June 25, 2012 (Released Jun. 21, 2012) R Barrett Edwards, Latin America Analyst / Forecast International – defpro.com
NEWTOWN, Conn. | Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer says it has achieved several milestones in projects for the Brazilian Air Force. One such milestone was the first flight of the A-1M prototype as part of Embraer's program to upgrade 43 AMX fighters. Under a BRL 2 billion ($1.12 billion) contract signed between the Brazilian Air Force and Embraer in January 2011, 43 AMXs will be upgraded to the A-1M standard. The contract calls for all 43 to be redelivered to the Air Force by 2017. Deliveries are scheduled to start next year.
Embraer has also delivered the 99th and final A-29 Super Tucano light attack aircraft to the Air Force and the last two upgraded F-5M fighters from an initial batch.
The F-5M program involves the modernization of 46 aircraft to the F-5FM standard. The modernization program was approved in January 2001 by the Brazilian Senate. A $230 million contract was then issued to Israel's Elbit in June 2001. Elbit is serving as the systems integrator. The aircraft will receive new navigation systems, weapons, computers, and multimode radar. Work on a second batch of 11 aircraft is slated to begin in October, with deliveries to begin in 2013.
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