AMX International AMX | |
|---|---|
| Country | Italy and Brazil |
| Role | Ground-attack aircraft |
| First flight | 15 May 1984 |
| Built | 200 |
The AMX International AMX is a ground-attack aircraft jointly developed by Brazil and Italy. The AMX is designated A-11 Ghibli by the Italian Air Force and A-1 by the Brazilian Air Force. The Italian name, “Ghibli”, is taken from the hot dry wind of the Libyan desert. During the early 1970s, Italian manufacturer Aermacchi conducted a design study on a prospective light ground attack aircraft, which was given the designation of MB-340. During early 1977, the Italian Air Force issued a requirement for 187 new-build strike fighters, which were to replace its existing Aeritalia G.91 in the close air support. During 1980, the Brazilian government announced that they intended to participate in the program in order to provide a replacement for the Aermacchi MB-326. As a result of a memorandum between Italy and Brazil for the type’s joint development in 1981, AMX International, an Italian-Brazilian joint venture, was formed to develop, manufacture, and market the aircraft.
| AMX AMI EBFS Walk Around | |
|---|---|
| Photographer | Luc Colin |
| Localisation | Unknow |
| Photos | 67 |
See also:
The AMX International AMX is a dedicated ground-attack and tactical reconnaissance aircraft developed through a joint venture between Italy (Alenia Aeronautica/Aermacchi) and Brazil (Embraer).
Nomenclature and Role
- Italian Air Force Designation: A-11 Ghibli (after the Libyan desert wind)
- Brazilian Air Force Designation: A-1
- Primary Role: Battlefield interdiction, close air support (CAS), and tactical reconnaissance.
- Crew: 1 (Pilot) or 2 (Pilot, Instructor/Weapon Systems Officer in AMX-T trainer version)
General Technical Data (Single-Seater)
| Characteristic | Detail |
|---|---|
| Length | 13.23 m (43 ft 5 in) |
| Wingspan | 8.87 m (29 ft 1 in) |
| Empty Weight | approx. 6,700 kg (14,800 lb) |
| Max Take-Off Weight | 13,000 kg (28,660 lb) |
| Engine | 1 × Rolls-Royce Spey Mk 807 non-afterburning turbofan |
| Max Thrust | 49.1 kN (11,030 lbf) |
| Max Speed | ~1,030 km/h (640 mph) — Subsonic |
| Combat Radius | ~550 km (340 mi) on a Hi-Lo-Hi mission profile |
Armament and Features
The AMX features 7 hardpoints (5 under the fuselage/wings, 2 wingtip rails) for an external load of up to 3,800 kg.
- Fixed Armament (Italian AMX): 1 × 20 mm M61A1 Vulcan cannon (350 rounds)
- Fixed Armament (Brazilian AMX): 2 × 30 mm DEFA 554 cannons
- Air-to-Air: AIM-9 Sidewinder or MAA-1 Piranha on wingtip rails.
- Air-to-Ground: A wide array of guided and unguided bombs (e.g., JDAM and Paveway series on upgraded ACOL/A-1M versions), rockets, and air-to-surface missiles.
- Survivability: Integrated electronic countermeasures (ECM) and high emphasis on ruggedness for operation from damaged or poor runways.
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