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Historic ceremony in Durazno concluded almost five decades of A-37 Dragonfly operations in Uruguay and made way for the new Embraer A-29 Super Tucano, chosen to modernize air surveillance, advanced training, and light attack missions for the Fuerza Aérea Uruguaya.
After almost five decades of continuous operation, the Fuerza Aérea Uruguaya officially ended the cycle of the Cessna A-37B Dragonfly, light attack aircraft that spanned different generations of the country’s military aviation and became a historical symbol of Escuadrón Aéreo N° 2.
The farewell ceremony took place at Air Brigade II, in Durazno, on May 11, 2026, coinciding with the celebrations for the 75th anniversary of the unit responsible for operating the jets throughout practically their entire operational history.
With the definitive retirement of the Dragonflies, the FAU begins a new phase based on the incorporation of the Embraer A-29B Super Tucano, selected to modernize advanced training, air surveillance, and light attack missions within the current Uruguayan military structure.
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In addition to the six aircraft stipulated in the contract, the package includes a flight simulator, mission equipment, technical support, and a logistical structure aimed at the operational adaptation of the new model within the Uruguayan air force.
A-37 Dragonfly leaves Uruguayan aviation after 49 years
When the first A-37Bs arrived in Uruguay on October 31, 1976, the aircraft quickly assumed a central position in the local military aviation’s light attack capability, remaining active in advanced training, tactical missions, and limited air defense tasks.
Since then, the model has been used in advanced training, limited air defense missions, and tactical activities of Escuadrón Aéreo N° 2.
Originally derived from the T-37 Tweet trainer, the Dragonfly was adapted for counter-insurgency and close air support operations, a combination that allowed the model to operate for decades even in a scenario of restricted budget and limited equipment renewal.
In the Uruguayan case, the simplicity of operation and lower cost compared to more complex fighters helped prolong its service life.
Over the decades, the FAU reinforced its fleet with aircraft received from the United States and second-hand examples from countries like Chile and Ecuador.
Some of these airframes were incorporated into operation, while others served as a source of parts to keep the jets in flying condition.
Specialized records indicate that Uruguay operated approximately 16 A-37 aircraft during the model’s lifespan.
Some were lost in accidents, and others were eventually withdrawn from the flight line due to structural wear, advanced age, and increasing maintenance difficulty.
CRUZEX kept the Dragonflies active in multinational exercises
Even though already considered a veteran model, the A-37B continued to be present in multinational exercises and preserved the FAU’s operational integration with other South American air forces throughout its last years of activity.
Among these activities was CRUZEX, held in Brazil, which brings together aircraft from different countries in combined training scenarios.
In Uruguayan participations, the Dragonflies performed missions compatible with their profile, such as light attack, tactical training, and coordinated employment with other platforms.
The model’s presence in these exercises reinforced its role as an aircraft limited by age, but still useful within specific missions.
The A-37’s 49-year permanence also reflected the budgetary constraints faced by Uruguay in renewing its combat aviation.
While other forces replaced old aircraft with more modern systems, the FAU kept the Dragonflies active with technical support, parts reuse, and gradual transition planning.
Embraer A-29 Super Tucano inaugurates new FAU phase
The transition to the new operational phase began to materialize in February 2026, when the first two A-29B Super Tucano delivered by Embraer officially arrived at Durazno Air Base.
The arrival scene in Durazno had special symbolism because the new turboprops were escorted by A-37 aircraft, in a direct passage between generations.
The contract with Embraer was structured to reach six A-29 Super Tucano aircraft.
The order includes integrated logistics services, a flight simulator, and mission equipment, elements considered essential for the operational adaptation of the FAU to the new system.
Although not a jet, the A-29 offers features more aligned with the current profile of Uruguayan missions.
The aircraft combines modern avionics, lower operational cost, good autonomy, and the ability to employ conventional and guided weapons, in addition to operating in advanced training and patrol missions.
Air surveillance and border patrol become the operational focus
Within the FAU’s planning, the new model is expected to expand air space surveillance, border patrolling, and low-intensity threat response capabilities, areas considered priorities for the current Uruguayan operational profile.
This change reduces reliance on an aging fleet and allows resources to be concentrated on a newer aircraft, with greater expected availability.
The farewell of the A-37B also had institutional significance as it coincided with the 75th anniversary of Air Squadron N° 2.
The unit was responsible for keeping the Dragonfly in operation for generations of pilots, mechanics, and support teams linked to Uruguayan fighter aviation.
With the retirement of the jets, Uruguay concludes a phase marked by the longevity of an aircraft that sustained basic combat capabilities for almost five decades.
From now on, the focus shifts to the consolidation of the A-29B Super Tucano as the main platform for armed training, patrol, and light attack.
The transition not only changes the equipment used by the FAU. It also reorganizes operational priorities, shifting the center of air capability to surveillance, rapid response, and lower-cost deployment missions, within the country’s current needs.
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