Surface attack aircraft for battlefield
interdiction, close air support and reconnaissance missions.
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 sucess. Integrated
ECM, air-to-air missiles and nose-mounted guns provide self-defense
capabilities.
The AMX is a joint program undertaken by Alenia, Aermacchi and Embraer. It is used by the Brazilian Air Force (59 aircraft) and the Italian Air Force(107), and it will enter service with the Venezuelan Air Force (8) soon, in the advanced training role with the AMX-T variant. It has seen combat in the Kosovo Campaign in the hands of italian pilots, who call it "Ghibli". Over 250 sorties were flow, with none aircraft returning to base before the mission's completion with mechanical problems and none aircraft was lost.
Italian aircraft have a single 20mm M61 cannon, and Brazilian aircraft two 30mm DEFA cannon. A two-seat electronic warfare version is under development.
