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 concerned assembly lines in Italy and Brazil.
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 additionally highly effective in air defence missions and the lead-in fighter role. Italian Air Force AMX fighters were deployed as a part of the Nato forces in Operation Allied Force against Serbia in 1999.
The AMX can carry external loads up to 3,800kg. The aircraft has seven hardpoints: one on the centreline of the underside of the fuselage, two hardpoints below every wing and wingtip rails on every wing. The aircraft can carry air-to-air missiles, air-to-surface missiles, free-fall bombs, retarded bombs, laser-guided bombs, cluster bombs, precision-guided munitions and rocket launchers.
