AM Buitre
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| AM Buitre | |
|---|---|
| |
| Narsoran National Air Force AM Buitre Mk.I at Ñacuretá Military Air Base. | |
| Role | Multirole combat fighter |
| National origin | Narsora |
| Manufacturer | Aeronáutica Maipú |
| Designer | Néstor Cándido Mora |
| First flight | 2017 |
| Introduction | 2023 |
| Status | In service |
| Primary user | Narsoran National Air Force |
| Produced | 2023-present |
| Number built | ≥25 |
| Unit cost |
$35-40 million (flyaway cost)
|
The AM Buitre (Spanish: Vulture) is a Narsoran twin-engine, multirole fighter aircraft designed and built by Aeronáutica Maipú. The aircraft is intended to perform a variety of roles such as air supremacy, interdiction, aerial reconnaissance, ground support, and anti-ship combat. The development of the aircraft came from the disre for Narsoran military forces to become self-sufficient and rely less on foreign imported military hardware, by developing a local arms industry. The first aircraft was delivered in 2022 and a further 24 were delivered in began operational service in late 2023.
Development
The plans for an indigenously produced fighter aircraft began in the early 2000's, as the National Air Force looked to replace it's then already aging fighter aircraft fleet. As most of the then current aircraft were built between the early 1960's to late 70's, government officials and military leaders wanted a modern replacement aircraft that could preform multiple combat roles whilst minimizing the number of assistant aircraft that would be needed for a mission. Since the program's inception in 2003, it has been cancelled or postponed twice; 2008 and 2012, due to budget cuts and a general lack of resources to be able to produce jet powered aircraft. In mid-2015, the program was revived and two years later the first fully operational prototype made it's first successful test flight on 20 October 2017.
Production
The first fully operational combat capable aircraft was delivered in late 2022, with 24 more delivered throughout 2023. The initial contract signed with the ministry of defence calls for 25 operational aircraft worth a total of $875 million by the start of 2024, with a new recent contract signed for a further 35 units to be delivered between 2025-28 worth a total of $1.2 billion.
Variants
- AM Buitre Mk.I - The original production version of the aircraft, with basic air Air Defence Capability.
Operators
- Narsoran National Air Force- 25 in service as of January 2024, with 35 on order and a total of 60 to planned be fully in service by 2028.