Embraer and Valkyrie Aero are expanding the A-29 Super Tucano’s counter-drone package with an AI-enabled system designed to speed up detection-to-engagement decision-making in manned counter-unmanned aerial system (C-UAS) missions, the companies said on March 4, 2026.
The upgrade centers on Valkyrie Aero’s “Gunslinger” AI suite, which Embraer says will be integrated into the A-29’s existing sensors and weapons set to support the “find, fix, finish” cycle against unmanned threats.
AI “Gunslinger” suite, a low-cost manned C-UAS option
Embraer and Valkyrie argued that militaries are increasingly burning expensive flight hours and interceptors by tasking frontline fighter aircraft to counter small drones. Fast jets are often too quick to use their guns safely against such targets, and firing air-to-air missiles can be prohibitively expensive when facing cheap, attritable drones like Iran’s Shahed series. This mismatch has become more visible as one-way attack drones proliferate.
Embraer framed the A-29, a turboprop light attack and advanced trainer, as a cheaper manned alternative thanks to its tandem cockpit, endurance, and agility, plus the ability to match the speed profile of one-way attack drones and provide a stable firing platform for guns, guided rockets, and other effectors.
Marcio Monteiro, Embraer Defense and Security’s Vice President for Market Intelligence, said the A-29’s combat track record, which Embraer put at more than 60,000 combat flight hours, makes it “the ideal platform for manned C-UAS operations.”
Valkyrie Aero Senior Vice President Chris Turner said the Gunslinger capability was shaped by “immediate needs” observed with frontline operators that Valkyrie trains and works with.
Embraer did not provide an operational fielding timeline for the AI-assisted mission system.
Embraer A-29 finds new momentum with “drone hunter” pitch
Embraer has been openly repositioning the A-29 for counter-UAS missions since late 2025, as the defense market searches for lower-cost ways to defeat cheap drones without expending high-end air defense interceptors.
The Brazilian manufacturer is pitching the A-29 as a purpose-equipped take on an operational concept seen in Ukraine, where crop-dusting and trainer piston aircraft have been pressed into C-UAS roles. The A-29 keeps the speed and cost profile, while adding integrated sensors, targeting, and precision weapons for drone defense.
The company has also been pushing A-29 momentum with recent deliveries and new customers. In February 2026, Embraer delivered the first two A-29s to Uruguay.
