The Ukrainian military is considering the procurement of EMB-314 Super Tucano light attack aircraft to Replace L-39 Albatros. In a report on August 2, 2019, Infodefensa revealed that Gen.-Col. Sergii Drozdov, who commands the Ukrainian Air Force, took a test flight in Brazil on the EMB-314 Super Tucano. General-Colonel Drozdov and his delegation also met with representatives of Embraer Defense & Security to discuss the potential of the Ukrainian Air Force acquiring the aircraft.
The Aero L-39 Albatros is a high-performance jet trainer developed in Czechoslovakia by Aero Vodochody. It was designed during the 1960s as a replacement for the Aero L-29 DelfÃn as a principal training aircraft. It was designed during the 1960s as a replacement for the Aero L-29 DelfÃn as a principal training aircraft. It was the first trainer aircraft to be equipped with a turbofan powerplant. The type was exported to a wide range of countries as a military trainer. About 2,900 L-39 are currently in service with 30 air forces worldwide.
The Embraer EMB 314/A-29 Super Tucano (English: Super Toucan; About this soundpronunciation), is a Brazilian turboprop light attack aircraft designed and built by Embraer as a development of the Embraer EMB 312 Tucano. The A-29 Super Tucano carries a wide variety of weapons, including precision-guided munitions, and was designed to be a low-cost system operated in low-threat environments. The Embraer has set up a production line in the United States in conjunction with Sierra Nevada Corporation for the manufacture of A-29s to many export customers.
The Super Tucano is powered by a 1,200 kW (1,600 shp) Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-68C engine. It has a Kevlar armour protection; two internal, wing-mounted .50 cal. machine guns; capacity to carry various ordnance on five weapon hardpoints including 20 mm cannon pods, air-to-air missiles (AAMs), bombs, and SBAT-70/19 rocket pods on its underwing stations; and has a night-vision goggle-compatible “glass cockpit”. While the aircraft would not be an effective deterrent against Russia, Ukraine may find the aircraft useful for patrolling separatist-controlled territory in its east.