Supersonic AMX

[Archibald]

I like the Spey engine and the small AMX attack plane (join program between Aeritalia, Aermacci and Embraer). So, why not an interceptor AMX why the Spey of Brtish Phantoms, the Allison TF-41 or even the WS-9 (Chinese Spey!).
Of course, you need to change wings (more swept, thinner) air intakes for supersonic flight. That's all!
With such a plane, Italy and Brazil have their own mach2 interceptor to replace their F-104 ASA and Mirage IIIEBR (no tornado ADV or Mirage 2000C).

AFX
1*RB-168 Spey  9500kgp.
Length 15 meters.
Span 8.2m
Empty weight 8.5 tons, normal take off weight 11 tons, MTOW 13.5 tons.
Speed : Mach2.05 at 40000fts.
Ceiling 55000fts.
Weapon Load 6500kg
APG-65 radar with Aspide or Amraam missiles, Piranha and AIM-9L sidewinder.

[Archibald]

In fact the AMX flew in 1984. In 1985, a supersonic version was setup to replace the F-104ASA and Mirage IIIEBR. But when the plane was ready, Great Britain and the USA embargoed Brazil. so the country had no choice than to use the WS-9, chinese copy of the spey... and China  decided to produce its own AMX to replace the super 7 , cancelled after tien an men in 1989. The plane was name FH-1 and was the first step of china in modern lightweight fighter, long before the FC-1 and
J-10

[Zen]

This of course brings us close to the P146 I note.

[Archibald]

Yes I know the P.146...
Here I'm just interested in giving Italy and Brazil their own mach 2 multirole fighter. I think the AMX boosted by a Spey, rehetead TF-41 or WS-9 would be great. Italy and Brazil alos produced some interesting AAM (Aspide, Piranha) and Radar (Griffo).
Is there a 1/72 scale model of the AMX?  

[Deino]

Hey .... would look something like this !!!      

[Lawman]

Nice!

Switch to a newer engine, RB199 or early EJ200, and it would have made a great replacement for the Jaguar, so the UK might buy some. With the Italians buying ~120, and the UK buying another ~120, you have a better production run, and good export chances. Perhaps sales to Saudi under the Al Yamamah after the Gulf War, replacing their F-5s. Possible sales to places like Greece, Turkey, perhaps even Romania in place of their Lancer upgrade.

An even more radical option might have been to replace the Gripen with an advanced Super-AMX, with Swedish radar and thrust vectoring engine.

[GeorgeC]

Hey .... would look something like this !!!

What is that???  Where did u get the pic?

[overscan]

Main reason AMX used Spey was cost. RB.199 was a lot more expensive to buy and maintain. If you want a low cost 3rd world AMX based fighter, I'd keep the Spey, but an afterburning one.

[Deino]

Hey .... would look something like this !!!

What is that???  Where did u get the pic?

That's a simple what-if design made by an Chinese (?) artist named LEGO ...

If You like, here are more of his concepts:

http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/inde...php?topic=684.0


Deino      

[Lord Darth Beavis]

Hey .... would look something like this !!!    

When I grow up, I wanna be an F-105!  

[Archibald]

Glad to see my idea resurected
Overscan I agree with you, the spey was an interesting engine but was never correctly used (the A-7 had no afterburner, the british Phantom was not really adapted to this engine).
That's sure, this plane look like a small thunderchief.
Deino, where is LEGO land ?  
Once again, this fighter allow Great Britain to stay on the fighter market...
(one of my favourite scenario, particularly after seeing in B.S.P the number of interesting projects which never left the drawing board... )  

[Deino]

...
Deino, where is LEGO land ?  
...

China !!!!    

[Lawman]

There was a very nice stealthy A-7 Corsair lookalike on that link, it would be interesting to see a stealthy A-6 as well though!  

[Hobbes]

I dunno about the Spey. I saw one today, and it's huge. I suspect it isn't much smaller than the Olympus. Surely you should be able to find an engine with a better power-to-weight ratio?  

[ysi_maniac]

Hey .... would look something like this !!!      

I love this pic!
From which country is this supposed to come? Chinese? Russian? Looks a little MiG to me.

EDIT: I respond myself. It is Chinese