The Italian Air Force organized a retirement ceremony for its AMX ground-attack aircraft, which was held on April 5, 2024.
The event was held at Istrana Air Base, located 30 kilometers (20 miles) northwest of Venice, where the 132nd mixed Squadron is stationed. This was the last Italian squadron to fly the AMX.
The ceremony featured a formation flight of five AMX jets and several other aircraft, including one F-35 and two Eurofighter Typhoon fighters. The Frecce Tricolori aerobatic team also participated in the event.
The AMX is a joint venture between Italian and Brazilian manufacturers. The Italian Air Force acquired 110 units in 1989, along with 26 two-seater trainer versions (AMX-T). The AMX has since become an essential part of the Italian Air Force’s operations and has been used in multiple theaters, including the Balkans, Libya, Afghanistan and Iraq.
The AMX can launch various weapons, including conventional bombs, cluster or laser-guided bombs, rocket launchers, anti-ship missiles, and air-to-air missiles. The AMX-T, a two-seater variant, replaced the Aeritalia G.91T trainer aircraft within the Italian military.
The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II will replace the AMX within the Aeronautica Militare fleet. The Brazilian Air Force still operates 42 AMX and 8 AMX-T aircraft, but plans are underway to replace them over time with Saab Gripen E fighters.
