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AMX International AMX edit
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AMX International AMX - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

AMX International AMX

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AMX
Role Ground-attack aircraft
Manufacturer AMX International
First flight 15 May 1984
Introduction 1989
Status Active service
Primary users Italian Air Force
Brazilian Air Force
Produced 1986-1999
Number built ~ 200

The AMX International AMX is a ground-attack aircraft for battlefield interdiction, close air support and reconnaissance missions. It was built until 1999 by AMX International, an Italian-Brazilian joint venture, and is designated the A-1 by the Brazilian Air Force.

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 and reduced radar equivalent cross-section help prevent detection, while low vulnerability of structure and systems aid survivability. Integrated ECM, air-to-air missiles and nose-mounted guns provide self-defence capabilities.

Contents

Development and design

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. Aermacchi, for example, had worked on a design study for a light ground attack aircraft, designated MB-340, in the early 1970s. Development work began in April 1978.1

In July 1981, the Italian and Brazilian governments agreed on joint requirements for the aircraft, and Embraer was invited to join the partnership.1 Planned requirements were 187 aircraft for Italy and 100 for Brazil.2

A-1A of Brazilian Air Force

The resultant design is a shoulder-winged monoplane, constructed mainly of aluminium, but with carbon fibre fin and elevators. The wing is fitted with both leading edge slats and trailing edge flaps and overwing spoilers ahead of the flaps. These are used to both improve take-off and landing performance and manoevrability. A hybrid flight control system is fitted, with spoilers, rudder and variable incidence tailplane operated by a fly-by-wire system, while the ailerons and elevators are operated hydraulically. Manual reversion is provided for the ailerons, elevator and rudder to allow the aircraft to be flown even in the event of complete hydraulic failure.34 A Rolls-Royce Spey turbofan was chosen to power the new aircraft. While this was heavier and less modern than some of the alternatives, it was considered to be reliable, relatively cheap and was free of the export retrictions that would be imposed for American engines.25

Four underwing and one centreline hardpoint carry air-to-ground munitions, including bombs, missiles and rockets, and drop tanks, while wingtip rails are provided for infra-red guided air-to-air missiles such as the AIM-9 Sidewinder and MAA-1 Piranha. Italian aircraft are fitted with a M61 Vulcan 20 mm rotary cannon on the port side of the lower fuselage. As the United States did not permit the sale of the M61 to Brazil, its AMXs are instead fitted with two 30 mm DEFA 554 revolver cannons.36

The first prototype flew on 15 May 1984. Although it was lost on its fifth flight (killing its pilot),7 the test programme, which used seven aircraft, progressed reasonably smoothly otherwise.8 Deliveries to Italy started in 1988,7 with the first examples delivered to the Brazilian Air Force in 1989.9 Since then, some 200 AMXs have been built.

Operational history

Italian Air Force's AMX at RIAT 2010.

The first operational squadron of the Italian air force, the 103° Gruppo of 51° Stormo formed in November 1989,10 with the first Italian unit also forming in 1989.11 Both the Italian and Brazilan AMX fleets were grounded in February 1992, following the crash of an Italian AMX due to engine failure. Operations were allowed to restart in May that year, following modification of the engines.1213

Italy assigned six AMXs from 103° Gruppo to operations over Bosnia in 1995 as part of Operation Deny Flight, which was followed by a similar deployment in support of the IFOR peacekeepers in Bosnia. This deployment was interrupted by another grounding, again due to engine failure, between January and March 1996.14 Italian AMX aircraft were used in 1999 in the Kosovo war. Instead of using unguided or more traditional laser-guided bombs, the Italian Air Force used dozens of Mk 82 bombs fitted with Israeli guidance kits ("Opher"), effectively converting the "dumb" bombs into an infrared-guided bomb.15 Italian AMX squadrons flew 252 combat sorties over Kosovo as part of Operation Allied Force, without a single loss.

In 2005, the Italian Air Force launched an upgrade programme (ACOL Aggionamento Capacità Operative e Logistiche - Operational and Logistical Capacity Upgrade) for 55 of its AMXs,16 adding a new laser INS, new cockpit displays and allowing the aircraft to drop Joint Direct Attack Munition guided bombs.17

Since Autumn 2009, four Italian AMX are located in Afghanistan, replacing the same number of Italian Tornado IDS in the recce role.

On November 2010 members of Task Group “Black Cats” during a reconnaissance flight stopped an attack against ISAF French troops.

In 2011, Italian AMX aircraft were employed during the 2011 military intervention in Libya. Italian military aircraft deployed 710 guided bombs and missiles during sorties: Italian Air Force Tornados and AMX fighter bombers deployed 550 bombs and missiles, while Navy AV-8Bs deployed 160 guided bombs. AMX aircraft for the first time used Litening III targeting pods paired with Paveway and JDAM guided bombs.18

As of March 2012, the Philippines is in negotiations with Italy for the possible procurement of used AMX aircraft, although no official information has been released.19

Variants

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 single-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 developed 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 air-to-air and air-to-surface capability, and new weapons 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, but the U.S. Congress vetoed the sale because the aircraft systems include U.S. technology.

AMX-R (RA-1)

The AMX for reconnaissance, used by the Brazilian Air Force, with a reconnaissance pallet.

AMX A-1M

Brazilian upgrade of existing A-1 with Mectron SCP-01 Scipio radar,20 Embraer data Link-BR2, NavFLIR system,21 Elbit INS/GPS/databus and glass cockpit.22 New OBOGS system and HMD DASH IV.

Operators

AMX Brazilian Air Force.
  •  Brazil
    • Brazilian Air Force operates 60 AMX-A/T (including eight AMX-T for training).23 43 aircraft to be modernized to A-1M, delivered between 2013 and 2017, and to be retired in 2032.24
      • 1 Esquadrão/16 Grupo de Aviação Esquadrão Adelphi
      • 1 Esquadrão/10 Grupo de Aviação
      • 3 Esquadrão/10 Grupo de aviação
  •  Italy
    • Italian Air Force operates 43× AMX ACOL and 12× AMX-T ACOL (out of four prototypes, 110 one-seaters and 26 two-seaters delivered)
      • 13 Gruppo, 32 Stormo (Ground Attack Squadron 14× AMX ACOL)
      • 101 Gruppo, 32 Stormo (Training Squadron operating 12× AMX-T ACOL)
      • 103 Gruppo, 51 Stormo (Ground Attack Squadron 14× AMX ACOL)
      • 132 Gruppo, 51 Stormo (Ground Attack Reconnaissance Squadron 15× AMX ACOL with the RecceLite Pod from Rafael)

Specifications (AMX)

Orthographically projected diagram of the AMX.
20mm M61 Vulcan Gatling cannon.

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1993–943

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Length: 13.23 m (43 ft 5 in)
  • Wingspan: 8.87 m (29 ft 1½ in)
  • Height: 4.55 m (14 ft 11¼ in)
  • Wing area: 21.0 m² (226 ft²)
  • Aspect ratio: 3.75:1
  • Empty weight: 6,700 kg (14,771 lb)
  • Loaded weight: 10,750 kg (23,700 lb)
  • Max. takeoff weight: 13,000 kg (28,700 lb)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Rolls-Royce Spey 807 turbofan, 49.1 kN (11,030 lbf)
  • Internal fuel capacity: 3,555l (2,700kg) internal.
  • External fuel capacity: 2x 1,000l (760kg) in inner wing and 2x 500l (380kg) in outer wing.25

Performance

Armament

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

Related lists

References

Notes
  1. ^ a b Braybrook 1989, p.267.
  2. ^ a b Warwick 1981, p. 1544.
  3. ^ a b c Lambert 1993, pp. 129–131.
  4. ^ Warwick 1981, pp. 1544–1545.
  5. ^ Braybrook 1989, p. 270.
  6. ^ Jackson 1991, p. 135.
  7. ^ a b Braybrook 1989, p.275.
  8. ^ Meitus 1992, pp. 223–224.
  9. ^ Lambert 1993, p. 126.
  10. ^ Nicolli 1997, p. 351.
  11. ^ Jackson 1991, p. 138.
  12. ^ Nicolli 1997, pp. 351–352.
  13. ^ "Brazil and Italy lift AMX Ban". Flight International, 6 – 12 May 1992, p. 14.
  14. ^ Nicolli 1997, p. 352.
  15. ^ "Opher bomb deployed in Kosovo". Flight Global. http://www.flightglobal.com/Articles/1999/06/17/52884/Opher+bomb+deployed+in+Kosovo.html. 
  16. ^ "Alenia lands $390m AMX upgrade contract". Flight International. Flight Global. 8 February 2005. http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2005/02/08/193586/alenia-lands-390m-amx-upgrade-contract.html. Retrieved 7 November 2009. 
  17. ^ Niccoli 2009, p.44.
  18. ^ http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=8567271
  19. ^ "DND signs five-year agreement with Italy". The Philippine Star. February 8, 2012. http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=775432&publicationSubCategoryId=63. Retrieved February 20, 2012. 
  20. ^ "Embraer lucra com retrofit de aviões" (in Portuguese). Estadão, 16 September 2011. Retrieved: 29 January 2012.
  21. ^ "FLIR Systems wins $7 million contract from Embraer". Military Aero Space, 9 June 2009. Retrieved: 29 January 2012.
  22. ^ "Elbit consegue contrato de US$187 mi da Embraer" (in Portuguese). Reuters, 11 November 2009. Retrieved: 29 January 2012.
  23. ^ "World Airliner Census 2011". Flight Global," 13–19 December 2011. Retrieved: 10 January 2012
  24. ^ "FAB ganha poder de fogo com 'novo' caça" (in Portuguese). Estadao, 16 January 2012. Retrieved: 16 January 2012.
  25. ^ "Aeritalia-Embraer-Aermacchi AMX". fighter-planes.com. Retrieved: 9 February 2012,
  26. ^ Donald and Lake 1996, p. 31.
  27. ^ "A-1" (in Portuguese). Brazilian Air Force. Retrieved: 9 February 2012.
  28. ^ "Modernização do AMX" (in Portuguese). Sistemas e Armas. Retrieved: 9 February 2012.
  29. ^ "Aeritalia/Aermacchi/EMBRAER AMX". aviastar.org. Retrieved: 9 February 2012.
  30. ^ "AMX - Caça bombardeiro (Embraer)" (in Portuguese). Aréa Militar. Retrieved: 9 February 2012.
  31. ^ "Directory: Military Aircraft". Flight Global, 21–25 May 2004. Retrieved: 2 February 2012.
  32. ^ "Defesa ganha mais espaço na Odebrecht" (in Portuguese). Estadão, 08 April 2011. Retrieved: 29 January 2012.
  33. ^ "South Africa, Brazil to Develop A-Darter SRAAM". Defense Industry Daily, Apr 26, 2010. Retrieved: 29 December 2012.
Bibliography
  • Braybrook, Roy. "Assessing the AMX". Air International, June 1989, Vol 36 No 6. Bromley, UK:Fine Scroll. ISSN 0306-5634. pp. 267–278.
  • Donald, David and Jon Lake. Encyclopedia of World Military Aircraft. London: Aerospace Publishing, Single Volume Edition, 1996. ISBN 1-874023-95-6.
  • Jackson, Paul. "AMX: The 'Pocket Tornado'". World Air Power Journal. Volume 5, Spring 1991. ISSN 0959-7050. pp. 132–139.
  • Lambert, Mark. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1993–94. Coulsdon, Surry, UK: Jane's Data Division, 1993. ISBN 0-7106-1066-1.
  • Metius, Wojtek. "AMX IOC: Service use for Italy's new agile attacker". Air International, October 1992, Vol 43 No 4. Stamford, UK:Key Publishing. ISSN 0306-5634. pp. 222–225.
  • Niccoli, Ricardo. "AMX In Italian Service". Air International, June 1997, Vol 52 No 6. Stamford, UK:Key Publishing. ISSN 0306-5634. pp. 349–353.
  • Niccoli, Ricardo. "AMX: Upgraded and Ready for Combat". Air International, November 2009, Vol 77 No 5. Stamford, UK:Key Publishing. ISSN 0306-5634. pp. 42–45.
  • Warwick, Graham. "AMX design reflects Tornado experience". Flight International, 21 November 1981. pp. 1544–1545.

External links

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