Country of origin |
Italy / Brazil |
Entered service |
1989 |
Crew |
1 men |
Dimensions and weight |
Length |
13.58 m |
Wing span |
10
m |
Height |
4.57
m |
Weight (empty) |
6.7 t |
Weight (maximum take off) |
13 t |
Engines and performance |
Engines |
1 x Rolls-Royce Sprey RC.168 Mk 807 turbofan |
Traction |
49.06 kN |
Maximum speed |
914 km/h |
Service ceiling |
13 km |
Range |
3 300 km |
Combat radius |
556 - 889 km |
Armament |
Cannon |
1 x 20 mm M61A1 cannon or 2 x 30 mm DEFA 554
cannons |
Missiles |
2 x AIM-9 Sidewinder or MAA-1 Piranha |
Bombs |
up to 3.8 t of bombs |
|
In April
1978, Aeritalia and Aermacchi combined their resources to meet
requirements from the Italian air force (AMI) for an advanced
multi-purpose strike and reconnaissance aircraft. The programme received
extra impetus in 1980 when it was joined by Brazil, with EMBRAER
chosen as the industrial partner. Procurement was signed initially
for 79 AMXs for Brazil and 187 for Italy, plus six prototypes. The
type's Rolls-Royce Spey Mk 807 turbofan powerplant was built under
license. The initial AMX flew in May 1984.
Design features include
hands on stick and throttle controls, internal navigation system, head-up and head-down displays, digital databus, active
and passive electronic counter measures, and provision for air-to-air
refueling.
By
mid-1998, programme totals had increased to 332 aircraft, including
66 two-seat AMX-Ts (known in Brazil as A-1Bs). In these variants, a
fuel bay behind the original cockpit is replaced by a second
Martin-Baker Mk 10L ejection seat, causing some reduction in range.
The first of three AMX-T prototypes initially flew in Italy on 14
March 1990, although funding problems delayed first flight of the
Brazilian two-seat prototype until 14 August 1991. Radar-equipped
versions of the AMX-T have also been considered in Brazil and Italy
for enhanced all-weather, electronic combat reconnaissance, maritime strike roles, and Italian
trials with the
Exocet anti-ship missile proved successful.
In the
reconnaissance role, the AMX can either carry external photo or
infra-red
pods, or can be equipped with any one of three sensor pallets for
internal carriage in the forward fuselage. The first operational Aeronautica
Militare Italiana
squadron received its first AMX on 7 November 1989.
The first
Brazilian A-1 unit began to receive its aircraft on 17 October 1989.
In 1998 Venezuela announced its intention to purchase on advanced AMX-ATA
variant and further prospects include a variant that is powered by a 60 kN non-afterburning version of the
Eurofighter's EJ200 turbofan.
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