AMX

The Embraer AMX (also designated A‑1 or A‑1M) is a lightweight, twin‑engine attack aircraft developed in the 1980s to meet Brazil’s need for an indigenous, cost‑effective fighter‑bomber. Conceived jointly by Embraer and the Brazilian Air Force (FAB), the prototype first flew on 19 March 1984 and entered service in 1988. The program produced two main variants: the A‑1A for the FAB and the A‑1M, a modernised version introduced in 1997 with upgraded avionics, digital flight‑control systems, and enhanced weapons capability. Powered by two Garrett TFE731‑5 turbofan engines, the AMX can reach 1,000 km/h (Mach 0.86) and carry up to 3 tonnes of ordinance on 11 hardpoints, including precision‑guided bombs, rockets, air‑to‑ground missiles and a 20 mm cannon. Its avionics suite, featuring a head‑up display, radar, and night‑vision compatibility, grants effective low‑level strike performance in diverse weather. The aircraft’s significance lies in demonstrating Brazil’s capacity to design and produce advanced combat platforms, bolstering national aerospace expertise and reducing reliance on foreign equipment. Over 150 units have served in Brazil and the Colombian Air Force, where the AMX remains a key asset for close‑air support, interdiction and reconnaissance missions.

Embraer

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