Embraer EMB 312 Tucano

The Embraer EMB 312 Tucano is a low-wing tandem-seat single-turboprop basic trainer with counter-insurgency capability developed in Brazil. The Brazilian Air Force sponsored the EMB-312 project at the end of 1978. Design and development work began in 1979 on a low-cost, relatively simple new basic trainer with innovative features which eventually became the international standard for basic training aircraft. The prototype first flew in 1980, and initial production units were delivered in 1983.

Production was initially supported by a local order for 118 aircraft with options for an additional 50 units in October 1980. It was later matched by an Egyptian licence-produced purchase in 1993 and subsequently by an improved variant known as the Short Tucano, which was licence-produced in the United Kingdom. The Tucano made inroads into the military trainer arena and became one of Embraer's first international marketing successes. A total of 664 units were produced (504 by Embraer and 160 by Short Brothers), flying in sixteen air forces over five continents.

Users

 * Angola
 * Angolan Air Force
 * Argentina
 * Argentine Air Force
 * Brazil
 * Brazilian Air Force
 * Colombia
 * Colombian Air Force
 * Egypt
 * Egyptian Air Force
 * France
 * Armée de l'Air
 * Honduras
 * Honduran Air Force
 * Iran
 * Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force - formerly IRGC Air Force
 * Iraq
 * Iraqi Air Force
 * Mauritania
 * Mauritanian Air Force
 * Paraguay
 * Paraguayan Air Force
 * Peru
 * Peruvian Air Force
 * Venezuela
 * Venezuelan Air Force

Related Development

 * Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucano
 * Short Tucano

Comparable Aircraft

 * Beechcraft T-6 Texan II
 * Fuji T-7
 * KAI KT-1 Woongbi
 * PZL-130 Orlik
 * Pilatus PC-7
 * Pilatus PC-9
 * TAI Hürkuş
 * Utva Lasta