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M-346 Takes the Air
Aermacchi's sexy M-346 advanced/lead-in fighter trainer in Farnborough's static park looks the business, with its comprehensive digital mission systems avionics and cockpit installations. It is still a mockup, however, although the first of three real prototypes now being built made its first flight on July 15, in the hands of experimental chief test pilot Olinto Cecconello.
After the 55-minute flight, he reported, "The M-346 confirmed its high thrust/weight ratio, and outstanding field performance, taking off in 400 meters and landing in 520 meters. The digital flight control system allowed smooth and precise maneuvers."
Ground-running of the M-346's two 6,300-pounds-thrust Honeywell ITEC F124-200 turbofans started on April 13 this year at Aermacchi's Venegono flight test center. After initial static tests up to maximum power, "excellent" air intake integration allowed taxying trials to start on April 26. Apart from its reprogramable quadruplex fly-by-wire flight controls, the all-digital M-346 employs a steer-by-wire nosewheel, plus brake-by-wire and anti-skid systems.
As a 10-15% scaled-down and 2,200 pounds lighter version of the Yak/AEM-130 proof-of-concept demonstrator, the M-346 has been further modified to meet western structural, flight-control, maintenance, supportability and production standards. Reducing the canopy depth and cross-sectional area for slimmer profiles became possible because of the smaller and lighter Martin-Baker/SICAMB Mk 16L zero-zero ejection seats.
Slight changes in the inner wing-fences help to control vortex lift from the prominent inner wing strakes, for improved high-alpha stability. Also facilitated was replacement of the original chined forward-fuselage by a circular-section nose, for radar installation for weapons training or combat roles. Eight underwing and one center-fuselage hardpoints are available for up to 6,614 pounds of external stores and smart weapons.
In its revised configuration, the M-346 has a design target performance of M0.95 in level flight, and sustained angle of attack capabilities up to 35 degrees. As the only currently developed twin-turbofan advanced trainer, apart from its Yak-130 progenitor, the M-346's high thrust margin without afterburning is claimed to allow sustained turn performance of 13-14(/sec at a constant 5-6g and Mach 0.88 at 15,000 feet. This, claims Aermacchi, is better performance than many current combat aircraft, and achieved more economically.
The M-346 is one of four advanced trainers being evaluated from a €7.9 million ($9.7 million) feasibility study for the 12-nation Advanced European Jet Pilot Training (AEJPT) or Eurotraining program. With Dassault Aviation, Spain's EADS CASA, EADS Military Aircraft in Germany, and SAAB, Aermacchi was a signatory to the international collaboration agreement in July 2002, to examine the feasibility of a joint European integrated training system. This includes all flying and ground-based training for advanced and lead-in phases, to meet European Air Staff Target specifications.
In a crowded advanced/lead-in-fighter trainer, and light attack export field, the M-346 faces strong competition from the Aero L-159B, BAE Hawk 100 series, a proposed single-turbofan Dassault project, EADS Military Aircraft Mako AT/LCA, Korea Aerospace Industries/Lockheed Martin T-50 Golden Eagle, possibly a downrated version of the JAS 39 Gripen, and the Yakovlev Yak-130 itself.
Apart from Eurotraining interest, the M-346 is tailor-made for the Italian air force's emerging requirement to replace its 85 or more remaining MB.339A advanced trainers. These have given sterling service since their 1979 delivery, and upgraded MB.339CD versions are still being produced.
Aermacchi can be found at the Finmeccanica S.p.A. exhibit in Hall 3, Stand E7-E8 and Chalet C19-26.
- John Fricker
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