Designed in collaboration between Aeritalia and Aermacchi from Italy and EMBRAER from Brazil, the AMX is a small multi-role fighter-bomber which was intended to replace the ageing G.91s and F-104Gs in the Aeronautica Militare Italiana and the AT-26 Xavantes in the Força Aérea Brasileira. The AMX is a compact shoulder-wing monoplane with swept wings with wingtip rails for Sidewinder or other similar short-range AAMs. It's small size is coupled with a low IR signature and reduced radar cross-section making it a difficult aircraft to spot and it may also operate in rough or damaged airstrips in both day and night operations. Italian units saw action during NATO operations over Kosovo where they flew over 250 missions without sufferening any losses. Furthermore, Venezuela is expected to purchase an advanced variant thus compensating for otherwise poor export success despite its capabilites.

The first of seven AMX prototypes flew on 15 May 1984 and entered service in Italy in April 1989 and in October of that same year in Brazil. In Brazilian service, the AMX is known as the A-1 and has twin 30-mm DEFA cannon installed. A combat-capable two-seat operation trainer is known as the AMX-T while an improved design featuring a digital cockpit and radar is known as the AMX-ATA (Advanced Trainer Attack).