Embraer Turns Super Tucano into Drone Hunter – Eyes European Sales Amid Russia Tensions

Why Now? Drones Are the New Battlefield Dominators

From Ukraine’s front lines to NATO drills in Eastern Europe, low-cost drones have flipped air defense on its head. Traditional fighters? Overkill—and overpriced.

Case in point: A Dutch F-35 recently fired a $500,000 AIM-9X missile to down a $10,000 drone over Poland. Embraer’s answer: The Super Tucano does it for ~$1,500 per flight hour (vs. $40,000+ for a supersonic jet).

Killer Upgrades on a Budget Platform

The Super Tucano now packs:

• Dual .50 caliber machine guns (standard).

• Laser-guided APKWS-2 rockets (~$20,000 each) from BAE Systems.

• Advanced optical/infrared sensors for autonomous drone detection.

• NATO Link 16 integration—a must for allies like Portugal.

Yes, it’s slower than a jet and needs external radar support in high-drone environments. But for patrol, interception, and rapid response, it’s a game-changer.

Europe in the Crosshairs

With 290+ units sold to 22 air forces and 60% global market share in light attack aircraft, Embraer sees NATO’s eastern flank as the next big buyer. Countries like Poland, the Baltics, and Romania are ramping up anti-drone capabilities—fast.

“We’re offering a proven, affordable platform that doesn’t bankrupt air forces to counter $500 drones,” an Embraer rep told reporters in Dubai.

The Bigger Picture

This isn’t just about one plane. It’s the democratization of air defense. As swarms of cheap UAVs proliferate, legacy air forces need scalable, sustainable counters. The Super Tucano—battle-tested in Afghanistan, Colombia, and beyond—just became the budget-friendly dragon slayer.

Stay tuned: Will we see Super Tucanos patrolling Baltic skies by 2027?

Source: Embraer Defense & Security, Dubai Air Show 2025.