Elbit Enhancing AMX Aircraft Avionics for Brazil
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In the late 1980s, Embraer and Aermacchi launched The AMX project, a joint Italian/Brazilian program to create a lead-in fighter trainer and light attack aircraft. The result was a capable jet, especially in the light attack role. Unfortunately for the team, the Soviet empire’s fall took a lot of impetus out of the global market. Meanwhile, fierce competition from entrenched competitors like the Czech L-39 Albatross family, BAE’s Hawk family, and the Franco-German Alpha Jet ensured that AMX never took off in that shrunken export market. Brazil’s FAB still uses the AMX as an important component of its air combat power, with about 42 A-1A fighters and 11 lead-in trainers in the fleet. Italy also uses the aircraft.
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Elbit Systems Ltd. recently announced a $187 million contract from Brazil’s Embraer to upgrade the FAB fleet’s avionics and mission systems. Elbit’s wholly-owned Brazilian subsidiary Aeroeletronica S.A. (AEL) in Porto Alegre, Brazil will supply the central battle mission computer of the AMX, as well as display systems, the ammunition management system and additional systems. Elbit’s Israeli subsidiary, Elisra Electronic Systems Ltd., will supply the electronic warfare (EW) systems as a major subcontractor to AEL. The initial development and prototype phase for the AMX upgrade is valued at about $67 million; if approval is given at the end of this phase, the entire contract is scheduled to be completed through 2014. Elbit Systems release [PDF] | FAB release re: the overall modernization program [in Portuguese].
Elbit is already executing avionics systems upgrades under previous contracts for Brazil’s 46 modernized F-5BR fighters (2001, 2007), and original equipment orders for 99 EMB-314 Super Tucano observation and light attack turboprops (2002, 2007).
