In the mid-1970s, spotting a business opportunity arising from the need to modernize the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) training aircraft fleet, Embraer began exploring available options for this military aviation niche. At the time, the choices were limited to jet aircraft or conventionally powered planes adapted with turboprop engines. The decision to go with a turboprop-powered aircraft quickly proved to be the most suitable choice, primarily due to the engine's fuel efficiency—a crucial factor given the international oil crisis and the resulting surge in fuel prices, which had driven up the cost of training flight hours.

As a solution, Embraer presented its initial proposals for the EMB 312 to the Ministry of Aeronautics in 1977; a development agreement was formalized in late 1978, and the program officially launched in January 1979.

The EMB 312—designated the T-27 by the FAB—featured an advanced design for its time and incorporated innovative characteristics that would eventually become the global standard for basic training aircraft. It was the first trainer developed and produced from the ground up as a turboprop while retaining the operational characteristics of a jet. Furthermore, unlike other trainers in the FAB inventory, the EMB 312 did not feature side-by-side seating; instead, it utilized a stepped tandem configuration. In this setup, the instructor and student sat along the aircraft's longitudinal axis, with the rear seat positioned higher to provide the instructor with a forward view. Beyond reducing the aircraft's frontal area, this configuration also better prepared cadets for the environment of a fighter jet.

Another innovative feature was the adoption of ejection seats. The EMB 312 was the first turboprop basic trainer to be equipped with this safety feature. The crew was housed under a large, single-piece transparent Plexiglas canopy, manufactured to ensure there was no optical distortion.

The aircraft was designed to be stable at low speeds yet highly maneuverable—key specifications for a basic trainer. Beyond its primary training role, it could carry external loads on four wing hardpoints, enabling its use in armed training, air support, and ground-attack missions. The first prototype, registered as YT-27 1300, was officially unveiled at a rollout ceremony and made its maiden flight on August 19, 1980—the date marking Embraer's 11th anniversary.

Given the EMB 312's excellent performance during initial test flights, the Ministry of Aeronautics signed an order with Embraer in October 1980 for 118 aircraft, paving the way for serial production. The following year, the aircraft was named "Tucano" following a contest held among cadets at the Air Force Academy (AFA).

The aircraft soon attracted international interest, and several countries began testing it. The first exports went to Honduras and Egypt. The Tucano was produced under license for both the Egyptian and Iraqi Air Forces, marking Embraer's first experience with aircraft assembly abroad.

Shortly thereafter, the UK's Royal Air Force (RAF) issued demanding requirements for its future training aircraft, sparking the fiercest military competition of the era. Embraer partnered with the Irish company Short Brothers PLC; the original Tucano model was modified to create the Shorts Tucano, which won the competition.

This victory was a milestone in Embraer's history, generating widespread international media coverage and leading to the establishment of a third assembly line in Northern Ireland to produce the Shorts Tucano.

In 1991, an agreement was signed to sell 80 EMB 312 Tucano aircraft to the French Air Force, with deliveries beginning in 1994. The Tucano was also well-received in South American countries, where it played a prominent role in training and airspace patrol missions, serving as a key tool in the fight against drug trafficking. This operational experience was crucial to the development of the EMB 314 Super Tucano—the successor to the EMB 312 in patrol and defense missions, as well as in the Brazilian Air Force's (FAB) advanced training squadrons, where it replaced the Xavante. The EMB 312 revolutionized its segment. Following its introduction, most turboprop trainers developed worldwide adopted very similar characteristics and design solutions. It took to the skies globally, and a total of 15 air forces operate—or have operated—the Tucano.