The M-346 advanced trainer light combat aircraft Alenia Aermacchi at MSPO 2011.

“The presence of the M-346 at MSPO is particularly significant in relation to the Polish Air Force requirements to replace its advanced trainer fleet. The M-346 represents the right answer to train Polish pilots to fly current and next-generation fighters. The flexibility of the platforms is optimized as advanced LIFT trainer in the basic version, and easy to reconfigure for full effectiveness in operational role through adoption of radar and LCA suites”, declared Giuseppe Giordo, CEO of Alenia Aeronautica and alenia Aermacchi and responsible for Finmeccanica Aeronautics Sector.

The M-346 is leady in production for delivery to the Italian Air Force, its launch customer, and to the Republic of Singapore Air Force, the first international customer. The aircraft received its Military Type Certificate in June 2011 from the General Directorate for Aeronautical Armaments of the Italian Ministry of Defence, attesting to its full conformity with the most demanding and modern international standards.

The M-346 is the most Advanced/Lead-In Fighter Trainer currently produced and the only new generation trainer optimised for the role. Its excellent performance and flying qualities, close to modern frontline fighters, brings the M-346 to a superior teaching effectiveness level. The advanced design solutions provide also high safety standards and reduced acquisition and operational costs. The aircraft is tailored to train pilots to fly new generation combat aircraft and is well suited for every phase of advanced and pre-operational training, to reduce the flight hours on the more expensive frontline aircraft.

The aircraft embodies the latest “design-to-cost” and “design-to-maintain” concepts, with avionics modelled upon those of new generation military aircraft such as Eurofighter, Gripen, Rafale, F-16, F-18, F-22 and the future JSF.