RIO DE JANEIRO, April 11 (UPI) -- The air force of Brazil has given Italy's Alenia Aermacchi a $75.8 million contract for logistics support for its fleet of AMX ground attack aircraft.
The award is for three years and includes on-site engineering support, logistic support services; supply of components and spare parts and servicing and overhauling.
The AMX, called the A-1 in Brazil, was built by AMX International, an Italian-Brazilian joint venture and was produced until 1999.
Alenia Aermacchi said it was selected for the logistics contract because of its experience with the AMX program and support for the plane, which is part of the Italian Air Force inventory.
The contract is part of a larger program by the Brazilian Air Force -- led by Brazilian company Embraer, to keep the AMX flying for an additional 20 years.
Alenia is very much part of that effort having recently established a joint venture with Embraer for AMX support services.
"With this contract, Alenia Aermacchi and Embraer reaffirm their decades-long collaboration which, in the '70s, allowed for the development, the industrialization and the production in Brazil of the MB.326 jet trainer and, afterwards, industrial collaboration resulting in the creation of the Italian-Brazilian AMX fighter bomber," said Giuseppe Giordo, Alenia Aermacchi's chief executive officer.
