Embraer EMB 312 Tucano

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"Tucano T-27" redirects here. For other uses, see Toucan (disambiguation).
EMB 312 Tucano
Esquadrilha da Fumaça EMB 312
Role Trainer aircraft, with small light attack capabilities
Manufacturer Embraer
First flight 16 August 1980
Introduction September, 1983
Status Active
Primary users Brazilian Air Force
Egyptian Air Force
Argentine Air Force
Peruvian Air Force
Royal Air Force
Produced 1980-1996[1]
Number built 624[1]
Variants Short Tucano
Developed into Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucano

The Embraer EMB 312 Tucano is a two seat turboprop basic trainer developed in Brazil. The prototype first flew in 1980 and initial production units were delivered in 1983. The Tucano family of aircraft became one of Embraer's first international marketing successes, with 600 units produced. An improved variant was licence-produced as the Short Tucano for the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force.

Contents

[edit] Design and development

[icon] This section requires expansion with:
Need more on the aircraft's background and early development.

In 1978, the state-owned aircraft manufacturer Embraer was approached by the Brazillian government, requesting the development of a replacement for the Cessna T-37 Tweet then in service with the Brazilian Air Force. The new aircraft was to be cheap to operate and designed to closely imitate the characteristics of jet aircraft.[2] Embraer responded with the Lycoming TIO-541-powered EMB-301 basic trainer and a PT6-powered EMB-311 as a higher performance trainer; a second company, Neiva, responded with a variation of their Neiva Universal. None of the proposals were acceptable to the Air Force but interest was expressed in the higher performance EMB-311 and a secondary role of performing light attack missions. Embraer's design team, led by Joseph Kovacs, re-designed the 311 to produce the EMB-312, the main difference being the more powerful PT6A engine.[2] The rival Neiva YT-27B had already flown but when Embraer purchased the company it left the EMB-312 as the only contender.

Prototype PP-ZDK

In 6 December 1978, Embraer received a contract for two prototypes and two airframes for fatigue tests. The first prototype flew on 16 August 1980, bearing the FAB registration mark 1300. The second prototype flew for the first time on 10 December 1980, bearing the FAB registration mark 1301. A third prototype, further modified from the previous two prototypes, received the civilian registration mark PP-ZDK, and flew on August 16, 1982. The type was designed the T-27 by the Brazilian Air Force and the name Tucano was selected in October 1981. The Brazilian Air Force ordered 118 T-27 trainers and 50 AT-27 light attack variants.[3][4]

The EMB-312 is designated T-27 in Brazilian Air Force (FAB) service. It is the aerobatic demonstration aircraft of the Brazilian Air Force Demonstration Squadron, the "Smoke Squadron" (Esquadrilha da Fumaça). The FAB purchased 133 AT-27 light attack versions. First exported to Honduras in 1984, the EMB-312 proved successful.

The upgraded EMB-312H "Super Tucano" was a losing contender in the USA's Joint Primary Aircraft Training System (JPATS) aircraft selection of the 1990s. Among the seven designs to enter, the Raytheon/Pilatus entry won, which became the T-6 Texan II. Embraer worked with Northrop, which merged with Grumman part way through the competition to become Northrop Grumman. The EMB-312H's design later served as a starting point for the EMB-314, dubbed the ALX, and adopted by the Brazilian Air Force as the A-29.

[edit] Operational history

[edit] Angola

In 1999, Angola received two Embraer company demonstrators and six new AT-27s, designated as the SU-22 "UM". In 2004, Angola received an additional lot of six Tucanos withdrawn from the Peruvian Air Force. Reputedly, Embraer has provided a further two stored EMB-312 airframes.[5][6][7]

The Angolan Tucanos have been employed the aircraft for trainers and counter-insurgency purposes. During the Angolan Civil War, the aircraft were used to carry out air strikes and surveillance missions. The aircraft played a decisive role in the identification of the rebel leader Jonas Savimbi, who was attacked and killed. The operation resulted in the end of the Angolan Civil War.[8]

[edit] Argentine

In June 1987, the Argentine Air Force received the first batch of 15 aircraft from a total of 30 aircraft on order,[5], the aircraft type was assigned to replace the Morane-Saulnier MS.760 Paris[7]. Based on the Military Aviation School in Cordoba, the Tucanos are currently serving the Argentine Air Force, Navy and Army pilots as a trainer aircraft for the Joint Basic Course of Military Aviation (CBCAM) program.[9]. In 2009, the Brazilian Air Force leased 5 Tucanos for the Argentine Air Force.[10]

[edit] France

French Air Force EMB-312 Tucano

The French Air Force operated 50 EMB 312F from 1993 to 2009. These aircraft replaced the Fouga Magister in the training role, and were based at Salon-de-Provence. The EMB 312F differed in having a ventral airbrake, a de-icing engine air intake and French avionics.

The French Tucano fleet was retired in 2009 as a cost-saving measure, despite the fact that most aircraft had only reached half of their potential operational life.[11]

[edit] Honduras

Honduras was the first foreign customer of the Tucano. In order to replace the North American T-28 Trojan, 12 EMB-312 were received between 1982 and 1983[12] The aircraft is used for advanced training and patrolling the Honduran skies in search for illegal flights.[13] In November 2010, a Tucano was used to intercept an aircraft with 1,000 lb of cocaine.[14] In February 2012, the military of Hoduras started to work with Embraer in a study for a possible recondition program of the aging Tucanos.[15]

[edit] Iran

Iran received 25 aircraft between 1989 and 1991.[16] Between 2000 and 2001, the IRGC used Tucanos against Taliban positions and in drug-busting operations in the eastern Iranian borders.[17][18]

[edit] Mauritania

In 2011, The Islamic Air Force of Mauritania received four ex-French EMB-312F and pilot training from the French Air Force. The aircraft still had two thirds of their structural life. The aircraft underwent to a complete overhaul before being delivered, receiving new wing hard points and radios. The aircraft are based on Atar in the northwest African country, where they are used in attacks missions against Al-Qaeda Organization in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) guerrillas.[19][11]

[edit] Paraguay

Received six aircraft in 1987.[20]. Six more were purchased in the late 1990s, but the deal fell through, and these machines ended up being the second batch sold to Angola.[7] In 29 December 2010, 3 used ex-Brazilian aircraft were exchanged for 4 EMB-326GB (Xavante) trainer aircraft and 1 Boeing-707 transport aircraft [21][22]

The 3o Escuadrón de caza "Moros" in Asuncion operates the tucanos in COIN missions, forming the squads "Gamma" and "Omega" since 1996.[9]

[edit] Peru

Peruvian Air Force Tucano

In 1986, Peru ordered 20 Tucanos to replace the Cessna T-37 Tweet. In 1991, an additional lot of 10 Tucanos was purchased for anti-drug operations, reaching a total of 30 aircraft. Six of them were resold to Angola in 2002.[23] The first EMB-312s of The Fuerza Aérea del Perú (FAP) Peruvian Air Force was delivered on April 1987 to form part of the Escuadron de Instruccion basica No. 512 in the Air Academy belonging to the Grupo de Entrenamiento 51 based at Las Palmas - Lima. Another group of EMB-312s was assigned to Escuadron Aereo Tactico No. 514. The first aircraft ware painted in orange and white for trainers and gradually replaced by jungle camouflage and a few in dark gray for night missions. In most of these aircraft, an impressive and aggressive shark's mouth is present. Since 1991, the FAP Tucanos in conjunction with A-37Bs have been actively involved in many ground attack operations over the Cenepa River and anti-narcotics interdiction, accomplish over 120 interceptions and attacks on drug ships.[9] Peruvian Tucanos are now mostly focused on the training mission.[24]

[edit] Cenepa War

See also: Cenepa War

At dawn of the 5 of February of 1995, six Peru Air Force's Tucano EMB-312 AT-27 war airplanes equipped with Night Vision Goggles (NVG) and loaded with a dotation of four iron bombs of 500 pounds each one took off from Capitán FAP Renán Elías Olivera Airport, with the mission to bomb an equatorian objective infiltrated in Peruvian territory very next to recovered the false South Base.[25][26]

[edit] United Kingdom

Short Tucano of the Royal Airforce

In 1985, an upgraded variant with a more powerful turboprop engine and stronger airframe was selected by the Royal Air Force as its next generation basic trainer. 130 aircraft were produced by Shorts Brothers in Belfast, now part of the Bombardier group. The UK version is powered by a 1,100 shp Garrett TPE331-12B driving a four-bladed propeller. The cockpit differs from the T-27 version having been designed to allow a smooth transition from the Tucano to the BAe Hawk jet trainer. It is operated by the 72 (Reserve) Squadron, the 207 (Reserve) Squadron and the 76 Squadron (Tucano Air Navigation Squadron) at the Flying Training School.[27][28]

The Short Tucano replaced the Jet Provost as the basic trainer for the RAF, preparing the student pilots for progression to the Hawk T1 advanced flying training. The aircraft proved to be 70% cheaper to operate than its predecessor.[29]

In April 2007, during the Afghanistan War, the British Parliament was debating the idea of replacing Harriers and Tornados for armed Short Tucanos during close air support missions[30][31]

RAF has a contract with VT Group to support maintenance until April of 2014, with possible option to extend the deal for another two years. The aircraft is scheduled to be withdraw from service in 2015, it will be replaced by the winner of the UK Military Flying Training System (UKMFTS) program.[32]

[edit] Venezuela

Venezuelan Air Force AT-27

In July 1986, the Venezuelan Air Force received the first four Embraer EMB-312 Tucano AT/T-27 from a total of 32 aircraft ordered. A year later, the remaining aircraft were delivered, divided into two variants: 20 T-27 for training purposes and 12 AT-27 for tactical support. They were assigned to Grupo 14 at the Escuadrón de Entrenamiento No.142 "Escorpiones" based in Maracay, to the Grupo 13 at the Escuadrón de Operaciones Especiales No.131 "Zorros" based in Barcelona, and to the Grupo de Operaciones Especiales No.15 at the Escuadrón No.152 "Avispones" based in Maracaibo. The AT-27 together with the OV-10 Bronco have been actively involved in many anti-guerrilla, anti-narcotic and anti-kidnapping campaigns.[33][9]

On 27 November 1992, the aircraft were widely used by mutinied officers who staged a coup d'état against former President Carlos Andrés Pérez. The rebels dropped bombs and launched rockets against Police and government buildings in Caracas. Several aircraft, along with North American OV-10 Broncos were shot down during the uprising by F-16s flown by loyalist pilots.[34]

[edit] Drug busting operations

The aircraft, along with the Cessna A-37 Dragonfly, has been widely used for drug-busting operations in Central and South America.[35]

[edit] Variants

Brazilian Air Force T-27
EMB-312
The standard production model with fatigue life of 6,000 hours.
T-27
Two-seat basic training aircraft for the Brazilian Air Force.
AT-27
Two-seat light attack version for the Brazilian Air Force.
EMB-312F
80 units sold to France of model with French avionics and fatigue life of 10,000 hours.
Short Tucano
130 aircraft to the RAF, plus 12 for Kenya and 16 for Kuwait with a different, more powerful engine and custom avionics.
EMB-312G1
Prototype build in 1986 with Garrett engine.[36]
EMB-312H
a Northrop/Embraer developed prototype for USAF (JPATS) competition for an advanced trainer, from which derived the EMB-314 Super Tucano (ALX) now in production for FAB.[37]

[edit] Operators

EMB-312 Tucano operators (former operators in red)
 Angola
 Argentina
Brazilian Smoke Squadron Air Show
 Brazil
Colombian Tucano
 Colombia
 Egypt
 Honduras
 Iran
 Kenya
 Kuwait
 Mauritania
 Paraguay
 Peru
  • Peruvian Air Force 13 aircraft are operational.[38]
    • Escuadron Aereo de Instrucion 512
    • Escuadron Aereo de Instrucion 514
RAF Short Tucano T1
 United Kingdom
 Venezuela
Venezuelan Air Force received 31 aircraft.[41] 19 are Operational[38]
    • Escuadrone 131
    • Escuadrone 141
    • Escuadrone 142
    • Escuadrone 152

[edit] Former operators

French EMB-312
 France
  • French Air Force received 50 aircraft[39] to replace the Fouga CM.170 Magister. Designated the EMB-312F, they were modified to include French avionics. The first EMB-312F flew on 7 April 1993 and following testing of the two prototypes, the first of 48 production aircraft arrived in January 1995. All aircraft have been retired by 2009.[42]
 Iraq
  • Iraqi Air Force bought 80 aircraft produced under license by Helwan.[12] All but one has been destroyed in recent conflicts, by December 2011 were flying anymore.[38]

[edit] Specifications (standard EMB 312)

Data from Jane's Aircraft Recognition Guide, Fifth Edition[43]

General characteristics

Performance

Armament

  • Guns: 12.7 mm (pod mounted on wing pylons)
  • Hardpoints: 4 under-wing pylons with a capacity of 1,000 kg (2,200 lb)
  • Rockets: Unguided rocket pods may be mounted on wing pylons.
  • Bombs: May be mounted on wing pylons.

[edit] See also

Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

Related lists

[edit] References

Notes
  1. ^ a b "Embraer 40 anos: Parcerias e inovação" (in Portuguese). Contato Radar. . Retrieved: 5 February 2012.
  2. ^ a b Frédriksen 2001, p. 102.
  3. ^ Taylor 1988, p. 13.
  4. ^ "Tucano" (in Portuguese). redetec.org.br. Retrieved: 14 February 2012.
  5. ^ a b c Rivas and Cicalesi 2007, p. 74.
  6. ^ "Angola buys EMB-312s". Flight Global, 12 March 2002. Retrieved: 5 February 2012.
  7. ^ a b c Goebel, Greg. "The Embraer Tucano & Super Tucano". Vectorsite. Retrieved: 10 February 2012.
  8. ^ "EMB-312 / Tucano" (in Portuguese). Area Militar. Retrieved: 2 January 2012.
  9. ^ a b c d Alfonzo, Adolfo. "EMB-312 AT/T-27 Tucano" (in Spanish). Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora. Retrieved: 10 February 2012.
  10. ^ "Brasil empresta Tucanos à Argentina" (in Portuguese). Plano Brasil, 10 August 2009. Retrieved: 10 February 2012.
  11. ^ a b "Tucanos franceses para Mauritânia" (in Portuguese). Aero Business, 15 December 2010. Retrieved: 2 February 2012.
  12. ^ a b Rivas and Cicalesi 2007, p. 76.
  13. ^ "Honduran Air Arms". scramble.nl, 13 January 2004. Retrieved: 16 February 2012.
  14. ^ "FF AA: Avioneta fue interceptada por un avión tucano y dos F-5" (in Spanish). Diario el Heraldo, 3 November 2010. Retrieved: 16 February 2012.
  15. ^ "Recuperarán aviones EMB 312 antes de comprar Súper Tucanos" (in Spanish). Diario el Heraldo, 15 February 2012. Retrieved: 16 February 2012.
  16. ^ "Stockholm International Peace Research Institute". sipri.org. Retrieved: 13 February 2012.
  17. ^ "IRIAF Since 1988". Acig.org, 16 September 2003. Retrieved: 13 February 2012.
  18. ^ "Afghanistan, 1979-2001; Part 3". 'Acig.org, 29 October 2003. Retrieved: 13 February 2012.
  19. ^ "Mauritania boosts counter-terror capacities" Magharebia, 14 July 2011. Retrieved: 10 February 2012.
  20. ^ Rivas and Cicalesi 2007, p. 77.
  21. ^ "Paraguai recebe turboélices T-27 Tucano doados pelo Brasil" (in Portuguese). Tecnologia & Defesa, 6 January 2011. Retrieved: 3 February 2012.
  22. ^ "Global transfers of major conventional weapons sorted by supplier (exporter), 2010". Sipri.org, 9 March 2011. Retrieved: 14 February 2012.
  23. ^ Rivas and Cicalesi 2007, pp. 77–78.
  24. ^ Goebel, Greg. "The Embraer Tucano & Super Tucano". vectorsite.net. Retrieved: 13 February 2012.
  25. ^ "Peru." galeon.com. Retrieved: 28 December 2011.
  26. ^ "Peru vs. Ecuador; Alto-Cenepa War, 1995". Acig.org, 1 September 2003. Retrieved: 13 February 2012.
  27. ^ "Tucano". raf.mod.uk. Retrieved: 5 February 2012.
  28. ^ "Shorts Tucano T.1". aeroscale.co.uk. Retrieved: 05 February 2012.
  29. ^ "Tucano Display Season 2004". armedforces-int.com. Retrieved: 20 February 2012
  30. ^ "RAF heralds emergence of 'combat ISTAR' over Afghanistan". Flight Global, 23 March 2010. Retrieved: 20 February 2012.
  31. ^ "Column 744". UK House of Commons, 16 October 2007. Retrieved: 20 February 2012.
  32. ^ "VT lands new deal to support RAF's Tucano fleet". Flight Global, 22 February 2010. Retrieved: 20 February 2012.
  33. ^ "Embraer EMB-312 AT/T-27 Tucano" (in Spanish). FAV Club. Retrieved: 5 February 2012.
  34. ^ "Venezuela."
  35. ^ "Drug-Busting Operations Air-to-Air Victories." ACIG Team, 1 September 2003. Retrieved: 28 December 2011.
  36. ^ "Embraer 40 anos: Defendendo a Amazônia" (in Portuguese). Contato Radar. Retrieved: 5 February 2012.
  37. ^ "Super Tucano." Embraer Defense Systems. Retrieved: 3 August 2008.
  38. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Directory of World Air Forces 2011". Flight Global," 13-19 December 2011. Retrieved: 10 January 2012
  39. ^ a b Rivas and Cicalesi 2007, p. 75.
  40. ^ "Mauritania Boosts Counter-Terror Capacities". Eurasia Review, 15 July 2011. Retrieved: 12 December 2012.
  41. ^ Rivas and Cicalesi 2007, p. 79.
  42. ^ "Tucano é retirado de serviço na Força Aérea Francesa" (in Portuguese). Poder Aereo, 26 July 2009. Retrieved: 29 January 2012.
  43. ^ Endres 2007[page needed]
Bibliography
  • Alfonzo, Adolfo. (editor) "Embraer EMB.312 Tucano". Especial Article. Article No. 1, First Edition, Revision No. 3, 23 March 2004.
  • Endres, Gunther, ed. Jane's Aircraft Recognition Guide, Fifth Edition. New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 2007. ISBN 978-0-00-725792-8.
  • Frédriksen, John. International warbirds: an illustrated guide to world military aircraft, 1914-2000. ABC-CLIO, 2001. ISBN 1-5760-7364-5.
  • Gunston, Bill. The Encyclopedia of Modern Warplanes: The Development and Specifications of All Active Military Aircraft. New York: MetroBooks, 1995. ISBN 1-58663-207-8.
  • Gunston, Bill. Encyclopedia Of World Air Power. London: Crescent, 1987. ISBN 0-51749-969-X.
  • Rivas, Santiago and Juan Carlos Cicalesi. "Type Analysis: Embraer EMB-312/314 Tucano and Super Tucano". International Air Power Review, Volume Twenty Two, 2007. Westport, Connecticut:AIRtime Publishing. ISBN 188058879X. ISSN 1473-9917. pp. 60–79.
  • Taylor, John W.R. (editor). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1988-89. Coulsdon, Surrey, UK: Jane's Information Group, 1988. ISBN 0-7106-0867-5.

[edit] External links

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