Airforces phantoms at andravida

n Italian service, the AMX International

AMX is unofficially nicknamed ‘Ghibli’

• after the hot desert wind of the
  Sahara. It entered service with the official series
  designation A-11A, or TA-11A in two-seat form.
  The AMX was born when the Aeronautica
  Militare (AM, Italian Air Force) began
  looking for a single-engined attack and
  reconnaissance jet to replace its ageing twin-
  engined Fiat G.91Ys. At the same time, a
  requirement was issued for an aircraft
  to replace the RF-104G Starfighter in the
  reconnaissance role. The requirements were
  combined and a contract for 187 aircraft was
  awarded to a joint venture between two Italian
  companies: Aeritalia (later Alenia Aeritalia) and
  Aermacchi – both now part of Leonardo.
  In 1981, the Brazilian government signed a
  deal with Italy to join the AMX project. The
  Brazilian Air Force had a similar requirement
  for 100 aircraft to replace its Embraer AT-26
  Xavante fleet, a licence-built MB-326.
  Embraer joined the partnership under a joint
  venture now named AMX International.
  The production of the AMX aircraft was
  shared between the three partners. Alenia
  manufactured 46.5% of components,
  Aermacchi produced 22.8% and Embraer

performed 29.7% of the work. The initial

order was for a total of 272 aircraft

for both nations, later reduced to 207

aircraft, of which 136 were for Italy.

The parts were shipped between Italy and

Brazil, where each country established a final

assembly line to supply its own air force.

Several engines were considered for use in the

new aircraft. Among these were the Turbo-Union

RB199 used in the Tornado and the Rolls-Royce

Spey. Eventually, the Spey 807 – an improved

version of the engine that powered the British

F-4 Phantoms – was selected. Since there was

no requirement for supersonic performance,

the afterburner section was omitted.

National differences

The choice of the Spey engine was also

intended to avoid US import/export restrictions

for potential export orders. American restrictions

also led to differences between Italian and

Brazilian AMXs. The Italian jet is armed with

a single M61 Vulcan 20mm rotary cannon,

which was prohibited for export to Brazil.

Instead, the Brazilian Air Force AMX is fitted

with two 30mm DEFA 554 revolver cannon.

esert wind

The Italian Air Force’s versatile AMX fighter-bomber is

now found solely at Istrana air base, in the north of the

country. Roy van Sonsbeek, Robin Coenders and

Niels Roman visited the home of the ‘Ghibli’ and the

51° Stormo.

I

A close-up of two-seater MM55044 ‘51-82’ reveals details of the bolt-on refuelling probe, normally a

permanent fixture on the type. Upgraded ‘twin-stickers’ are known as TA-11Bs. Gian Carlo Vecchi

http://www.airforcesmonthly.com #369 DECEMBER 2018 // 45