SAO JOSE DOS CAMPOS, Brazil, Nov. 15 (UPI) -- Indonesia's Ministry of Defense has contracted Brazilian manufacturer Embraer for eight Super Tucano light attack turboprops.
The deal includes ground support stations and an integrated logistics package.
Deliveries will begin in 2012, the company said.
"We are very pleased to have the Indonesian air force as the newest customer of Embraer Defense Systems," said Orlando Jose Ferreira Neto, Embraer executive vice president, Defense Market. "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 Indonesia's needs."
The Super Tucano will replace a fleet of OV-10 Broncos due to its flexibility to perform a broad range of missions, including light attack, surveillance, air-to-air interception and counterinsurgency operation.
The aircraft, designed to operate from unpaved runways, comes with a wide variety of external options, including conventional and laser-guided bombs, air-to-air missiles and others.
Embraer said the aircraft is also equipped with Electro-Optical/Infrared sensors, including laser designator and secure radios with datalink communications.
