Taliban's Super Tucano A-29 aircraft airborne after Spin Boldak clashes with Pakistan? The Brazilian stealth bird can trick radars!

Fresh fighting has erupted between Afghanistan and Pakistan, with both sides claiming to have inflicted heavy damage on one another. ISPR, the public relations wing of the Pakistani Armed Forces, claimed that at least 15 Taliban fighters were killed along the Balochistan border after its soldiers were forced to return fire. Afghan Taliban spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid, meanwhile, maintained that 13 people were killed and over 100 were injured in the attacks carried out by Pakistan. Pakistani soldiers retreated after Afghan forces retaliated, he had said.

 

Several footage of the latest clashes, including those of heated conversations between the forces of the two sides through barbed fences, tank movements, and fights, has started flooding the internet. While THE WEEK couldn't independently verify these viral videos, many of them seem to have been recently captured. Amongst them is a video that showed an aircraft streaking across the sky. Those sharing the video claimed that it was the Taliban using the Super Tucano A-29 aircraft in the wake of the conflict. Earlier, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) had struck locations in Kabul, claiming to target Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) leadership, which led to retaliation from the Afghan side.

 

While it is a known fact the Taliban is in possession of Soviet-era tanks, Humvees, and other armoured vehicles that the US forces left behind, they are not known to have a standing air force. Between 2015 and 2020, the then Afghan administration had acquired several Super Tucano A-29 aircraft—Brazilian light attack and counter-insurgency aircraft. However, ever since the takeover by the Taliban, the fate of these planes has largely been unknown.

 

The flight seen in the video looks similar to the Embraer-built planes, although it is unknown when and where it was taken, and many social media users have pointed out that it is possible that the video of the plane airborne was not even from Asia after all.

 

The Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucano, also named ALX or A-29, was introduced by Embraer in 2003. Brazil, Burkina Faso, Chile, Colombia, Portugal, and the Philippines are among the countries that have bought the turboprop (gas turbine engine that drives an aircraft propeller) for their air forces over the years. 20 Air Forces have been operating over 290 aircraft to date, the developers claim, adding that they can be used for light attack, armed reconnaissance, and tactical training operations. They are also being produced in the United States and Portugal, reports added.

 

The Super Tucanos have a maximum operating speed of 320 KCAS (592 km/h) and a cruise speed of 280 KCAS (518.56 km/h). According to the company brochure, its maximum range is 1,550 nautical miles when equipped with three external tanks. It can endure for 3.4 hours on internal fuel alone, or 5.2 hours with two external tanks and an EO/IR sensor. According to Embraer, these low-footprint aircraft are hardly detectable by radars due to their low noise level and visual signature. Anti-piracy patrol, stealth night operations, infiltration, and close air support to ground troops are the other areas that the Tucanos  can effective carry out. 

 

What are Super Tucano aircraft?

The Super Tucanos come in three segments—Light Attack Aircraft, Tactical Trainer Aircraft, and Armed Reconnaissance Aircraft. Considered among the most cost-effective aircraft of its kind, they can take off from unpaved runways and are equipped with electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) sensors for gathering images in day/night operations for target recognition. They also feature an embedded laser designator for target designation and precise attack.

Super Tucano aircraft specs

Certified by the US Military Airworthiness Authority, each plane weighs 3,200 kg and can carry up to 5,300 kg. It has a wingspan of 11.14 meters (36 feet 6 inches), a total length of 11.38 meters (37 feet 4 inches), and stands 3.97 meters (13 feet) tall.

 Super Tucano aircraft: Weapons and specialities

The A-29 is the only aircraft with integrated in-wing machine guns. Among the weapons that are compatible with the Light Attack model are: 7 x 70 MM rocket launcher, 19 x 70 MM rocket launcher, MK-82 GP bomb (500 LB), MK-81 GP bomb (250 LB), GBU-58 GP bomb (250 LB), GBU-12 LGB Griffin (500 LB) INS/GPS, SUU-20 training bomb dispenser, EO/IR HD sensor & designator, 320 L external fuel tank, Logistical pod, Aerial target towing, SUU-25 flares launcher, M-117 GP bomb (750 LB), Conventional and laser guided rocket - APKWS.

 

The manufacturers claim that it is the most efficient fighter plane for air action against hostile targets that are in close proximity to friendly forces, requiring detailed integration with those forces. A typical Close Air Support mission is performed jointly with a Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC) on the ground.

 

Defence