- Yes
- No
In the mid-1970s, Embraer was considering collaborations with foreign companies to enable research and eventually technology transfer. The first studies began in 1976, with the Italian company Macchi, which at the time already had an advanced jet project. The MB 340 project was launched the following year. Subsequently, in order to meet the needs of the Italian Air Force, an association was established between Aeritália (now Alenia) and Macchi (now Aermacchi), giving rise to the AMX subsonic fighter program in 1978 (A for Aeritália, M for Macchi and X for experimental). Embraer would be responsible for 1/3 of the program and costs, including the wing sections, empennage and fatigue tests of the structure. Aermacchi would be responsible for 2/3, and produce the fuselage, the onboard systems, and conduct the static and armament tests. After work was temporarily suspended in 1980, Brazilian aeronautical authorities reaffirmed the decision to participate in the Italian program at the Farnborough Air Show. Brazilian acknowledgement of official participation occurred a few months later, on March 27, 1981, through an agreement signed between the two countries. After contractual changes, Embraer retained 30% of the program, with the Italian companies taking the remaining 70%. It was Embraer’s responsibility to develop and manufacture the wings, engine air intakes, horizontal stabilizers, subaltern pylons (“coat hangers”) and fuel tanks. In addition, the company actively participated in the design of landing gear, navigation and attack systems, flight commands and arms controls. Two flight test prototypes, and one fatigue test prototype, were built and tested in Brazil. The AMX was designed as a single-engine, single-seat aircraft, specializing in attack missions, focusing on robustness and reliability for high exposure times, with long range (including technology for in-flight refueling and systems incorporation, advanced computing, navigation and attack, as well as electronic countermeasures). Among other innovations of the time, the aircraft featured augmentation flight commands and HOTAS (Hands On Throttle and Stick) for navigation and attack. A two-part variant was developed for operational conversion tasks for pilots (OCU). As a fighter and attack aircraft, the AMX featured lower costs than its competitors. The aircraft was efficient and equipped with advanced technology. It had capacity for only one pilot, with an ejection seat. This subsonic jet was equipped with Rolls-Royce engines, and in addition to being able to reach speeds of 750 km / h, it was an “invisible plane” (i.e. its Electronic Countermeasure Box (ECM) emitted continuous signals to confuse radar and sensing equipment). The official presentation of the plane took place in Italy in May of 1985, and the first prototype of the AMX built in Brazil - the fourth of the program - was rolled out and flew in October of that year. In 1988, the first serially manufactured AMX flew in Italy and the first delivery to FAB occurred on October 17, 1989. FAB acquired a total of 54 aircraft in three orders.
Specifications - Performance:
Spoiler
Crew: 1
Length: 13,55 m
Wingspan: 9,97 m
Height: 4,55 m
Wing area: 21 m²
Empty weight: 6,730 kg
Gross weight: 10,750 kg
Max takeoff weight: 13,000
Performance:
Powerplant: 1 x Rolls-Royce Spey 807 turbofan engine, thrust 49,1 kN
Maximum speed: 1,047 km/h at 11,000 m
Ferry range: 3,336 km
Service ceiling: 13,000 m
Rate of climb: 52,1 m/s
Amament:
Main: 2 x 30mm DEFA 544 cannons (125 rpg)
Stations: 5 external hardpoints and 2 wingtip rails
Air-to-Air Missile: 2 x AIM-9L Sidewinder
Air-to-Air Missile: 2 x MAA-1 Piranha
Air-to-Air Missile: 2 x IRIS-T
Air-to-Ground Missile: 2 x AGM-65 Maverick
Air-to-Ground Missile: 2 x AS 34 Kormoran (Anti-Ship)
Air-to-Ground Missile: 2 x AM 39 Exocet (Anti-Ship)
Air-to-Ground Missile: 2 x Marte Mk2/A (Anti-Ship)
maximum load up to 3 800 kg of bombs
Bomb: Mk 82/83/84 GP, M117 GP, cluster, electro-optical guided, Matra Durandal, BAP 100
Other: Beluga cluster dispenser, rocket pods, reconnaissance packages.
Photos:
Sources:
AMX Series Aircraft - Flight Manual
https://historicalcenter.embraer.com/global/en/amx
