SNC, Embraer to jointly fly in USAF OA-X experiment with A-29 Super Tucano.

“SNC is proud to participate in the USAF's effort to enhance warfighter support and bring greater value and affordability to the American taxpayer,” said Taco Gilbert, senior vice president for SNC´s Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance (ISR) business area. “Partnering with Embraer, we’re proud to present the U.S.-made, combat-proven A-29 as part of this experiment.”

The OA-X experiment is part of the USAF’s effort to explore the benefits of acquiring a new, low-cost, non-developmental light attack aircraft to provide close air support and other missions in permissive and semi-permissive environments, reduce fighter pilot training costs, and accelerate pilot seasoning. The OA-X will accomplish those objectives while preserving and extending the service lives of other jet fleets.

“The A-29 is uniquely suited for training and seasoning fighter pilots,” said Jackson Schneider, president and CEO of Embraer Defense & Security. “This means more highly-trained pilots more quickly and less expensively, while allowing other platforms to do the work they do best.”

Manufactured in Florida and in use by a dozen air forces worldwide, the A-29 is a durable, versatile and powerful turboprop aircraft capable of carrying out a wide range of fighter and ISR missions. The USAF-certified A-29 is combat-proven in Afghanistan and in theaters around the globe.