Indonesia to receive Super Tucano in March

Indonesia will receive its first four Embraer EMB-314 Super Tucano trainer/light attack aircraft in March 2012.

The aircraft will be based at Abd Saleh air force base in Malang, on Indonesia's main island of Java, where support facilities have been set up for the Brazilian turboprop, said a report by official Indonesian news agency Antara, quoting Indonesian air force colonel Novianto Widadi.

The report added that 12 pilots have been trained for the aircraft, which will perform a flying display at the air force's anniversary celebrations in April.

In November 2010, Jakarta announced that it would acquire 16 Super Tucanos to replace its Rockwell OV-10 Broncos. The aircraft will be used both as trainers and in the light ground attack role. Widadi added that the aircraft will also be used for border patrols.

According to Embraer, the Super Tucano can carry a payload of 1,550kg (3420lb) and, with external tanks, has an endurance of up to eight hours. It can take off and land on an airfield of just 900m (2950ft).

It is armed with two .50 caliber machine guns in the wings with 200 rounds each.

"In addition to its two internal machine guns, the Super Tucano can be configured with additional underwing armament, such as two 20mm gun pods or .50 caliber machine guns, thereby significantly increasing its firepower for missions requiring air-to-ground saturation," said Embraer.

It added that the aircraft can also carry air-to-air missiles such as the Raytheon AIM-9 Sidewinder class, rocket pods, and conventional or guided bombs. The OV-10 has seen extensive combat service in Indonesia. It was used extensively in the former Indonesian province of East Timor, and also conducted anti-guerrilla operations in the low-level insurgencies that Indonesia has periodically suffered in its provinces of Aceh and Irian Jaya.

Source: By Greg Waldron, Singapore - 10 January 2012 - Daily Air Force News (www.flightglobal.com)

Photo: The Embraer EMB-314 Super Tucano (Photo by © Embraer)

(10.01.2012)