Alenia Aermacchi M-346

infobox Aircraft
name = M-346



caption = M-346 at "Giornata Azzurra" 2006 at Pratica di Mare AFB, Italy
type = Advanced trainer / light attack
manufacturer = Alenia Aermacchi
designer =
first flight = 15 July 2004
introduced =
retired =
number built =
status = Under development,developed
unit cost =
primary user =
developed from = Yakovlev Yak-130
variants with their own articles =

The Alenia Aermacchi M-346 is a military transonic trainer aircraft. It is based on work done by Aermacchi while working on the Yak-130 as a joint venture with Yakovlev.

Development

In 1993, Aermacchi signed an agreement to partner with Yakovlev on the new trainer the firm was developing for the Russian Air Force. The resulting aircraft first flew in 1996 and was brought to Italy the following year to substitute the aging MB-339.

At the time, the aircraft was marketed as the Yak/AEM-130, however, by 2000, differences in priorities between the two firms brought about an end to the partnership, with each developing the aircraft independently, with Aermacchi retaining worldwide marketing rights except for Russia and the other CIS nations. A Russian version is also being pursued by Yakovlev and Sokol, under a different time schedule.

The M-346 is a highly modified version of the aircraft the joint venture was producing, and uses equipment exclusively from Western manufacturers. The first prototype rolled out on 7 June 2003 and flew for the first time on 15 July 2004.

In January 2005, the Greek Ministry of Defence signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to become a partner in the programme and, in 2006, Aermacchi signed an industrial cooperation agreement with Hellenic Aerospace Industry.

In July 2007, the M-346 flew to the United Arab Emirates for hot weather tests and operational evaluation by the UAE Air Force.

In March 2008 the Chilean ENAER signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Alenia Aermacchi at the FIDAE air show. [ [http://www.dedalonews.it/it/index.php/03/2008/alenia-aermacchi-e-la-cilena-enaer-siglano-mou-per-m-346-e-m-311/ ENAER signed a Memorandum of Understanding] ]

On 10 April 2008 one further prototype in the final configuration (new landing gear and air brake, more composite parts) was rolled out: first flight of this "Industrial Baseline Configuration" is expected in June. [ [http://www.aermacchi.it/institutional/media-centre/press-release/press-release-2008/alenia-aermacchi-rolls-out-first-pre-ser Alenia Aermacchi Industrial Baseline Configuration roll out] ]

In May 2008 Boeing signed a Memorandum of Understanding to cooperate on the marketing, sales, training and support of two Aermacchi trainers, the M-346 and the M-311. [ [http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=3547464&c=AIR&s=AME Boeing signed a Memorandum of Understanding] ]

The Italian air force intend to acquire a first batch of 14 low rate production M-346 advanced fighter trainer aircraft. [ [http://www.abcmoney.co.uk/news/28200778245.htm Finmeccanica to win govt order for 14 trainer aircraft - junior minister UPDATE ] ]

Design

The M-346 provides combat pilot training for front line fighters with high angle of attack capability. It is designed primarily to reduce acquisition and operating costs (no afterburner, aircraft specially designed for transonic training) and improve reliability (two engines, triple-quadruple redundant systems).

The aerodynamic design of the M-346 uses vortex lift to provide manoeuvrability and controllability at very high angle of attack (up to 40° degrees) using a Fly-By-Wire control system.

The engines are the Honeywell F124, digital flight control system is by Teleavio/Marconi in collaboration with BAE Systems, Dowty and Microtecnica for actuators.

The new IBC (Industrial Baseline Configuration) prototype present also a new air brake just behind the cockpit, similar to the Sukhoi Su-30, a new landing gear and some structural changes, with the use of more titanium and composite parts, in order to reduce weight and production costs. As a result the pre-series M-346 weight 780 kg less than the prototypes involving more specific excess power, faster acceleration and climbing, increased maneuverability and max speed, as well as improved fuel capacity (200 kg) and cockpit visibility.

The development of a full-mission simulator for the M-346 has been awarded to CAE and is currently under development [ [http://www.cae.com/www2004/News_Room/index.shtml# CAE wins contract for the development and supply of Alenia Aermacchi’s M-346 simulator] ] .

pecifications (M-346)

Aircraft specifications
plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=jet
ref= [http://www.aermacchi.it/commercial/m-346 Alenia Aermacchi official site] (Prototype specification)
crew=two, student and instructor
capacity=
payload main=
payload alt=
length main= 11.49 m
length alt= 37 ft 7 in
span main= 9.72 m
span alt= 31 ft 9 in
height main= 4.76 m
height alt= 15 ft 6 in
area main= 23.52 m²
area alt= 253.2 ft²
airfoil=
empty weight main= 4,610 kg
empty weight alt= 10,165 lb
loaded weight main= 6,700 kg
loaded weight alt= 14,770 lb
useful load main=
useful load alt=
max takeoff weight main= 9,500 kg
max takeoff weight alt= 20,945 lb
more general=
engine (jet)= Honeywell F124-GA-200
type of jet=
number of jets=2
thrust main= 27.8 kN
thrust alt= 6,250 lb_f
thrust original=
afterburning thrust main=
afterburning thrust alt=
never exceed speed main= Mach 1.2
never exceed speed alt= 1,460 km/h, 915 mph
max speed main= 1,092 km/h
max speed alt= 679 mph
cruise speed main=
cruise speed alt=
stall speed main= 166 km/h
stall speed alt= 104 mph
range main= 1,890 km
range alt= 1,181 miles
ceiling main= 13,715 m
ceiling alt= 45,000 ft
climb rate main= 6,401 m/min
climb rate alt= 21,000 ft/min
loading main= 285 kg/m²
loading alt= 58.3 lb/ft²
thrust/weight= 0.84
power/mass main=
power/mass alt=
more performance=* Levelled speed record: Mach 0.96
armament=
* Nine hardpoints for a variety of guns, bombs, rockets and missiles
avionics=

ee also

Aircontent
related=
* Yakovlev Yak-130
similar aircraft=
* EADS Mako/HEAT
lists=
see also=

References

External links

* [http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2008/04/10/222922/picture-alenia-aermacchi-unveils-production-standard-m-346-trainer.html "Alenia Aermacchi unveils production-standard M-346 trainer"] , Flight International
* [http://www.aermacchi.it/commercial/m-346 "M-346 official webpage"]