Super Tucano light-attack aircraft.
The deal for eight aircraft still needs to be finalized, but the turboprops are intended for use by the Indonesian air force to replace its OV-10 Broncos, says Embraer. The Broncos were built in the 1960s and most are no longer operational.
Embraer says it will start delivering the Super Tucanos to Indonesia in 2012. Indonesia is the first Asia-Pacific country to order the aircraft, which has a strong customer base in Latin America.
The deal also includes ground support stations and an integrated logistics package, it adds.
The Super Tucano is a proven light-attack and advanced trainer turboprop, flying currently in five air forces, and we are certain it will perfectly suit Indonesias needs, says Embraer executive vice president for the defense market, Orlando Neto.
Embraer pitched for the Indonesian contract against Korea Aerospace Industries which proposed the KT-1, a trainer aircraft that is already in the Indonesian air forces fleet. This trainer aircraft can be equipped with weaponry to make it a light attack aircraft.
Switzerlands Pilatus declined to participate in the competition because it has a policy of not marketing light attack aircraft to developing nations. Indonesia used its Broncos in the 1970-1990s to suppress Timor-Lestes Fretilin independence movement. Timor-Leste gained independence in 2002.
Indonesia Selects Super Tucano | AVIATION WEEK
