Angola receives Super Tucanos

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SAO PAULO, Feb. 1 (UPI) -- The first of two batches of trainer/attack aircraft built for the Angolan air force of Angola has been delivered by Brazil's Embraer Defense and Security.

The three aircraft -- A-29 Super Tucano turboprops -- were delivered in Brazil to Angolan authorities.

"The selection of the Super Tucano by the National Air Force of Angola demonstrates the great potential of this aircraft in Africa," said Luiz Carlos Aguiar, president of Embraer Defense and Security.

"It is a robust, versatile and very efficient combat-proven aircraft with low operating costs and has generated great interest among other African nations."

The Super Tucano, operated or ordered by 10 countries, has a maximum speed of 367 miles per hour, a range of 720 nautical miles and a combat radius of 300 nautical miles.

It was designed for light attack, counter insurgency, close air support, aerial reconnaissance missions as well as for pilot training and is capable of utilizing more than 130 weapon configurations -- from rockets to laser-guided bombs.

Embraer, which said Angola ordered a total of six planes, said those delivered will be used in a border surveillance capacity.