US approves potential $100 million sale to Lebanon for A-29 Super Tucano maintenance

BEIRUT — The U.S. State Department has approved a potential $100 million sale to Lebanon for maintenance services and support equipment for the A-29 Super Tucano aircraft, the Pentagon announced in a statement Friday. The Super Tucano is a multi-mission aircraft used for training and light attack operations.

According to the statement, the "government of Lebanon has requested to buy support equipment, and other related elements of a logistics program and support."

“This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by improving the security of a partner country that continues to be an important force for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East,” the statement read.

The State Department noted that the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) were deployed to southern Lebanon to help implement the November 2024 cease-fire, which followed 13 months of conflict between Hezbollah and Israel.

“Sustainment of the A-29 fleet will support the LAF’s role in maintaining the cessation of hostilities by ensuring maintenance of this critical aircraft, which is used for Close Air Support in ground maneuver operations, as well as manned Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance missions,” the statement added.

“The sale of A-29 sustainment will support the LAF’s implementation of the cessation of hostilities by providing maintenance for this critical aircraft, which is used to conduct Close Air Support as part of ground maneuver operations, as well as manned Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance,” the statement adds.

Moreover, the State Department noted that the "principal contractor will be Sierra Nevada Corporation [SNC], located in Sparks, NV", adding that at this time, the "U.S. Government is not aware of any offset agreement proposed in connection with this potential sale."

During the clashes in March between clans close to Hezbollah and the Syrian army along the Lebanese-Syrian border, the LAF deployed its Super Tucano attack aircraft to strike at a position in Syria, demonstrating its growing operational capabilities and use of such weapons. Despite the cease-fire agreement, Israel has continued to carry out near-daily airstrikes, mainly in southern Lebanon, and maintains control over five areas within Lebanese territory.