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M-346 Master
M-346 at "Giornata Azzurra" 2006 at Pratica di Mare AFB, Italy
Role	Advanced trainer / light attack
Manufacturer	Alenia Aermacchi
First flight	15 July 2004
Status	Under development
Developed from	Yakovlev Yak-130

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

Contents 1 Development 2 Design 3 Operators 4 Specifications (M-346) 5 See also 6 References 7 External links

[edit] 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.^[1]

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.^[2]

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.^[3]

On 18 December 2008, the M-346 reached a maximum speed of Mach 1.15 (or 1,255 km/h, that is 677.75 knots or 779.82 mph).^[4]

The Italian air force intend to acquire a first batch of 15 low rate production M-346 advanced fighter trainer aircraft.^[5]. On 18 June 2009, Alenia Aermacchi announced they had received an order for the first six with an option for nine more ^[6].

The M-346 was named the winner of a competition by the United Arab Emirates at the IDEX 2009 defense show in Abu Dhabi on Feb. 25.^[7] The official said the order involved delivery of 48 aircraft to be used for pilot training and light attack duties. A final request for proposals last year had set the requirement at 20 trainers, 20 aircraft for combat duties, and the remainder would go toward the creation of a formation flying team.

[edit] 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^[8].

[edit] Operators

 Italy

• Aeronautica Militare - 15 Aircraft on Order

 United Arab Emirates

• United Arab Emirates Air Force - 48 Aircraft on Order

[edit] Specifications (M-346)

Data from Alenia Aermacchi official site (Prototype specification)

General characteristics

• Crew: two, student and instructor
• Length: 11.49 m (37 ft 7 in)
• Wingspan: 9.72 m (31 ft 9 in)
• Height: 4.76 m (15 ft 6 in)
• Wing area: 23.52 m² (253.2 ft²)
• Empty weight: 4,610 kg (10,165 lb)
• Loaded weight: 6,700 kg (14,770 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 9,500 kg (20,945 lb)
• Powerplant: 2× Honeywell F124-GA-200 , 27.8 kN (6,250 lb_f) each

Performance

• Never exceed speed: Mach 1.2 (1,460 km/h, 915 mph)
• Maximum speed: 1,255 km/h (779.82 mph)
• Stall speed: 166 km/h (104 mph)
• Range: 1,890 km (1,181 miles)
• Service ceiling: 13,715 m (45,000 ft)
• Rate of climb: 6,401 m/min (21,000 ft/min)
• Wing loading: 285 kg/m² (58.3 lb/ft²)
• Thrust/weight: 0.84
• Levelled speed record: Mach 0.96

Armament

• Nine hardpoints for a variety of guns, bombs, rockets and missiles

[edit] See also

Related development

• Yakovlev Yak-130
  

Comparable aircraft

• EADS Mako/HEAT
• Hongdu L-15
• HAL HJT-36
  

[edit] References

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Aermacchi M-346

• "M-346 official webpage"
• Alenia Aermacchi: "Master" is the name chosen for the Aermacchi M-346 trainer
• "Alenia Aermacchi unveils production-standard M-346 trainer", Flight International

v • d • e Aircraft produced by Aermacchi Aermacchi designs: MB-326  • MB-335  • MB-338  • MB-339  • MB-340  • M-311  • M-346 Joint ventures: AM.3  • AMX Purchased designs: AL-60  • S-211  • SF.260  • M-290

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