Embraer Emb-314

Single Turboprop

The Embraer EMB-314 Super Tucano is a Brazilian turboprop-powered light attack aircraft and advanced trainer that has become one of the most successful military aircraft exports of the 21st century. Developed from the earlier EMB-312 Tucano trainer in the 1990s, the Super Tucano combines a rugged airframe with modern avionics and weapons systems, filling a niche for counterinsurgency operations, border patrol, and pilot training that jet aircraft cannot economically address. Its tandem-seat cockpit, ejection seats, and 1,600-shaft-horsepower Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-68C engine give it both the performance envelope of a capable trainer and the payload capacity for precision-guided munitions, rockets, and gun pods. More than 260 Super Tucanos have been delivered to air forces across Latin America, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, with operators including Brazil, Colombia, Afghanistan, Nigeria, and the Philippines using the type in active combat roles. The United States Air Force selected the aircraft as the A-29 for its Light Air Support program, procuring examples for the Afghan Air Force and conducting contractor-operated adversary training at home. The Super Tucano's combination of six-hour endurance, relatively low operating costs, and ability to operate from unpaved strips has made it particularly effective in remote or austere environments where jet fighters would be impractical. The aircraft's performance envelope is optimized for low-altitude operations, with a service ceiling around 35,000 feet but typical mission profiles flown well below 20,000 feet where visibility and loiter time matter more than speed. Its maximum speed of 367 knots and combat radius exceeding 300 nautical miles with external stores give it genuine tactical reach, while the reinforced structure is stressed to +7/-3.5g and can withstand small-arms fire. The cockpit is fully compatible with night-vision goggles, and modern variants feature hands-on-throttle-and-stick controls, multifunction displays, and datalink capability that would be familiar to jet fighter pilots. SkyMeter has tracked 147 flights across 24 airframes and 6 operators, with VALKYRIE AERO LLC the largest observed operator.