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With a fully upgraded cockpit and modern avionics suite, the new AT-63 under production in Argentina is setting a new standard for low-cost basic through advanced trainer and light attack aircraft. The Argentine Air Force has contracted to build 12 AT-63s. On June 19, 2001, Lockheed Martin presented this new aircraft during the Paris Air Show and is now offering it to customers worldwide.
The new generation AT-63 maintains the ease of maintenance and airframe stability of the original version, produced in the late 1980s as the IA-63, while adding advanced upgrades and additional combat capabilities.
The new AT-63 features:
* A Honeywell TFE-731-2C turbofan engine with 3,500 pounds of thrust.
* A state-of-the-art avionics suite with a Digital 1553B MIL STD data bus, full systems redundancy, a glass cockpit, laser ring INS/GPS NAV, a mission computer and an integrated weapons system.
* Fully pressurized dual control cabin with a one-piece canopy that can be electrically fragilized in the event of ground emergency. The ejection sequence for the two zero-zero seats can be pre-selected.
* Four underwing plus one under fuselage weapons stations enabling air-to-air and air-to-ground light attack capability.
While the Argentine Air Force is the first customer for the new AT-63, other countries have expressed an interest, and the Argentine government is supportive of international sales of the aircraft. In addition to Latin America, export potential for the AT-63 exists in Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
Down-time for the in-service AT-63 fleet has consistently remained below design expectations. The AT-63 requires only 2.27 DMMH/FH while the total workload between major scheduled inspections is 3.80 DMMH/FH.
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