Embraer EMB 312 Tucano

Summary

Category	Training aircraft
Origin country	🇧🇷 Brazil
First flight	16 August 1980
Year of introduction	1983
Number produced	624 units

Description

The EMB-312 Tucano is a Brazilian turboprop light attack aircraft developed by Embraer in the late 1970s. It was designed to replace the aging fleet of piston-engined trainers in the Brazilian Air Force and to serve as a light attack aircraft. The first flight took place in 1980, and it entered service in 1983.

The EMB-312 Tucano features a low-wing, single-turboprop design optimized for both training and light attack roles. The aircraft is equipped with a Pratt & Whitney PT6A turboprop engine, providing a good balance of performance and fuel efficiency. The cockpit is tandem-style, seating the pilot and instructor (or co-pilot) in a stepped arrangement for better visibility.

One of the notable aspects of its design is the emphasis on aerodynamic efficiency and handling characteristics that mimic those of jet aircraft. This helps in the transition training for pilots moving from propeller aircraft to jets. The Tucano is also designed for ease of maintenance and ruggedness, with features like a retractable tricycle landing gear that allows it to operate from unprepared airstrips.

The aircraft is capable of carrying a range of external stores and ordnance on hardpoints under its wings, making it suitable for light attack and counter-insurgency missions in addition to its primary training role.

Armament

The EMB-312 Tucano is equipped with hardpoints under its wings that allow it to carry a variety of external stores and armaments. Typically, the aircraft can be outfitted with up to four hardpoints, giving it the capability to carry a range of munitions such as:

Unguided bombs: General-purpose or fragmentation bombs for ground attack.
Rockets: Usually carried in rocket pods, these can be used for attacking both ground and air targets.
Gun pods: Additional machine gun or cannon pods can be mounted to supplement the aircraft's firepower.

Some versions of the Tucano also come with an internal .50-caliber machine gun that is integrated into the wing.

Operational history

The EMB-312 Tucano entered service with the Brazilian Air Force in 1983 and quickly gained a reputation for reliability and versatility. Brazil used it primarily for pilot training but also employed it in Amazon surveillance and anti-narcotics missions.

The EMB-312 Tucano has been employed in a variety of roles and missions depending on the user country's needs. Its primary mission is as a basic to advanced trainer, preparing pilots for transition to more complex jet aircraft. It excels in teaching aerobatics, instrument flying, formation flying, and tactical maneuvers.

In addition to its training role, the Tucano has been used in light attack and counter-insurgency operations. For example, it was used by the Royal Air Force in the late 1980s for training fast-jet pilots and later saw action in counter-insurgency operations in Iraq. Similarly, the Colombian Air Force has used the Tucano in anti-narcotics and anti-guerrilla operations. The aircraft has also been involved in border patrol missions and internal security operations in the Amazon region.

Variants

The EMB-312 Tucano has spawned several variants. Some of the notable ones are:

EMB-312A: The original production version primarily used for training and light attack roles.
AT-27: This is the two-seat Brazilian Air Force designation for the Tucano when configured for light attack and counter-insurgency roles.
EMB-312F: A variant customized for the French Air Force, featuring specific avionic systems to meet French requirements.
EMB-312H: An enhanced version featuring improved avionics and engine performance, designed to meet a U.S. requirement, but it was never adopted by the U.S. military.
T1 “Short Tucano”: A version produced under license in the United Kingdom by Shorts Brothers, used by the Royal Air Force for pilot training.

Technical specifications

Version: T-27 Tucano
Maximum speed	448 km/h (278 mph)
Wing area	19.4 m² (208.8 sqft)
Wingspan	11.1 m (36.5 ft)
Height	3.4 m (11.2 ft)
Length	9.9 m (32.3 ft)
Service ceiling	9145 m (30003 ft)
Empty weight	1870 kg (4123 lbs)
Max. takeoff weight	3175 kg (7000 lbs)
Climb rate	11.33 m/s (37.2 ft/s)
Takeoff distance	374 m (1227 ft)
Powerplant	1 × turboprop Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-25C delivering 559 kW
Ejection seat	Martin-Baker Mk 8A

Current operating countries

Country		Units
	Brazil	194
	Egypt	54
	Colombia	38
	Chile	22
	Angola	18
	Venezuela	18
	Ecuador	17
	Indonesia	15
	Iran	15
	Argentina	14
	Nigeria	12
	Kenya	11
	Mauritania	9
	Dominican Republic	8
	Honduras	8
	Lebanon	6
	Paraguay	6
	Philippines	6
	Turkmenistan	5
	Burkina Faso	3
	Mali	3
	Ghana	0 (+9)
	United States	0 (+3)