Aermacchi Touts M-346 Trainer at Polish Defense Show
VENEGONO, Italy --- Alenia Aermacchi - a Finmeccanica Company - a world leader in the design, production of military training aircraft and integrated solutions, attends the 18th International Defence Industry Exhibition MSPO at Kielce (Poland) from 6 to 8 September 2010. (Hall E – Stand 38).
The presence of M-346 at MSPO is particularly significant in relation to the Polish Air Force requirement to replace its advanced trainer fleet. The M-346 represents the right answer to the training requirements for Polish future F-16 fighter pilots. The Polish Air Force has recently evaluated the M-346, which is a leading candidate for this requirement.
The Alenia Aermacchi presence in Poland is particularly significant because the country brings together market and industrial cooperation opportunities.
MSPO marks the third appearance of the M-346 in Poland. The Alenia Aermacchi trainer attended the Deblin Air Show on 19 June 2010. In October 2006 it underwent some evaluation flights in Deblin, with the participation of the highest-ranking officers in the Polish Air Force. In that occasion senior Air Force Personnel appreciated both its flying quality and training effectiveness.
The M-346 is the most Advanced/Lead-In Fighter Trainer in production today and the only new generation trainer optimised to train pilots to fly new generation combat aircraft. Its excellent performance and flying qualities, close to modern frontline fighters, endow the M-346 with superior levels of training effectiveness. The advanced design solutions also provide high safety standards and reduced acquisition and operating costs. The M-346 is the ideal platform for next generation Integrated Training Systems, ready to meet the demanding requirements of the most sophisticated Air Forces.
The M-346 has the flexibility to fulfil secondary operational roles efficiently and effectively. The development of the light attack version is already under way to meet specific requirements of individual customer Air Forces.
The structural design already includes nine hard-points, and also has provisions to install and integrate special equipment. The speed, ability to climb quickly and extreme manoeuvrability make the M-346 a highly survivable aircraft in comparison to traditional turboprop light attack aircraft.
The low maintenance man-hours per flying hour and the efficiencies offered by a trainer-based design make the M-346 a very cost effective option.
The recent international successes prove that the M-346 is the best solution on the market to meet the requirements of the most sophisticated and demanding Air Forces.
The M-346 has been selected by the United Arab Emirates for their new training air fleet. It will train pilots to fly the F-16 Block 60 fighter. Final negotiations are under way for the acquisition of a complete Integrated Training Solution based on 48 M-346, including 20 light attack models.
The M-346 has also been selected by the Republic of Singapore for its Fighter Wings Course (FWC) requirement, which aims to replace its current advanced trainer fleet. The M-346 has been found to be the right aircraft to train pilots to fly the RSAF F-16 Block 52 fighter.
In November 2009 the Italian Air Force signed its ITS contract, which includes a first batch of M-346 trainers against a total requirement of 15 aircraft. The first two ITAF M-346s will be ready at the end of 2010.
In late 2009 Alenia Aermacchi signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with EADS Defence and Security (DS) regarding their collaboration to supply an Integrated Training System based on the M 346 which meets the specific requirements of the nine European countries participating in the Advanced European Jet Pilot Training programme (AEJPT).
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Alenia Aermacchi at the International Defence Exhibition In Kielce, Poland
