Azimut F/M-A3 Hussard

AF-3 Skydiver
F/M-A3 Flashpoint
AF-3 Skydiver ; F/M-A3 Flashpoint
General information
Type	Multirole fighter
Manufacturer	Aininian Aerospace
Status	Operational
History
Introduction date	17 January 2002

The Aininian Aerospace AF-3 Skydiver, designated in foreign markets as the Aininian Aerospace F/M-A3 Flashpoint, is a single-seat, twin-engine, canard-delta wing multirole fighter manufactured by Aininian defence consortium Aininian Aerospace. Designed and built to counter the threat of recent Koy military aviation developments in the form of the Y-7 Manta Ray and the Y-8 Eagle, the aircraft was adopted by the Aininian Air Force as its primary multirole fighter, quickly replacing the AF-2 Gannet. It also enjoyed moderate success overseas, serving in the East Nautaryan and other air forces.

The AF-3 Skydiver was born out of a 1987 Defence Ministry white paper panning the Aininian Air Force's lack of a modern strike fighter, and the subsequent Next-Generation Fighter-Bomber program, where the AF-3 defeated three other proposed aircraft and was adopted. It made its maiden flight on 31 December 1994 and was later demonstrated at several airshows in 1995 and 1996.

A versatile fighter jet capable of undertaking air superiority, ground attack and STOBAR carrier-based operations, it is competent at air to air combat and also capable of carrying large amounts of munitions for SEAD and bombing operations. It is in the process of being supplemented, and eventually replaced, by the AF-4 Juggernaut.

Variants

AF-3A/T Two-seat trainer variant of the AF-3, featuring less complex systems and some dumbed-down weapons systems.

AF-3B The AF-3B was the first major upgrade to the AF-3, introduced on 14 October 2005. It includes improved radar and horizontal stabilisers, along with support for longer-range standoff missiles.

AF-3M STOBAR carrier variant of the AF-3 introduced in January 2008, carries less weaponry and is lighter, but has a significantly longer range and vastly improved anti-ship and radar systems.

AF-3M/T Trainer variant of the AF-3M.

AF-3G Ground attack variant of the AF-3 introduced in May 2011, removes many anti-air systems to increase munitions payload and has a shorter range, but is more heavily-armed.

AF-3G/E Electronic warfare variant of the AF-3G.