Panama Acquires its First Combat-Capable Aircraft from Brazil in a $78 Million Dollar Deal

The Panamanian government is upping its air power to a large extent. At the LAAD 2025 Expo held on April 2, 2025, Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer declared that it will deliver four A-29 Super Tucano aircraft to Panama, which will be used as Light Attack and Advanced Training Aircraft. It is the first time in history that fixed-wing aircraft with attack features will be introduced to the Panamanian fleet.

These aircraft will be manned by the Panamanian National Air and Naval Service, SENAN, and will provide an all-purpose platform for SENAN to conduct its activities. In this regard, Panama is also acquiring two Airbus C-295 tactical transport aircraft. With regard to these purchases, the cost involved totals approximately $187 million, of which $78 million will go towards the purchase of Super Tucanos, while the balance of $109 million will go towards purchasing C-295 aircraft.

The government of Panama has expressed its intentions for the use of these airplanes. These are meant to address the issues associated with domestic security. These issues include the smuggling of drugs, fishing, border protection, special operations, and flight training. Previously, SENAN used liaison and transport airplanes for aerial patrols. They did not have any fighting aircraft.

The new Super Tucanos come as part of a renovation of the aircraft fleet to upgrade 14 aircraft from the 1980s that cost about $10 million a year to maintain. Government officials have also identified that such planes won’t be utilized to attack any entities and the country would continue to follow the status of a demilitarized zone.

With this latest purchase, Panama has joined the ranks of the eight Latin American countries flying Super Tucanos, a list that also includes Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay, and the Dominican Republic. The development arrives in light of increasing security concerns, going back to political tensions in December of last year when former US President Donald Trump threatened to take over control of the Panama Canal as a result of issues with canal tolls and outside influences. This led to strong reactions and affirmations of the country’s sovereignty in response. The planes will be used on civil security missions. They enhance this country’s capacity to safeguard its key infrastructure.

On the other hand, A-29 Super Tucano is an awesomely impressive aircraft. This aircraft, with a design by Embraer based on their EMB-312 Tucano, is fitted with two 1,600 hp Pratt & Whitney PT6A-68C engines and a five-bladed Hartzell propeller. The maximum speed of the aircraft is 590 km/h, while its range and ceiling are 2,800 km and 10,670 m respectively.

Designed to operate from rough forward airfields, this biplane features a strengthened oleo landing gear, Kevlar armor plating around the cockpit and engine, and .50 caliber machine guns. It has hardpoints for five external payloads, which will be used for dropping bombs, laser-guided munitions, JDAMs, MAA-1 Piranha missiles, and 20mm cannon pods. Its sophisticated electronics, support for night vision, infrared detectors, laser range finders, and countermeasures ensure flexibility of operation without making the plane complex to maintain.

Worldwide, more than 290 Super Tucanos have been contracted, with over 580,000 flight hours recorded across 20 countries. In Latin America, the aircraft have been tested in the roles of anti-insurgency, narcotics interdiction, and precision strike. The purchase by the government of Panama marks a significant improvement in the country’s air power with the availability of a multi-service platform capable of influencing the regional dynamics while being clearly dedicated to support and surveillance roles.