Aviation News – Embraer has partnered with Valkyrie Aero to integrate an Artificial Intelligence-enabled counter-drone system into the A-29 Super Tucano, aiming to give militaries a lower-cost and more efficient way to defeat the growing threat of unmanned aerial systems.
The agreement will see Valkyrie’s proprietary Gunslinger AI suite embedded into the light attack aircraft, enhancing its Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS) role. The collaboration builds on the Super Tucano’s existing sensor package and follows rising global demand for affordable drone defense options, as armed forces increasingly seek alternatives to deploying expensive frontline fighter jets for routine drone interception missions.
The AI-driven system processes battlefield data in real time to support rapid “find, fix, finish” targeting of hostile drones. By combining extended loiter time, high agility and a tandem cockpit layout, the aircraft can safely match the slower speeds of one-way attack drones, creating a stable firing platform for guns, guided rockets and other precision effectors. This approach significantly reduces cost per sortie while maintaining operational effectiveness.