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M-346 ADVANCED FIGHTER TRAINER, ITALY
The M-346 is an advanced and lead-in fighter trainer being developed by Aermacchi SpA (Italy). It was previously known as the YAK/AEM-130 and was being developed in conjunction with Yakolev Design Bureau (Russia) and Sokol Manufacturing Plant (Russia). Povazske Strojarne LM from the Slovak Republic was responsible for the design and manufacture of the power plant, and Leninetz from Russia and Finmeccanica from Italy for the avionics. In July 2000, Aermacchi announced that it would cancel the joint project and develop the aircraft alone, as the M-346. The first M-346 prototype completed its initial taxi test in April 2004. First flight is scheduled for later in 2004 with production to begin in 2007.
The YAK/AEM-130 has flown in prototype form since 1996. The aircraft completed two series of flight tests and was delivered to the Russian Air Force for evaluation. As the Yak-130, the aircraft was selected in March 2002 as the Russian AF's next generation combat trainer, in preference to the MiG-AT design. First flight of the production aircraft is scheduled in 2004. The Russian requirement is for 200 trainers.
The M-346 provides combat pilot training for front-line fighters, with a high angle-of-attack capability. The aerodynamic design of the M-346 uses vortex lift to provide manoeuvrability and controllability at a very high angle-of-attack, using a fly-by-wire control system.
WEAPONS
Armaments are carried on nine external store stations, six of which are underwing, equipped with 1,000lb class ejector release units, and two wingtip stations for air-to-air missiles. The under-fuselage station carries avionics pods or a 300-litre conformal fuel tank. The system data presentation and control functions of the stores management system use any one of the multifunction displays in both cockpits. Hands on throttle and stick (HOTAS) controls are used to select the weapons. Weapon aiming is controlled by the central main processor, aiming data being presented to the pilots through the Head Up Display (HUD) or the Helmet Mounted Display (HMD).
The weapons carried include: MK82 500 lb and MK83 1000 lb free fall or retarded bombs; Rocket launchers; AIM-9 Sidewinder short range air-to-air missiles; Raytheon AGM-65 Maverick air-to-ground missiles; MBDA (formerly Alenia) Marte MK-2A anti-ship missiles. The external hard points can also carry the Vinten VICON-601 reconnaissance pod, laser designator pod, radar warning receiver pod and Elettronica ELT-55 electronic countermeasures pod.
For fighter trainer role, self-protection system functions and simulated tactical scenario threats are presented and monitored on the multifunction displays. For operational roles, the aircraft is fitted with a radar warning receiver, chaff and flares dispensers, and active electronic countermeasures.
COCKPIT
The cockpit is representative of the latest-generation combat aircraft, and each crew position is equipped with raster/stroke type Head Up Display (HUD), full-colour liquid crystal multifunction displays (three in each cockpit), Helmet-Mounted Display with threat simulation capability, Night Vision Goggle (NVG) compatible instrumentation and Hands On Throttle And Stick (HOTAS) controls.
The cockpits can be fitted with MK16 ejection seats from Martin Baker of Uxbridge, UK or the K-93 zero zero ejection seats from Zvezda of Russia.
AVIONICS
The avionics architecture is based on a dual-redundant MIL-STD-1553B digital data bus which has capacity for additional systems. The communication suite includes a VHF/UHF transceiver and an IFF transponder. The navigation suite includes a laser gyro inertial navigation system with an embedded GPS receiver, and a tactical air navigation (TACAN) and VHF omnidirectional radio ranging (VOR/IIS/MB).
The Flight Control System (FCS) is a full authority digital fly-by-wire quadruple-redundant system, which includes four BAE Systems Italia flight control computers. The FCS provides the aircraft with controllability up to angles of attack (AoA) of 35 degrees and higher, g-limitation, stall and spin prevention, and maximum angle of attack (AoA) limitation. It can be adapted to various degrees of automation and autopilot modes with reversionary modes featuring automatic selection for use in case of damage or failures.
ENGINES
Povazke Strojarne L.M. was to be the supplier of the two DV-2S twin-shaft turbofan engines which provide a maximum thrust of 2,200kg each. For the M-346, these are to be replaced with two Honeywell/ITEC F124-GA-100 turbofan engines, produced with Fiat Avio. There is also a closed-circuit self-contained aerobatics lubrication system and dual channel Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC).
