The Philippines has down selected the Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucano light attack aircraft to replace the aging Philippine Air Force OV-10 Bronco.
Under the Department of National Defense “1st Horizon” procurement programme to re-equip the Philippine Armed Forces (PAF) by 2025, the Super Tucano was evaluated by the PAF along with the Textron AT-6 which failed to pass the Air Force’s evaluation programme.
Powered by 1,600shp (1,200kw) Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-68C turboprop, the Super Tucano is armed with two internal, wing-mounted .50 cal. machine guns and can carry various ordnance on five weapon hardpoints including Giat NC621 20mm cannon pods, Mk 81/82 bombs, MAA-1 Piranha AAMs, BLG-252 cluster bombs, and SBAT-70/19 or LAU-68A/G rocket pods on its underwing stations. It has a night-vision goggle (NVG)-compatible glass cockpit with hands-on-throttle-and-stick (HOTAS) controls.
The PAF has a requirement for six Embraer Super Tucanos with options for additional aircraft in the future.
The Indonesian Air Force (Tentara Nasional Indonesia-Angkatan Udara, TNI–AU) has ordered a total of 16 Super Tucanos, the last of which were delivered in September 2014, and the aircraft has been offered to the Royal Thai Air Force.
