Saturday, October 31, 2009

DTN News: Italian Air Force Deploying AMX Fighter-Bomber Aircrafts In Afghanistan By November 4, 2009

DTN News: Italian Air Force Deploying AMX Fighter-Bomber Aircrafts In Afghanistan By November 4, 2009 *Source: DTN News / Int'l Media (NSI News Source Info) ROME, Italy - October 31, 2009: The Italian Air Force will deploy four AMX fighter-bombers to Afghanistan on Nov. 4, the Air Force said Oct. 30. The aircraft will be based at Herat and take over reconnaissance duties from two Italian Tornado aircraft based at Mazar-e-Sharif.The AMX fighter-bomber aircraft is in service with the air forces of Brazil, Italy and Venezuela. The first AMX aircraft was delivered to the Italian Air Force in January 1989 and to the Brazilian Air Force in 1990. Production involved assembly lines in Italy and Brazil. In total, 192 aircraft, 155 single-seater and 37 AMX-T two-seater, have been delivered to Italy (110 AMX, 26 AMX-T) and Brazil (79 AMX, 15 AMX-T). The AMX programme originated from a requirement of the Italian Air Force for single-seater and two-seater combat aircraft for surface attack missions. In 1982 a memorandum of understanding was signed by Italy and Brazil and the joint development and production programme was subsequently conducted by AMX Consortium, based in Rome, through the Italian companies Alenia Aerospazio, now Alenia Aeronautica, (46.5%) and Aermacchi (23.8%) and the Brazilian company Embraer (29.7%). The main role of the AMX is ground attack in visual and marginal weather conditions, with primary roles in long range strike and air interdiction, close air support, reconnaissance and armed patrol. The aircraft is also highly effective in air defence missions and the lead-in fighter role. Italian Air Force AMX fighters were deployed as part of the Nato forces in Operation Allied Force against Serbia in 1999. In December 2002, the Venezuelan Air Force signed a contract with Embraer for 12 AMX-T. However, the USA blocked the transfer of US-built components and the order was cancelled.* The AMX aircraft, from the Italian Air Force's 51st Wing, will deploy from their base at Istrana in northern Italy. Italian AMX fighters participated this summer in the U.S. Green Flag and Red Flag exercises. "The mission is not changing," said Gen. Daniele Tei, chief of the Italian Air Force. "Pilots and technicians have been trained and are ready to undertake their mission, as they showed during Green Flag and Red Flag." The AMX will take about a month to reach full operational status in Afghanistan, at which time the Tornadoes will return to Italy, an Air Force official said. The AMX aircraft will use the same Rafael RecceLite pods on surveillance missions as used by the Tornadoes. Italian officials also have said they will have permission to fire their cannons if required, as with the Tornadoes. The Tornadoes have flown 350 missions in Afghanistan, surveying 800 objectives during 900 flight hours, the Air Force said.

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