Additional Close Air Support Aircraft (Close Air Support Aircraft Phase 2) Acquisition Project of the Philippine Air Force

Philippine Defense Resource February 06, 2026 0

The Philippine Air Force has requested for the acquisition of a second batch of light attack aircraft as it continues to modernize and rebuild its ageing fleet.

With this, the much anticipated acquisition of additional A-29B Super Tucano light attack aircraft was started under the Additional Close Air Support Aircraft Acquisition Project, also known as the Close Air Support Aircraft Phase 2 Acquisition Project, as part of the PAF's Capital Outlay expenditures for Fiscal Year 2024.

An A-29B Super Tucano of the Philippine Air Force. Photo credits to PAF.

Project Summary:

Additional Close Air Support Aircraft (Close Air Support Aircraft Phase 2) Acquisition Project:

Note: Edited as of 06 February 2026.

* End User: Philippine Air Force (15th Strike Wing)

* Quantity: 6 units including ILS package

* Modernization Phase: PAF Capital Outlay under GAA FY2024

* Project ABC: Php6,596,782,570.00

* Acquisition Mode: Negotiated Direct Contracting under Sec. 50

* Source of Funding: PAF General Appropriations Act (GAA) for FY2024

* SARO Release/s: N/A

* Winning Proponent: Embraer S.A.

* Product for Delivery: A-29B Super Tucano

* Contract Price: Php6,570,262,912.00

* Residual Amount: Php26,519,658.00

* First post by MaxDefense: 31 December 2024

* MaxDefense Searching Hashtag: #PAFAdditionalCASAAcquisition #PAFCASAPhase2Acquisition

* Status: This was originally part of Horizon 3 but was removed in Re-Horizon 3 due to the change of plans, and instead was initiated outside the Revised AFP Modernization Program's funding and was instead funded through the Capital Outlay funds of the PAF for FY2024. Discussions with Embraer has been ongoing since 2023 but formal procurement only started in late 2024. Notice of Award was released in favor of Embraer S.A. on 19 December 2024, with the Contract signed and Notice to Proceed released on 27 December 2024. Delivery is expected for all aircraft to be completed by 2026. Embraer only confirmed the deal with the Philippines during the Singapore Airshow on February 2026.

Overview:

The Philippine Air Force previously acquired brand new A-29B Super Tucano light attack aircraft to replace its ageing fleet of fixed wing aircraft, specifically the Rockwell OV-10A/C/M Bronco which has been in service with the PAF since the early 1990s.

These light attack aircraft are suitable for use for counter-insurgency, counter terrorism, but can also be used for limited anti-shipping using small air-to-ground missiles and precision bombs, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions including maritime patrol, and other minor projects.

PAF's existing fleet of A-29B Super Tucanos have been noted to carry and use the GBU-12 Paveway II and GBU-49 Enhanced Paveway II, as well as the Lizard PGM and APKWS guided rockets.

Orientation of PAF personnel on the Lizard PGM and APKRWS. Photo credits to PAF Flying School.

Due to funding constraints, only six aircraft were acquired back in 2017, after the project was delayed by a few years.

In reality, the PAF needed at least 12 aircraft to form a proper attack squadron, and more would be preferred.

As part of the Horizon 3 phase of the Revised AFP Modernization Program, 18 more aircraft were proposed to be acquired, although this was later on removed from the updated Re-Horizon 3 phase project acquisition list.

Its removal from Re-Horizon 3 shopping list does not necessarily remove plans to acquire additional aircraft, and this was proven when the DND raised to procure 6 more aircraft through the Capital Outlay allocations to the PAF under the GAA for FY2024, calling the project as the Additional Close Air Support Aircraft Acquisition Project.

The acquisition phase was quick as formalities only took a few weeks until a contract was signed and the Notice to Proceed released in favour of Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer S.A., making it one of the quickest projects to be implemented by the DND.

This proved that the PAF's ability to reduce reliance on the RAFPMP funds for it to acquire the necessary assets and services for its improvement.

Six aircraft will be delivered by Embraer to the Philippine Air Force, all within 2026, according to the DND.

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U P D A T E S:
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31 December 2024:

Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer has confirmed that it received an order for an undisclosed number of A-29B Super Tucano light attack and advanced trainer aircraft from an undisclosed country, with deliveries expected by 2026.

This goes in line with the announcement made by the Philippine Air Force 15th Strike Wing Commander Brig. Gen. Juliano Llarenas during the decommissioning ceremony of the OV-10 Bronco and AH-1S Cobra fleet that a contract for 6 additional A-29B Super Tucano has been signed with Embraer recently, which will represent the replacement for the outgoing OV-10s.

Our parent page MaxDefense Philippines assumes that Embraer's announcement is actually that for the Philippines.

But it still remains to be seen how this will be funded considering that it was not among those planned for funding under the RAFPMP FY2025 proposal. It also appears to be not part of Re-Horizon 3 procurement plan, and instead could have been awarded as part of the Trainer Aircraft Acquisition of the PAF under Horizon 2 Priority Phase because of Embraer's statement that aligns the procurement with that for advanced trainers.

It is also highly possible that the procurement could have been made outside of the RAFPMP, and may have been done using the Capital Outlay funding of PAF since the order is only for 6 aircraft instead of the expected 12 to 18 units as indicated in the original Horizon 3 plan.

We'll find out more information about this in the next few months.

Embraer's social media post confirming their receipt of an order for 6 aircraft back in December 2024. Photo credits to MaxDefense Philippines.

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08 December 2025:

The Philippine Air Force defended its decision to procure additional A-29B Super Tucano turboprop light attack aircraft after Senator Erwin Tulfo questioned the purchase instead of pursuing additional jet-powered combat aircraft.

Senator Tulfo, with his usual lack of knowledge on military systems as he already highlighted years ago when he was still a journalist working together with his brothers, said that the Super Tucanos are "outdated", referring to its propeller-driven propulsion system without knowing that propeller-driven aircraft does not mean outdated and backward.

The PAF confirmed that so far, they only ordered an additional of 6 aircraft, and focus is now more on pursuing multirole fighters. This was despite the PAF originally planning to procure up to 18 more aircraft to add to the 6 already in service, to form 2 squadrons of 12 aircraft each.

It remains to be seen if the PAF will order more Super Tucano aircraft in the future or not, although MaxDefense Philippines believes that the 15th Strike Wing should start considering the acquisition of jet-powered combat aircraft capable of carrying and firing medium-range anti-ship missiles, stand-off weapons and advanced air-launched munitions for strike in support of territorial defense.

The avionics of the A-29B Super Tucano is actually up to modern standards with large glass cockpit displays and advanced sensors. Credits to original photo source.

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06 February 2026:

During the Singapore Airshow 2026, Embraer officials confirmed that the Philippines was the customer of a deal signed in late 2024 for A-29B Super Tucano aircraft.

This was because Embraer did not name the customer when it announced that it signed a contract with an unnamed country for 6 aircraft.

But our parent page MaxDefense Philippines reported as early as 31 December 2024 that these were for the Philippine Air Force, based on information from defense and industry sources.

It was also later on confirmed by publicly-available documents posted by the Department of National Defense as well as statement coming from officials of the DND and Philippine Air Force, and during hearings to lawmakers in 2025 during budget deliberations for the DND for FY2026.

This announcement by Embraer is probably in preparation for deliveries, which are expected to proceed within 2026.