The Minister of National Defence and the president of the Brazilian company Embraer yesterday signed a letter of intent for the opening of a Super Tucano aircraft factory in Beja, during a ceremony marking the delivery of the first five aircraft.
“Today we are taking a step that is significant. Today we signed this letter of intent aimed at creating a production plant for Super Tucano aircraft in Beja,” said minister Nuno Melo.
The minister was speaking at the facilities of OGMA, a Portuguese aeronautical company in Alverca, during a ceremony that marked the requested delivery from Embraer to the Portuguese Air Force of the first five A-29N Super Tucano aircraft, out of a total of twelve, with the remaining deliveries scheduled over the next two years.
Addressing the audience with the five Super Tucano aircraft behind him, which moments later were christened with a brief ‘champagne baptism’ by the minister, the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, and the president of Embraer, he stressed that Portugal does not wish merely to purchase military equipment from abroad, but wants to be involved directly in the production process, highlighting the benefits for the national economy.
“We are going to acquire satellites, but we will not stop at acquisition, we will produce them in Portugal. We are going to acquire frigates, but we will not stop at acquiring frigates; through them. We are going to acquire military vehicles, but we will also produce them in Portugal,” he stated, adding that ammunition production will also form part of the government’s strategy.
According to the minister, “60 new companies across the defence industry were created in 2025 alone”, a development he attributed to the “climate of confidence for investors” that the government “is creating”.
In the case of the Super Tucano, the approach mirrors the investment made in the KC-390 aircraft, also produced by Embraer, which were modified to meet the requirements set by the alliances to which Portugal belongs, namely NATO, the United Nations, and the European Union.
These modifications, certified by the National Aeronautical Authority, enable the aircraft to be purchased by other NATO or European Union member states, generating revenue for the Portuguese state.
Speaking on the sidelines of the ceremony, Nuno Melo described it as “an important day on every level”, marking “another step in the modernisation of the Armed Forces”.
The minister outlined the government’s strategy for defence investment: “We do not limit ourselves to investing through the acquisition of equipment; with every purchase, we want to ensure that Portugal is involved either in the production, or in both the production and maintenance, of that equipment.”
“At this moment, Portugal is the first European country to operate this type of aircraft and will train pilots. Portugal is the gateway to Europe and NATO for these investments and, through Portugal, in the future, for the production of the A-29 Super Tucano as well, confirming this strategic vision,” he concluded.
Source: LUSA
