In 1993, the Aermacchi signed an agreement to partner with Yakovlev on the new trainer aircraft, which the manufacturer was developing for the Air Force of the Russian Federation. The plane, the result of that collaboration, made its first flight in 1996 and was taken the following year in Italy to explore the possibility to propose it as a substitute Aermacchi MB-339, in service at the flight schools of the Air Force since 1979.
At the time the aircraft was marketed as the Yak / AEM-130 and Piazzai MODELS personally executed the models in 1:40 scale, but in 1999 differences in the priorities set by the business plans of the two manufacturers led to the end of the collaboration and every industry continued development independently. The Aermacchi was the holder of the marketing rights of the aircraft throughout the world, except Russia and the other nations of the Commonwealth of Independent States. A Russian version is currently under development by the Yakovlev, in collaboration with the Sokol, according to a different floor.
The M-346 is a largely changed from the plane that the joint venture was producing and adopting systems and equipment exclusively from Western manufacturers. The first prototype was presented June 7, 2003 and made its first flight 15 July 2004.
In March 2008 it was the turn of the Chilean ENAER, at the FIDAE Air Show in Santiago, Chile, to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the company, which had meanwhile become Alenia Aermacchi.
April 10, 2008 was presented another prototype in the final configuration for production, called "Industrial Baseline Configuration", characterized by a new landing gear, a new airbrake and a greater number of parts made of composite material.
Our model in scale 1: 40 represents this configuration with the slide closed, that is, in the flight line. It is made of plastic and resin and is provided with transparent pedestal
In May next Boeing has itself signed a memorandum for co-operation in marketing, sales, training and support of the two Aermacchi: the M-346 and M-311.
On July 8, the first example of pre-series makes its first flight on December 18 and the aircraft, piloted by chief test Quirino Bucci, reaches a top speed of Mach 1.15 (1255 km / h), exceeding for the first Once the sound barrier and thus making it the second aircraft entirely designed and built in Italy to obtain this result, after the first, which was the Aerfer Sagittarius II in 1956.
October 20, 2008 Alenia Aermacchi had organized a contest online to name the M-346. A commission made up of the management of Finmeccanica, Alenia Aeronautica and Alenia Aermacchi, he chose among more than 4000 proposals received the name "Master", rewarding with a flight on the plane the winner of the competition, Mauro Petrolati. The committee selected the name "Master", having considered an international term that summarizes the M-346 as a tool for teaching the future jet pilots of the latest generation and at the same time as the highest level of education reached by a student.
Since June 2007, during the second Prodi government, the then Secretary of Defense John Lorenzo Forcieri, gave account of the intention to buy 14 units of M-346 for the Air Force, complete the related logistical support. The commitment of expenditure was estimated at approximately 400 million euro, which were allocated in the following year by the government following the Finance Act of 2008, in regard to the Ministry of Economic Development.
At the Paris show at Le Bourget in mid-June 2009 it was announced the purchase by Air Force of six planes, with an option for a further 9, and that the contract for the logistic support is being defined. The General Directorate of Air Armaments (ARMAEREO) announced that the plane was classified as T-346. Subsequently, the Air Force of Singapore signed a contract for the supply of 12 aircraft. Later, the Air Force has confirmed its intention to acquire a first batch of 15 Master, according to a delivery schedule that does not include intensive production, to be used as advanced trainers. [11] On 18 June 2009 the Alenia Aermacchi announced that it has received orders for the first six aircraft, with an option for nine more.
The December 21, 2010, at Venegono, were presented the first two models of the six ordered by the Air Force designated as T-346A
The August 7, 2014 the first two pilots of the 61st Wing have successfully completed the training course to fly the T-346
On 16 February 2012, the Israeli Ministry of Defense announced that it has selected the M-346 Master to replace the 30 TA-4 Skyhawk aircraft still included as trainers nell'Heyl Ha'Avir. Again the M-346 had the better against the "rival" South Korean KAI T-50 Golden Eagle, which had been rated by Israel in the race for the acquisition of new advanced trainer.
19 July 2012 Finmeccanica signed the contracts, amounting to 850 million dollars, for the supply by Alenia Aermacchi M-346 of 30 trainers. As always the signature of the contracts were present on the tables of our model M346 already livery that would be chosen by the Israeli government for its aircraft. The agreement has a total value - including aircraft, engines, maintenance, logistics, simulators and training - about $ 1 billion. The March 20, 2014 took place the roll out of the first unit.
Estimates predict that the model will be built in over 600 copies by 2020, excluding the fighter version, which sometimes is referred to by the unofficial designation M-346K. The latter is a candidate for substitution of the light fighter Northrop F-5E Tiger II, widespread in many air forces around the world.
Although this aircraft is born as a trainer, it will not be ruled out its use as a lightweight fighter, as was the case for the MB-339.
On 26 April 2010, Alenia Aermacchi and EADS Defence and Security presented a common response, based on the M-346 Master, the request for information from the European Defence Agency (EDA) program for the Advanced European Jet Pilot Training (AEJPT ). [20]
In the US, the Alenia Aermacchi participates in the TX, the competition organized by the US Air Force to find the replacement for the Northrop T-38 Talon as advanced trainer. For the occasion, the company has renamed the aircraft Integrated Training System T-100, and announced that in case of victory will move the production from Italy to the USA The program includes a supply of 350 aircraft, but further purchases could lead to the total supply of over 1,000 devices. In January 2013, Alenia Aermacchi has signed a letter of intent with General Dynamics for the entry of the US into the program.
Poland has selected the aircraft as its new advanced jet training. [23] [24] The contract for eight aircraft with its support (and an option for another 4), took place February 27, 2014 .
Of this aircraft we have realized in addition to traditional desktop models in 1:40 scale models different from "living" aircraft in 1:20, 1:10 2 1: 5
FEATURES
The aircraft has high maneuverability thanks to composite materials with which it is built, the weight / power ratio minimum and various aerodynamic solutions adoperate. Also it manages to keep full handling up to an angle of attack of 40 °; can reach up to 1085 km / h at a height of 1.500 m in beaten can reach Mach 1.2. The aircraft is 11.5 m long with a wingspan of 9.72 m. The flight range is 1,889 km which can become 2,537 kilometers with two external fuel tanks. It has digital controls and can be driven with a joystick. It is designed for a 20 mm cannon DEFA. It has 8 underwing hardpoints, respectively by 1,050 kg, 550 kg, 300 kg and 150 kg (on the wingtip) and a central 600 kg. It is designed for missiles AIM-9L Sidewinder IR-guided bombs Mk.82, Mk.83, Mk.84, Maverick anti-tank missile, Brimstone missiles, 70mm rockets containers Rockeye. Can. In addition. be armed with a 30 mm gun and can be configured for ground attack with bombs and air-to-ground and anti-ship.
Thanks to the use of advanced design technologies (such as the "Vortex lift"), the aircraft maintains a full handling up to an angle of attack of 30 °. The M-346 can reach 1,085 km / h at 1,500 meters, but can reach Mach 1.2 dive, as verified on the prototype. The test pilot, the occasion, praised the excellent controllability of the aircraft exceeded the sound barrier and spoke of pleasant handling during deceleration.
Finally, the computer of the Flight Control System (FCS) of the aircraft was developed by Alenia SIA in collaboration with Selex Communications, while the flight software is developed entirely by Alenia Aermacchi.
