Avionics between the Italian and Brazilian
versions also differ, primarily due to the European
air arm’s requirement for NATO compatibility.
ACOL upgrade
The AMX has five hardpoints that can be
used to carry a wide variety of air-to-ground
ordnance including laser-guided bombs.
The LGBs are used in combination with
the AN/AAQ-28(V) Litening targeting pod,
carried on the centreline station. For defence
against airborne threats the AMX can also
be equipped with AIM-9L/M Sidewinder air-
to-air missiles (AAMs) on the wingtip rails.
In 2005, the Italian AMX fleet was modernised
to ACOL standard, standing for Aggiornamento
delle Capacità Operative e Logistiche
- Operational and Logistic Capabilities
Upgrade. The revamp included a new laser
inertial navigation system (INS) and improved
cockpit displays. The AMX also gained Joint
Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) capability. A
total of 55 of the original 136 Italian AMXs
were upgraded to the new standard.
Following the ACOL upgrade, the Italian
designation was revised to A-11B and TA-11B.
The AMX initially equipped three wings of the
AM: the 3° Stormo at Villafranca in Verona, the
32° Stormo at Amendola near Foggia, and the
51° Stormo at Istrana. The 3° Stormo no longer
flies the AMX and, in July 2014, the 32° Stormo’s
final 101° Gruppo was transferred to the 51°
Stormo, bringing all remaining AMX squadrons
under the command of the same wing at Istrana.
Until September 22, 2016 the Istrana wing
included the 103° Gruppo Caccia Bombardieri
(103rd Squadron – Fighter-Bomber) which
was deactivated and its jets and personnel
transferred to the last operational AMX
squadron, the 132° Gruppo Caccia BombardieriRicognitori (132nd Squadron – Fighter-Bomber
Reconnaissance), which will fly the AMX until its
final retirement, planned for 2020. Meanwhile, the
101° Gruppo OCU (Operational Conversion Unit)
was disbanded in line with the reorganisation
of the AMX fleet in November 3, 2016.
Despite their different nomenclature, all three
squadrons essentially performed a similar
role, as the 51° Stormo’s spokesman Capt
Marco Barone explained to AFM: “Although
each squadron had its own task, they were all
capable of performing all the typical missions of
the AMX without any differences. Each of them
flew with the same machines and each of them
could be declared combat-ready, if necessary,
to perform exactly the same operations.”
As the only active unit, the 132° Gruppo
now performs all the tasks originally
assigned to the three squadrons.The road to the AMX
All new Italian AMX pilots begin their air force
career at the Military Academy, where they
learn the essentials of military life. They begin
flying on the SF.260EA with the 70° Stormo
at Latina, south of Rome. After a selection
process, successful students progress to Phase
2 training. This is undertaken at one of three
locations: the 61° Stormo at Lecce-Galatina,
flying the MB-339A; Kalamata air base in
Greece; or Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas.MM7161 ‘51-31’ undergoes
maintenance in one of the Istrana
hangars. The maintenance
programme for the jets assigned to
Istrana is managed by the Gruppo
Effi cienza Aeromobili (GEA, Aircraft
Effi ciency Group). Roy van Sonsbeek
Above: AMX MM7177 ‘51-42’ receives fuel from a KC-135 assigned to the USAF’s 340th Expeditionary Air
Refueling Squadron during a mission in support of Operation Inherent Resolve in August last year. At the
time, AM assets in Kuwait comprised four AMXs, one KC-767 tanker and one Predator unmanned aerial
vehicle. USAF/Staff Sgt Michael Battles Below: The view from the wingman’s cockpit as ‘51-82’ takes off from
a rain-swept Istrana. A Flight Profi le Recorder pod is carried on the right wingtip station. Gian Carlo Vecchi46 // DECEMBER 2018 #369 http://www.airforcesmonthly.com