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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 Runway s. 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 Missile s and nose-mounted guns provide self-defence capabilities.


DEVELOPMENT

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 Starfighter s. 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


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.


USERS

Italian Air Force (past and present)

Brazilian Air Force

Thailand ordered and cancelled the AMX.

Venezuela ordered the aircraft in December 2002 , with deliveries expected in 2005.


SPECIFICATIONS (AMX)


  plane Or Copter plane
  jet Or Prop jet
  crew One
  length Main 1323 m
  length Alt 43 ft 5 in
  span Main 887 m
  span Alt 29 ft 1 in
  height Main 455 m
  height Alt 14 ft 11 in
  area Main 21 m&sup2
  area Alt 226 ft&sup2
  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 1,020 km/h
  max Speed Alt 630 mph
  range Main 3,330 km
  range Alt 2,070 mi
  ceiling Main 13,000 m
  ceiling Alt 42,600 ft
  climb Rate Main 52 m/s
  climb Rate Alt 10,240 ft/min
  loading Main 512 kg/m&sup2
  loading Alt 105 lb/ft&sup2
  thrust/weight 047



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