Beja, Portugal, Aug. 21, 2026 (Lusa) - The Mayor of Beja, in Portugal's Alentejo region, on Friday expressed his satisfaction at the public recognition of interest in establishing a military aircraft factory in the district, arguing that the government is «finally» turning its attention to the region.
«It is another step towards achieving the goal of bringing this [investment] consortium to Beja and further evidence that, at last, and despite all the difficulties, the government is looking at Beja in a different light,» said Nuno Palma Ferro, speaking to the Lusa news agency.
On Thursday, in a resolution approved by the Cabinet, the government recognised the national public interest in establishing a final assembly line for the A-29N Super Tucano military aircraft in Portugal, providing, under certain conditions, for its location at Air Base No. 11 (BA11) in Beja.
The resolution marks a further step in the project announced by the government to establish a Super Tucano production facility in Beja, following the signing in December last year of a letter of intent between the Ministry of Defence and plane manufacturer Embraer to open a factory for this aircraft.
According to the mayor of Beja, elected in the last local elections by a coalition of PSD/CDS-PP/IL, this decision reinforces the view that the region has the capacity to attract «this type of investment», which will have «a very significant overall impact».
«The defence minister was kind enough to inform me first-hand [of the recognition of the national public interest] and I am very pleased about that. As residents of Beja and the Baixo [lower] Alentejo, we must be very pleased with this decision,» he said.
For him, the possible establishment of a Super Tucano production facility will create «around 300 direct jobs» and, consequently, bring «more families to Beja [and] skilled workers».
This will help to increase «critical mass» and participation «in the local economy», he added.
According to the mayor, the government must now «close the deal» and proceed with «signing off on the project».
Therefore, when questioned by Lusa, he preferred «not to set deadlines» for the project's completion and to hope that «things continue to go well», so that they may soon be «realised on the ground».
«This is yet another sign of the unwavering progress being made in Beja, and that makes me very happy,» he concluded.
In April, the defence minister, Nuno Melo, stated that the government was taking «strides» towards establishing a factory in Beja for the Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer to produce these military aircraft.
At the time, Nuno Melo indicated that the aim was to finalise the project by the end of this year, followed by work to adapt the infrastructure – specifically a building already identified at the Beja military base – for the installation of the production line.
The minister declined to clarify at the time whether the facility would be located within BA11 or on adjacent land, next to the civilian terminal at Beja Airport, merely stating that it would be «within the perimeter of the Beja Base», alongside facilities that had previously been earmarked for aircraft production.
The project is linked to the existing relationship between Portugal and Embraer, which holds a stake in OGMA – Indústria Aeronáutica de Portugal and operates an engineering centre in Portugal. The Brazilian company is also involved in the production of the KC-390 military aircraft, a significant proportion of which is manufactured in Portugal.
On 17 December last year, at OGMA's premises in Alverca, in the Lisbon region, the defence minister and the head of Embraer signed a letter of intent to open a Super Tucano aircraft factory in Beja, during the ceremony marking the handover of the first five aircraft of this type to the Portuguese Air Force.
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Lusa
