Page 110 - Australian Defence Magazine November 2021

M-346 by Leonardo:
let’s discover why it could be an optimal solution for future RAAF combat pilots training
Leonardo is a market leader in the development and production of jet training aircraft and associated integrated training systems. Leonardo proudly has over 60 years’ experience in military pilot training, 2,000 trainer aircraft delivered, 20,000 military and civilian pilots trained for more than 40 customers globally with touch points on every continent. Leonardo leverages this vast experience and couples it with the most advanced technologies in the delivery of combat pilot training systems.
Historically, RAAF fighter pilots earned their wings flying the Aermacchi MB-326, tomorrow’s pilots could fly the Aermacchi M-346 Integrated Training System. The Aermacchi M-346 is a 5th generation LIFT solution which allows aviators to hone their skills in both air-to-air and air-to-surface tactical operations along with the critical skill of cockpit data management. The Aermacchi M-346 provides a fundamental input to capability enabling pilots to subsequently exploit the full potential of F-35 and other latest-generation fighters’.
The Aermacchi M-346 was born with specific focus on providing an effective eco system to meet contemporary platform and battlespace demands. The Aermacchi M-346 seeks to deliver combat pilot training for front-line operations in evolved multi- dimensional scenarios, whereby the pilot faces
the challenges relating to performance of modern fighter aircraft as well as situational awareness, complex dataset management and compressed decision making timeframes. “The fundamental parameter to be managed in today’s training is the optimal balance between real high performance aircraft and appropriately linked simulation, in order to reduce costs without compromising quality.” synthesizes Emanuele Merlo, SVP Line of Business
Trainers at Leonardo Aircraft Division.
Through its advanced integrated training solutions, the Leonardo LIFT solution enables a transition
to the latest generation fighter aircraft for new combat pilots. The Leonardo LIFT training solution comprises a high performance training aircraft like the Aermacchi M-346, and, a complete Ground Based Training System (GBTS) which includes full mission simulators, other instructional devices and logistic services ensuring optimal aircraft availability. The Aermacchi M-346 Advanced / Lead-In Fighter Trainer (LIFT) was conceived from the beginning as a new generation solution seeking to maximize the teaching effectiveness whilst reducing costs.
“The M-346 targets extensive “downloading” of flight hours from the more expensive training phases traditionally carried out on the twin-seat version
of front line fighters: this provides huge savings
and optimization in the fighter fleet exploitation, allowing their highest deployment to combat tasks only. This approach maximizes - at the same time
– the quality of training with particular focus on developing cadet’s necessary skills to manage the most complex operational net-centric scenarios”, continues Emanuele Merlo.
Today the M-346 is the most modern LIFT trainer
on the market, combining high level of performance and maneuverability. Thanks to its two Honeywell F124-GA-200 turbofans engines reaches a maximum level speed of 590 KTAS and can expose the pilot
to supersonic flight reaching 1.2 Mach in shallow dive, with a service ceiling of 45,000 ft and limit load factor of +8/-3g. The twin-engine solution, together with a four channel Fly-By-Wire Flight Control System, highly redundant main systems and advanced in-flight safety features like PARS (Pilot