The U.S. Air Force's Afghanistan program has tapped Sierra Nevada Corporation and partner Embraer Defense & Security to supply six A-29 Super Tucano aircraft to Afghanistan.
The Afghan air force uses the A-29 trainer and light attack aircraft for flight training, aerial reconnaissance and other missions, Embraer said in a company news release Wednesday.
Afghanistan will have 26 A-29s after the delivery of the new planes through the U.S. Air Force program
"We believe this decision demonstrates that the A-29 Super Tucano is the best aircraft for close air support operations, as well as the most proven, reliable and cost-effective solution for counterinsurgency and irregular warfare scenarios," Jackson Schneider, president and CEO of Embraer Defense & Security, said in a statement. "We are honored to continue to support the U.S. Government in this critical mission."
Sierra Nevada and Embraer will start manufacturing the six aircraft in Jacksonville, Fla.
"We are proud to continue our support of the Air Force's A-29 Afghanistan Program as it is not only a testament to the capability of the A-29 aircraft, but also to its ease of operation and cost effectiveness," Taco Gilbert, senior vice president for SNC's ISR business area, said in a statement. "There is no other aircraft like the A-29 in its ability to provide flight training, light attack, and combat pilot seasoning"
Bulgarian pilots refuse to fly MiG-29s over safety concerns
Bulgarian air force pilots refused to fly their Soviet-built MiG-29 jets for planned training on Wednesday, blaming safety concerns and a lack of flight preparation.
"Some of the pilots from Graf Ignatievo air base will not perform training flights because of insecurity," deputy defence minister Atanas Zapryanov confirmed after a report by specialist website Aero about the boycott.
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