Renewed Debate on Combat Aviation Fleet
Recent revelations that Uruguayan Defence Minister, Javier García, is negotiating the purchase of 12 second-hand Embraer EMB-314 Super Tucanos with the Brazilian Air Force, have revived the debate on renovation of the Uruguayan Air Force combat fleet.
Uruguay retired its last FMA (now FAdeA) IA-58 Pucará attack aircraft in 2016, after 35 years of service, at which time no replacement was procured. Simultaneously, the Uruguayan Air Force (UAF) is seeking a replacement for its only other combat platform, the ageing Cessna A-37B Dragonflies, with over 40 years of operational service.
Several times in recent years, Embraer has offered the Super Tucano as replacement for the entire fleet, but the Uruguayans want a jet aircraft to replace the A-37s, in order to have the capacity to intercept fast moving planes. One of the force’s aims is to have the capacity to protect national airspace against irregular flights, of which some are made with jets or fast turboprops, like King Airs: for this, the Super Tucano lacks the required speed. Also, the force considers it essential to have an on-board radar, to facilitate autonomous interceptions.
But the Brazilian model could be a replacement for the Pucarás in the roles of air attack and interception of slow-moving targets. Also, the UAF plans to use Super Tucanos to replace the Pilatus PC-7s currently in use for advanced training.
In the case of the A-37 replacement, the force is analysing various options, including new and second-hand aircraft: the former include the Leonardo M346FA, the Aero L-39NG, the Hongdu L-15 and the FAdeA IA-63 Pampa III, while second-hand types include an offer for BAe Systems Hawks and one for Northrop F-5E Tiger IIs. The L-39NG was evaluated last month, when UAF personnel visited the Czech Republic.
The F-5 was last considered a decade ago, when RUAG offered refurbished and modernised Swiss Air Force aircraft, at which time a deal was allegedly very close to being reached. The type is interesting for the force, as it is the only supersonic solution, and the only real fighter aircraft, but they also consider the age of available airframes. A UAF officer told MON that they received an offer for modernised F-5s through the United States, who would obtain them from another operator – but he was unable to confirm their origin. They could, perhaps, be from the Brazilian Air Force, since they will start retiring the F-5EMs once the Gripens are fully operational.
Among the new types, the M346FA is the most attractive to the UAF, because of its radar, modern and capable mission systems, weapons capacity and low operational costs.
Santiago Rivas reporting from Buenos Aires for MON
