Alverca, Lisbon, Dec. 17, 2025 (Lusa) - The Portuguese defence minister and the president of Brazilian company Embraer signed a letter of intent on Wednesday to open a Super Tucano aircraft factory in Beja, in Portugal's interior Alentejo region, at a ceremony marking the delivery of the first five aircraft.
"Today we are taking this important step. We are not just purchasing, we are purchasing and we want to participate, and today we are signing this letter of intent with a view to setting up a Super Tucano aircraft production factory in Beja," announced Nuno Melo.
The minister was speaking at the OGMA - Portuguese Aeronautical Industry facilities in Alverca, in the Lisbon region, at a ceremony marking the delivery by Embraer SA to the Portuguese Air Force of the first five A-29N Super Tucanos out of a total of twelve, with delivery scheduled over the next two years.
Speaking with the five Super Tucano aircraft behind him - which moments later were christened with a small “shower” of champagne by the minister, and with the head of the Air Force and the president of Embraer - Nuno Melo emphasised that Portugal not only wants to acquire military equipment but also to be involved in the production process, highlighting its effects on the domestic economy.
"We are going to acquire satellites, but we are not going to stop at acquisition, we are going to produce them in Portugal. We are going to acquire frigates, but we are not going to stop at acquiring frigates, through them we are going to launch the Alfeite Arsenal (ship repair yard on the south bank of the river Tagus in Lisbon), which has had structural problems for decades, into the 21st century. We are going to acquire military vehicles, but we are also going to produce them in Portugal," he explained, adding ammunition production to this list.
According to the minister, in 2025 alone, "60 new companies were created in the defence industries," and this is due to the "climate of confidence for investors" that the executive "is creating."
In the case of the Super Tucano, the procedure is similar to the investment made in the KC-390 aircraft, also produced by the Brazilian company Embraer, in which modifications were made to adapt them to the requirements established by the alliances of which Portugal is a member, namely NATO, the United Nations and the European Union.
These modifications, certified by the National Aeronautical Authority, mean that the aircraft can be purchased by other NATO or European Union member countries, with a profit for the Portuguese State.
On the sidelines of the ceremony, Nuno Melo stressed that this is "an important day at all levels", in which the country takes "another step in the modernisation of the armed forces".
The minister explained the government's strategy in the area of defence investment: "We do not limit ourselves to investing in the acquisition of equipment; with each acquisition, we want to ensure that Portugal is involved in the production and/or production and maintenance of this equipment".
"Portugal is currently 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, also in the future, for the production of the A29 Super Tucano, confirming this strategic vision," he stressed.
ARL/AYLS // AYLS
Lusa
