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The text below was taken from Thai Military and Asian Region, they have all credits.
The EMB-314 Super Tucano is an enhanced version, with faster speed and higher altitude, of the EMB-312 Tucano trainer aircraft which is operational in the air forces of 17 countries. The prototype of the Super Tucano first flew in 1992. Both Tucano and Super Tucano have been developed and built by Embraer of Brazil.
The main missions of the aircraft, in addition to basic and advanced pilot training, are border patrol and counter-insurgency operations.
The flight envelope of the aircraft is +7g and -3.5g. The aircraft’s small size, small visual and radar signatures, together with high speed and agility give the aircraft high survivability. Additional survivability features include armour protection and critical systems redundancy.
EMB-312 Tucano – Image courtesy of Mário Monte
By the mid-1970s, the FAB was again casting about for a new trainer. At the time, Brazil was under a military government and as a result the country was under arms embargoes. That made a locally-developed solution attractive, and in the spring of 1977 the MdA issued a requirement for a training and light strike aircraft. EMBRAER came up with two proposals, including the piston-powered “EMB-301” trainer and light strike aircraft, and the turboprop-powered “EMB-311” light attack aircraft. Sociedad Neiva also proposed a “YT-25B Universal II” trainer and light attack aircraft based on the Universal I; the firm built a flight prototype.
These designs were not what the FAB was thinking about, and so in the summer of 1977 the MdA issued another requirement, this time for a turboprop trainer and light attack aircraft. EMBRAER updated the EMB-311 into a trainer / light attack aircraft designated the “EMB-312”; it still wasn’t quite what was wanted, but it seemed on the right track, so in early 1978 EMBRAER engineers reworked the design further to conform to FAB desires. In September 1978 EMBRAER was authorized to begin full development, with work on four prototypes — two flight prototypes and two static-test prototypes — beginning in 1979.
EMB-312G1 prototype – wikiwand.com
Initial flight of the first EMB-312 prototype was on 16 August 1980, with retired FAB Colonel Luiz Fernando Cabral at the controls and engineer Gilberto Hideo Otaka in the back seat. Trials went well, with the type being given the name “Tucano” in October 1981; the pure trainer version was the “T-27”, while the trainer / light attack variant was the “A-27”.
One of the prototypes was lost in an accident on 10 August 1982, but a third fight prototype had been authorized and built by that time, with this machine performing its first flight six days later. The FAB had already placed an initial production order, with the first production machine being delivered on 29 September 1983. 133 were obtained by the FAB, with the Tucano becoming the mount for the FAB’s aerobatic display team, the Esquadrao de Demonstracio Aerea (EDA).
From the 1990s, the Brazilian government began to enhance on improving security in the wild backwoods regions of the Amazon basin, where drug traffickers and the like had long operated with impunity. The result was the formal establishment, in 1997, of the “SIstema de Vigilancia da AMazonia (SIVAM)” as a collaborative exercise between the FAB and other Brazilian government organizations. Tucanos were put to work under SIVAM as “gunfighters”, carrying out air attacks on illegal settlements in the jungle and intercepting suspicious aircraft that might be carrying drugs.
As it emerged, the Tucano was a low-wing monoplane of all-metal construction, with retractable tricycle landing gear. It was powered by a Pratt & Whitney Canada (PWC) PT6A-25C turboprop providing 560 kW (750 SHP), driving a Hartzell three-bladed variable-pitch constant-speed propeller. There were two fuel tanks in each wing, providing four tanks with a total fuel capacity of 660 liters (174 US gallons). The aircraft was fully aerobatic.
750hp (560kW) Pratt & Whitney PT6A-25C turboprop engine
| Thermodynamic Power Class* (ESHP***) | Mechanical Power Class* (SHP) | Propeller Speed (Max. RPM) | Height** (Inches) | Width** (Inches) | Length** (Inches) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PT6A ‘Small’ (A-11 to A-140) | 600 to 1075 | 500 to 900 | 1900 to 2200 | 21 to 25 | 21.5 | 61.5 to 64 |
* Powers are approximate values at take-off. Available at sea level, standard day, static conditions, uninstalled.
** Dimensions are approximate values.
*** Equivalent Shaft Horsepower: includes estimated equivalent contribution of exhaust thrust.
Source pwc.ca
All flight surfaces were unswept, but with tapered planforms. Flight control layout was conventional, with a one-piece slotted flap inboard on each wing plus an aileron outboard, with rudder and elevators on the tail assembly. Primary flight controls were manual, except for electrically actuated flaps. Trim tabs were fitted, as was a tailfin fillet extension, presumably to compensate for the Tucano’s long and high canopy. All landing gear had single wheels and were hydraulically retractable, with the steerable nose gear retracting backwards, while the main gear hinged from the wings to retract towards the fuselage.
Close view of the Embraer EMB 312 Tucano’s cockpit. Image courtesy of Guillaume Paumier
The crew sat in tandem on Martin-Baker BR8LC zero-zero (zero altitude, zero speed) ejection seats, under a jettisonable single-piece canopy that hinged open to the right. The cockpit was pressurized and climate-conditioned. Dual controls were standard.
- Operating Ceiling: 50000+ ft (15,250m)
- Minimum height/Speed: Zero/70 knots in near level attitude
- Crew boarding mass range: 78.2 to 116.2 kg
- Crew size range: 5th to 95th percentile
- Maximum Speed for ejection: 600 KIAS
- Parachute type: GQ Type 1000 Mk 2
- Parachute deployment: Drogue assisted
- Drogue parachute type: 5ft
- Drogue deployment: Drogue gun initiated by trip rod
- Harness type: Combined
- Ejection seat operation type: Ejection gun
- Ejection gun: Single, two stage
- Gun stroke length: Variant dependent
- Ejection initiation: Handle on seat pan
- Electronic Sequencer: No
- Barostatic time-release unit: Yes + g-restrictor initiated by trip rod
- Automatic backup unit: No
- Manual override handle: Yes
- Timers: No
- Seat adjustment: Up/down. Actuator operated 28 Vdc
- Arm restraints: No
- Leg restraints: Yes, two garters
- Oxygen supply: Bottled emergency oxygen; Onboard oxygen generating system connection
- Personal survival pack: Yes
- Aircrew services: Oxygen (main and emergency) and mic/tel
- Command ejection: No
- Canopy jettison: No
- Miniature detonating cord: No
- Interseat sequencing system: No
Source martin-baker.com
Two stores pylons could be fitted under each wing for a total of four, with typical stores being machine-gun pods, unguided rocket pods, or unguided bombs, to a total stores load of 1 tonne (2,200 pounds). A reflex gunsight was fitted in the cockpit for weapons aiming. The inboard stores pylons were “wet”, permitting carriage of a total of two ferry tanks, providing 330 liters (87 US gallons) of capacity each.
The Tucano proved popular in the export market, particularly with other Latin American countries:
- Angola bought six new-production Tucanos plus two EMBRAER company demonstrators, with delivery in 1999, followed by the purchase of six more, with delivery in 2004. The Angolan Tucanos have mostly been employed as trainers, though some apparently did perform airstrikes during the war with UNITA insurgents.
- Argentina bought 30 Tucanos for training, replacing the Morane-Saulnier MS-760 Paris, with deliveries in 1987 and 1988.
- Colombia bought 14 Tucanos, with deliveries from late 1992. They were intended for training, replacing Lockheed T-33s, but they quickly got involved in the long-standing and brutal fight with Colombian FARC insurgents, performing strikes with 12.7 millimeter machine gun pods, unguided rocket pods, and unguided bombs.
- Egypt was actually the Tucano’s first foreign buyer, initially ordering 40, including ten delivered from EMBRAER from 1984, and 30 assembled by Helwan in Egypt from EMBRAER-supplied kits from 1985, with the last of the Egyptian Tucanos rolled out in 1988. The order also included 80 machines assembled by kits by Helwan for Iraqi service. The Egyptians ordered 14 more in 1989, giving a total of 54, with the aircraft in that batch all delivered in the same year. They remain in service.
- Honduras was the second Tucano export customer, obtaining eight in 1984 to replace North American T-28 Trojan trainers. While their primary mission was training, they also performed armed patrols with machine-gun pods, rocket pods, and dumb bombs; they have been credited with a number of “kills” of drug-running aircraft that refused to follow orders to land, and so were shot down.
- Iran obtained 50 Tucanos in the late 1980s. This was after the Islamic Revolution, and the Tucano is one of the few Western aircraft to be acquired by Iran after the fall of the Shah. They remain in service in the training role.
- Of the 80 Tucanos assembled for Iraq by Helwan in Egypt, many were destroyed or fled to Iran during the first Gulf War. It appears, however, that some did survive the second Gulf War, and are now in service with the new Iraqi state.
- Paraguay bought six Tucanos in 1987. Six more were purchased in the late 1990s, but the deal fell through, and these machines ended up being the second batch sold to Angola.
- Peru bought 20 Tucanos in 1986, replacing Cessna T-37s, with deliveries in 1987. They were put to intensive use in the war against drugs and destroyed over a dozen drug-running aircraft. Ten more Tucanos were purchased in 1991 to support the effort, and also fought in a border clash with Ecuador in 1995. Peruvian Tucanos are now mostly focused on the training mission.
- Venezuela obtained 31 Tucanos in 1986, replacing the Hunting Jet Provost. The Tucanos saw limited action in several coup attempts in the early 1990s.
In the early 1980s, the British Royal Air Force (RAF) was after a replacement for the aging Hunting Jet Provost trainer. A number of firms competed for the contract, with EMBRAER teaming up with Shorts of the UK to offer a Tucano derivative. The Tucano won the competition in May 1985.
RAF Short Tucano T1, in display colours for 2008 – wikiwand.com
Shorts was to perform license construction at a plant in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The RAF Tucanos were enhanced as per contract specification, being fitted with new avionics, a modified canopy, a hydraulically-actuated ventral airbrake, and in particular a more powerful engine — the Garrett TPE331-12B turboprop, providing 820 kW (1,100 SHP) and driving a four-blade propeller. A standard Tucano was fitted with the Garrett engine as a demonstrator, performing its first flight on 11 April 1986.
RAF Short Tucano T1 – igor113.livejournal.com
The first Shorts-built “Tucano Trainer Mark 1 (T.1)” performed its initial flight on 30 December 1986, with the first machine for evaluation delivered on 26 June 1987. Initial service delivery to the RAF was on 16 June 1988, with 131 Tucano T.1s being delivered up to final delivery in early 1993. They are used for primary training and apparently rarely, if ever, carry armament. The RAF is planning to replace them with the Raytheon T-6C Texan II.
RAF Short Tucano T1
Somewhat surprisingly, the terms of the deal between EMBRAER and Shorts allowed Shorts to sell Tucanos on the export market — EMBRAER officials no doubt felt that being handed the royalties was good enough. Twelve Shorts Tucano “T.51s” were sold to Kenya in 1988, replacing the BAC Strikemaster, being delivered in 1990; 16 “T.52s” were sold to Kuwait in 1989, though due to the first Gulf War, they weren’t delivered until 1995. Both the T.51 and T.52 were combat-capable, though they were employed as trainers.
French Air Force Embraer EMB 312 Tucano – AirExpo Muret 2007 – wikimedia.org
EMBRAER also developed a specialized variant of the Tucano for the Armee de l’Aire, the French Air Force, with the French buying what would end up being 49 machines in 1991 as replacements for the Fouga Magister jet trainer. These aircraft were designated “EMB-312F” and had various changes from Tucano standard, including a dashboard with LCD displays, ventral airbrake, de-icing gear, and structural reinforcements. They retained the PT6A powerplant. Deliveries were from 1993 to 1997.
In 1995, Embraer was awarded a contract to develop a variant of the Super Tucano, known as the ALX or light attack aircraft, for the Brazilian Air Force (FAB). One of the main missions of the aircraft is border patrol under the sistema de vigilancia da Amazonia (SIVAM) programme and so the ALX was optimised for the environmental conditions of the Brazilian Amazon. The ALX is capable of operating day and night missions from remote bases and unpaved runways with minimal ground support. The first production aircraft was completed in 1999.
In August 2001, the Brazilian Air Force awarded Embraer a contract for 76 Super Tucano / ALX aircraft with options for a further 23. 51 of these aircraft are two seater versions, designated AT-29, which are stationed at the Natal Air Force Base and replace the AT-26 Xavante advanced jet trainers which are approaching the end of their operational lives. The remaining 25 aircraft are the single seat A-29 ALX version.
The first aircraft was delivered in December 2003. By September 2007, 50 aircraft had entered service. The 99th, and last A-29 aircraft was delivered in June 2012.
“The main missions of the EMB-314, in addition to basic and advanced pilot training, are border patrol and counter-insurgency operations.”
In August 2001, Embraer announced the signing of a contract with the Dominican Republic for ten Super Tucano aircraft, to be used for pilot training, internal security, border patrol and counter-narcotics trafficking missions. The order was reduced to eight aircraft in January 2009. The first two Super Tucano aircraft were delivered to the Dominican Republic on 18 December 2009. Three were delivered in June 2010 and the remaining three in October 2010.
Dominican Air Force
In February 2005, Venezuela selected the EMB-314 Super Tucano. 12 aircraft were to be ordered, with a further 12 planned. The sale fell through because it was thought the USA would block the transfer of US-built components.
In December 2005, the Columbian Air Force placed a contract for 25 Super Tucano aircraft. The first five were delivered in December 2006. Deliveries concluded in August 2008. The aircraft are used for border patrol and internal security. Elbit Systems was contracted to supply the avionics suite.
Colombian Air Force
In April 2008, the Chilean Air Force selected the EMB-314 Super Tucano, with a requirement for 12 aircraft. A contract for the 12 aircraft was signed in August 2008. Embraer delivered first four of the 12 aircraft to Chilean Air Force on 23 December 2009. The Dominican Republic placed a contract for eight Super Tucano aircraft in late 2008
The Ecuadorian Air Force (EAF) ordered 24 Super Tucano aircraft in March 2009 as part of a $270m agreement signed with Embraer in 2008. A total of six Super Tucanos were delivered by April 2010. The EAF reduced its order from 24 to 18 in May 2010 to acquire 12 second-hand Cheetah C fighters from Denel Dynamics.
Embraer signed a contract with the Indonesian Ministry of Defence in November 2010 to supply eight A-29 Super Tucano light attack and advance trainer aircraft for superseding a fleet of OV-10 Broncos. It will also supply ground support stations and an integrated logistics package. The contract was finalised and became effective from 9 June 2011. The first four aircraft were delivered in August 2012.
Indonesian Air Force placed an order for a second batch of eight A-29 Super Tucano aircraft and a flight simulator in July 2012. Deliveries are expected to begin in 2014.
Indonesian Air Force
An Afghan A-29 pilot readies his aircraft for flight Sept. 10, 2017, at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan. The A-29 is the premier fighter platform for the Afghan Air Force’s fight against anti-government insurgents and for providing close air attack support to troops on the ground. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Alexander W. Riedel – defensemedianetwork.com
Single-seater for attack and armed reconnaissance (on interdiction tasks), attack and cover (on close air support tasks), able to intercept and destroy low-performance aircraft, incorporates an additional fuel tank (+ 400 liters)
Single-seater – Image: from the net
Twin-seater for the same tasks as the single-seat version, also used in training and advanced aerial control (on monitoring tasks)
Twin-seater – Image: from the net
Source wikiwand.com
The all-glass cockpit is fully night vision goggle compatible. Brazilian AF ALX aircraft are equipped with avionics systems from Elbit Systems of Haifa, Israel, including a head-up display (HUD), advanced mission computer, navigation system and two 6in x 8in colour liquid crystal multi-function displays.
“The pilot is protected with Kevlar armour.”
The head-up display with 24° field of view and the advanced weapon delivery system are integrated through a MIL-STD-1553B data bus. The pilot is provided with a hands-on throttle and stick (HOTAS) control.
The pilot is protected with Kevlar armour and provided with a zero/zero ejection seat. The clamshell canopy, hinged at the front and rear and electrically activated, is fitted with a de-icing system and features a windshield capable of withstanding, at 300kt, the impact of a 4lb bird. A Northrop Grumman onboard oxygen generation system (OBOGS) is installed.
Embraer A29B Super Tucano Fotos: Henrique Matte
The Elbit avionics suite in the AL-X “is close to that of the Block 60 Lockheed Martin F-16”, says Berto. Designed for high reliability, low workload, redundancy and high commonality with state-of-the-art fighters, the multimode system is driven by two main mission and display computers via a 1553B multiplex databus. Configured for either light attack or advanced training, the panel is designed to be altered during base checks to suit the appropriate need.
The instrument panel is dominated by two 150 x 200mm flat-panel multifunction displays (MFD), an arm consent switch, a HUD and a subpanel with hands-on-throttle-and-stick (HOTAS) controls. In the advanced training mode, the fighter subpanel, HOTAS and HUD are removed and the MFDs are “frozen”, says Berto. A “basic-T” made up of traditional instruments (air-speed and attitude indicators, basic flight instrument, vertical speed indicator, turn and bank indicator, standby horizon plus g meter), is dropped in its place. “The MFDs can be gradually phased in as the student gains experience,” Berto adds. Only two pages are available in training mode on the MFDs – a horizontal situation display and radio page on the left, and the electronic instrument and crew alerting system on the right. Source flightglobal.com
The aircraft is fitted with two central mission computers. The integrated weapon system includes software for weapon aiming, weapon management, mission planning and mission rehearsal. Onboard recording is used for post mission analysis.
The aircraft has five hardpoints for carrying weapons, and is capable of carrying a maximum external load of 1,500kg. The aircraft is armed with two wing-mounted 12.7mm machine guns with a rate of fire of 1,100 rounds a minute and is capable of carrying general-purpose bombs and guided air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles. Brazilian AF aircraft are armed with the MAA-1 Piranha short-range infrared guided air-to-air missile from Orbita.
Super Tucano FN Herstal M3P – wikimedia.org
The FN® M3P is a .50-caliber (12.7x99mm) single-barrel high rate-of-fire machine gun optimized for remote firing from aircraft, ground vehicles and naval craft and provides both offensive and defensive firepower ranging out to nearly 1,850 meters. When used in various applications, the FN® M3P is able to engage light armored vehicles and provide suppressive fire against both ground and aerial threats. Additionally, the FN® M3P is suitable for applications in remote weapon stations and is able to fire at all elevations up to 90 degrees from horizontal.
Features unique to the FN® M3P are the 28V electrical interfaces that allow remote firing and clearing of the weapon system, as well as allowing the operator to remotely place the weapon on safe. Depending on configuration, the FN® M3P can be mounted in pods or on FN’s deFNder® Medium.
- CALIBER: .50
- WEIGHT: 80.5 lb.
- BARREL LENGTH: 36″
- MAXIMUM RANGE: 6,500m
- OVERALL LENGTH: 66.1” (with short standard flash hider); 70.9” (with long standard flash hider)
- OVERALL HEIGHT: 7”
- TWIST RATE: 1:15” RH
- Source fnamerica.com
FN has developed a broad spectrum of machine gun pods designed for rotary-wing and subsonic fixed-wing combat aircraft capable of carrying the FN® M3P .50-caliber machine gun and multiple 2.75″ air-to-ground rockets with the FN® RMP variant. FN Pod Systems provide war fighters with a significant firepower advantage in every operational engagement and are in use by a number of NATO nations on both subsonic fixed and rotary-wing combat aircraft.
- CALIBER: .50
- MAG CAPACITY: Customer Specified
- WEIGHT (EMPTY): 197 lb.
- WEIGHT (LOADED): 305 lb.
- HEIGHT: 17.1″
- LENGTH: 76.4″
- RATE OF FIRE: 950 – 1,100 RPM
- Source fnamerica.com
The MAA-1 Piranha is the first air-to-air missile developed by Brazil for its Air Force and Navy replacing the AIM-9 Sidewinder missile. Its development began in the middle 1990s, the original project was released in the late 1970s, and achieved some degree of operational capability in September 2002. It has been assumed that the missile achieved initial operational capability in 2003 coinciding with the last test campaign. The MAA-1 project has been handled by many Brazilian companies since its inception in the 1970s but finally was Mectron in the 1990s who developed the MAA-1 missile weapon system.
The MAA-1 Piranha is a supersonic, short-range air-to-air missile relying on infrared passive guidance which seeks the target’s heat emissions coming primarily from the engine/s. The infrared sensor uses two colors to discriminate countermeasures from the real target and was supplied by South Africa’s Kentron (Denel Group). The missile outstanding maneuverability allows it to perform at 50g. The Piranha performs as a ‘launch and forget’ missile, that means once launched the missile doesn’t require input data coming the aircraft’s sensors to hit its target, and a laser fuze is responsible for detonating the warhead. Externally, it is very similar to Rafael’s Python 3 air-to-air missile and the aerodynamic configuration is near the same.
Dimensions
- Diameter: 150 millimeter (5.91 inch)
- Length: 2.75 meter (108 inch)
- Wingspan: 660 millimeter (26.0 inch)
Performance
- Max Range: 6,000 meter (3.24 nautical mile)
Weight
- Warhead: 12 kilogram (26.5 pound)
- Weight: 89 kilogram (196 pound)
Source deagel.com
In 1971, the USAF and U.S. Navy agreed to jointly develop the AIM-9L, a vastly improved Sidewinder based on the AIM-9H. Major development goals were ALASCA (All-Aspect Capability) and effective use against violently manoeuvering and high-speed targets at all ranges. The AIM-9L had new long-span pointed double-delta canards, a modified MK 36 solid-fuel rocket motor (MODs 8 through 11), and a new AN/DSQ-29 solid-state guidance and control section. Additional improvements include a completely new Argon-cooled Indium Antimonide (InSb) seeker, a DSU-15/B AOTD (Active Optical Target Detector) laser proximity fuze, and an improved 9.4 kg (20.8 lb) WDU-17/B annular blast-fragmentation warhead. All AIM-9L features resulted in a vastly improved missile which could acquire targets at all aspects, and had a much improved tracking, manoeuvering, terminal homing, and killing performance. Production started in 1978, and more than 16000 AIM-9Ls have been built by Philco-Ford, Raytheon, BGT (Germany), and Mitsubishi (Japan). The AIM-9L was used very successfully by the Royal Navy in the Falklands War during 1982.
Source designation-systems.net
AGM-65 Maverick is an air-to-ground tactical missile (AGM) designed for close air support
Delilah AL is a cruise missile developed in Israel by Israel Military Industries (IMI). The missile is designed to target moving and re-locatable targets with a CEP of 1 metre
- Originated from: Israel
- Possessed by: Israel
- Class: Subsonic land-attack cruise missile (LACM)
- Basing: Air/Ship/Ground-Launched
- Length: 2.71 m
- Diameter: 0.33 m
- Launch Weight: 185 kg
- Payload: Single warhead, 30-54 kg
- Warhead: High explosive
- Propulsion: Turbojet with booster for ground- and ship-launched variants
- Range: 250-300 km
- Status: Operational
- In Service: 1994
- Source missilethreat.csis.org
2.75 in rocket pods for 7 rockets
The Dillon Aero Gun Pod is a self-contained M134D-H weapon system that mounts to either fixed-wing or rotary-wing aircraft. It utilizes 7.62x51mm NATO ammunition with M13 links, with a 3,000-round magazine capacity and a rate of fire of 3,000 rounds per minute.
Self-contained system – Dillon M134D-H Minigun – 3,000-round magazine capacity – Rapidly removable nose and tail cone for easy gun or magazine access – Conformal Remote Gun Control Unit (RGCU) – Conformal dedicated 24 VDC Li-ion battery – Trickle charge capable from aircraft power – Quick Change Ammunition Magazine – Last Round Switch (approx. 100 rounds remaining) with pilot override interrupt – Integral bore sight adjustment +/- 2.5° – Mounts to 14” Standard NATO bomb rack – Optional Dillon hardback mount available to integrate the Gun Pod onto the standard Russian bomb rack used on – Russian aircraft, Mi-24, Mi-17 etc. – Capable of 400 kt airspeed at sea level Weight – 162 lb (73.5 kg) empty – 350 lb (158.8 kg) estimated when loaded Dimensions – Height: 15.4” (39.1 cm) – Width: 13.1” (33.3 cm) – Length: 92.9” (236 cm) with long barrels Aircraft interface cabling – Master arm – Trigger – Last round switch override – Battery trickle charge – Optional indicator light signals
Source dillonaero.com
The two seat AT-29 is fitted with a forward-looking infrared AN/AAQ-22 SAFIRE turret on the underside of the fuselage. The SAFIRE thermal imaging system supplied by FLIR Systems is for targeting, navigation and target tracking. The system allows the aircraft to carry out night surveillance and attack missions.
- High-performance, long range imaging
- Mil-qualified
- Multiple payloads
- 5-Axis stabilization
- Low-Light/Near IR CCD
- Automatic target tracker
- Industry leader
- The Star SAFIRE II’s microscanned 320×240 mid-wave infrared array gives outstanding detection, recognition, and identification ranges in an affordable 15” imaging system
- Star SAFIRE II’s hermetically sealed gimbal is battle-tested, AWR certified, and thrives in the harshest operating environments
- Star SAFIRE II’s modular design and revolutionary optical bench allow simultaneous installation of up to 5 imagers in the same gimbal
- The SAFIRE family of gimbals features 5-axis stabilization for solid imagery in rough conditions
- The CCD-TV camera has a low-light, near-IR mode that is useful in areas with minimal illumination
- Star SAFIRE II’s dynamic target Autotracker follows maneuvering targets from moving aircraft, decreasing operator workload
- With over 3,000 SAFIRE systems installed on over 60 aircraft types around the world, the Star SAFIRE II is a solid performer in the definitive lineage of infrared imagers
In July 2012, Embraer and Boeing signed a cooperation agreement to add new weapons integration capacity on the A-29 Super Tucano to satisfy the requirements of the US Air Force LAS programme.
The aircraft is equipped with an advanced laser inertial navigation and attack system, a global positioning system (GPS) and a traffic alerting and collision avoidance system (TCAS).
“The Super Tucano has five hardpoints for carrying weapons.”
The EMB-314 Super Tucano is powered by a PT6A-68A turboprop engine, developing 969kW. The power plant is fitted with automatic engine monitoring and control. The ALX aircraft has a more powerful engine than the EMB-314.
| Thermodynamic Power Class* (ESHP***) | Mechanical Power Class* (SHP) | Propeller Speed (Max. RPM) | Height** (Inches) | Width** (Inches) | Length** (Inches) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PT6A ‘Large’ (A-64 to A-68) | 1400 to 1900 | 700 to 1700 | 1700 to 2000 | 22 | 19.5 | 69 to 75.5 |
* Powers are approximate values at take-off. Available at sea level, standard day, static conditions, uninstalled.
** Dimensions are approximate values.
*** Equivalent Shaft Horsepower: includes estimated equivalent contribution of exhaust thrust.
The ALX’s Pratt and Whitney Canada PT6A-68/3 turboprop engine, rated at 1,600shp, drives a Hartzell five-bladed constant speed fully feathering reversible pitch propeller.
The fuel capacity is 695l, which gives a range of over 1,500km and endurance of 6hrs 30mins.
Embraer
The EMB-314 can fly at the rate of 24m per second. The maximum and cruise speed of the aircraft are 530km per hour and 593km per hour, respectively. The range and service ceiling of the Super Tucano are 4,820km and 10,670m respectively. Its maximum endurance is six hours and 30 minutes. The aircraft weighs around 3,020kg and its maximum take-off weight is 5,200kg.
Main material source airforce-technology.com