Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer is actively working with an existing customer to integrate and certify a counter-drone capability on its A-29 Super Tucano light attack turboprop. Speaking Sept. 15 at the Air & Space Forces Association conference near Washington, D.C., Frederico Lemos, chief commercial officer for Embraer's defense unit, confirmed the initiative falls under the broader A-29NX modernization program. The upgrade includes a large area cockpit display, a video data link to improve pilot situational awareness, and external fuel tanks designed to extend loitering time during anti-drone operations.
The counter-unmanned aerial system (C-UAS) suite builds on previous developments, including a March partnership with U.S. firm Valkyrie Aero to add artificial intelligence capabilities to the aircraft. The single-engine Super Tucano can already carry electro-optical targeting sensors and BAE Systems 70 mm APKWS laser-guided rockets, which offer a low-cost solution for intercepting drones. Combined with an operating cost of roughly $1,500 per flight hour, the platform is well-suited for targeting large numbers of slow-moving aerial threats at low altitudes.
While Lemos declined to identify the customer or provide a certification timeline, he noted that Embraer is already offering the capability to the market. Portugal stands out as a likely candidate, having served as the launch customer for the NATO-standard A-29N variant and receiving its first batch of five aircraft in December 2025. Portugal also hosts MRO provider OGMA, an Embraer-majority-owned facility responsible for conducting NATO-required modifications on aircraft such as the KC-390 tanker-transport.
