The AMX International AMX "Ghibli" is a surface attack aircraft for battlefield interdiction, close air support and reconnaissance missions. It is built by the AMX International joint venture. In the Brazilian Air Force, it is designated the A-1.

The AMX is capable of operating at high subsonic speed and low altitude, by day or night, and if necessary, from bases with poorly equipped or damaged runways. Low IR signature, reduced radar equivalent cross section and low vulnerability of structure and systems guarantee a high probability of mission success. Integrated ECM, air-to-air missiles and nose-mounted guns provide self-defence capabilities.

Development

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In 1977, the Italian Air Force issued a requirement for a strike fighter to replace its Aeritalia G.91 and some of its F-104 Starfighters. Rather than competing for the contract, Aeritalia (now Alenia Aeronautica) and Aermacchi agreed to make a joint proposal, as both firms had been considering the development of a similar class of aircraft for some years. Development work began in April 1978.

In March 1981, the Italian government and Brazilian governments agreed on joint requirements for the aircraft, and Embraer was invited to join the partnership in July.

The first prototype flew on May 15 1984. Although it was lost on its fifth flight (killing its pilot), the test programme was otherwise reasonably smooth. Mass production started by mid-1986, with the first examples delivered to the Italian and Brazilian air forces in 1989. Since then, some 200 AMXs have been built.

Italian AMX squadrons flew 252 combat sorties over Kosovo as part of Operation Allied Force, without a single loss.

Variants

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AMX-T

In 1986, development of a two-seat advanced trainer variant was undertaken. This was intended to provide trainee pilots with experience on fast jets, while still retaining the one seater's attack capabilities. The AMX-T first flew in 1990 and equips both the Italian and Brazilian air forces.

AMX-ATA

The AMX Advanced Trainer Attack (AMX-ATA) is a new AMX two-seater, multi-mission attack fighter for combat roles and advanced training. The AMX-ATA incorporates new sensors, a forward looking infrared, helmet-mounted display, a new multi-mode radar for anti-air and anti-ship capability, and new weapon systems including anti-ship missiles and medium-range missiles. The Venezuelan Air Force ordered eight AMX-ATA in 1999 for the advanced trainer and attack aircraft role.

Users

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Italian Air Force

• 13 Gruppo/32 Stormo
• 14 Gruppo/2 Stormo (disbanded)
• 28 Gruppo/3 Stormo (disbanded)
• 101 Gruppo/32 Stormo
• 103 Gruppo/51 Stormo
• 132 Gruppo/51 Stormo

Brazilian Air Force

• 1 Esquadrão/16 Grupo
• 1 Esquadrão/10 Grupo
• 3 Esquadrão/10 Grupo

Other

• Thailand ordered and cancelled the AMX.
• Venezuela ordered the aircraft in December 2002, with deliveries expected in 2005.

Specifications (AMX)

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plane or copter?=plane jet or prop?=jet

crew=1 length main=13.23 m length alt=43 ft 5 in span main=8.87 m span alt=29 ft 1 in height main=4.55 m height alt=14 ft 11 in area main=21 m² area alt=226 ft² empty weight main=6,730 kg empty weight alt=14,840 lb loaded weight main=10,750 kg loaded weight alt=23,700 lb max takeoff weight main=13,000 kg max takeoff weight alt=28,700 lb

engine (jet)=Rolls-Royce Spey 807 type of jet=turbofan number of jets=1 thrust main=49 kN thrust alt=11,000 lbf

max speed main=1,160 km/h max speed alt=626 knots, 721 mph cruise speed main=950 km/h cruise speed alt=510 knots, 590 mph range main=3,330 km range alt=1,800 nm, 2,070 mi ceiling main=13,000 m ceiling alt=43,000 ft climb rate main=52 m/s climb rate alt=10,000 ft/min loading main=512 kg/m² loading alt=105 lb/ft² thrust/weight=0.47

guns=
1× 20 mm (0.787 in) M61 Vulcan rotary cannon (Italian aircraft) or 2× 30 mm (1.18 in) DEFA 544 cannon (Brazilian aircraft) missiles=2× AIM-9 Sidewinders or MAA-1 Piranhas carried on wingtip rails bombs=3,800 kg (8,380 lb) on 5 external hardpoints, including general-purpose and laser-guided bombs, air-to-ground missiles, and rockets

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Notes

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Related content

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Embraer aircraft | International attack aircraft 1980-1989

AMX (Flugzeug) | AMX International AMX | AMX | AMX International AMX