Voou o primeiro MB339CD Batch 2No final de setembro voou o primeiro treinador Alenia Aermacchi MB339CD modernizado para o padrão Batch 2 (foto: Alenia Aermacchi). Nos dias subseqüentes, a aeronave completou os ensaios em vôo da empresa e está agora pronta para a aceitação oficial por parte da Força Aérea Italiana. Essa é a primeira unidade dos 14 aviões repotencializados segundo contrato assinado em outubro de 2007, e as entregas serão concluídas em 2009. A modernização se concentra principalmente nos aviônicos, melhorando-se os sistemas de identificação, comunicações e navegação, acrescentando-se um sistema de mapa digital e integrando capacidade de visão noturna e simulação. Além da Itália, o MB339CD é utilizado pelas forças aéreas de oito países, sendo a Malásia o mais recente cliente, ao encomendar oito MB339CM em novembro de 2006.http://www.segurancaedefesa.com/MB339CD_Batch2.html
Honeywell Lands Contract to Build M-346 EnginesA Honeywell division has landed a $52 million engine contract for Alenia Aermacchi's Advanced Jet Trainer M-346.Honeywell's International Turbine Engine Company (ITEC) will build the F124-GA-200 engine for twin-engine advanced trainer, billed by Alenia Aermacchi, a Finmecchanica company, as "the idea platform" for fifth-generation combat aircraft such as the F-22 Raptor, JSF and Eurofighterhttp://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i= ... =AME&s=AIR
Vôo inicial do primeiro MB-339CM para a MalásiaNo dia 25 de novembro o primeiro treinador MB-339CM para a Força Aérea da Malásia) realizou seu vôo inaugural a partir das instalações da Alenia Aermacchi no aeroporto de Venegogo (foto: Alenia Aermacchi). O piloto-chefe de ensaios e o engenheiro-chefe de ensaios da empresa, respectivamente Quirino Bucci e Carlo Monti, voaram durante uma hora e realizaram a verificação de funcionamento dos sistemas de bordo, e particularmente dos aviônicos. A entrega dos dois primeiros exemplares à Malásia está prevista para o primeiro trimestre de 2009. A encomenda total, assinada no final de 2006, é para oito aviões, com entregas previstas para estarem concluídas até o final de 2010.http://www.segurancaedefesa.com/MB339CM_Malasia.html
Primeiro voo de formação do Alenia Aermacchi M-346 MasterPela primeira vez os três exemplares do novo treinador da Alenia participaram um voo de formação (foto: Alenia Aermacchi). Durante 60 minutos, os dois protótipos e a aeronave LRIP00, representativa da configuração de produção em série, voaram juntos, acompanhados por um M-311, do qual foram tomadas as fotos. Segundo o fabricante, até o momento o M-346 já tem garantida a produção de 60 exemplares.http://www.segurancaedefesa.com/M346_VooPrototipos.html
M-346 Master Advanced Trainer Adopts The Helmet Mounted DisplayAlenia Aermacchi, a Finmeccanica company, recently carried out the first flight tests of the new sophisticated Helmet Mounted Display (HMD) system that will be fitted to the M-346 Master advanced training aircraft.The HMD system, a true interface between the pilot and aircraft systems, complements the Head-Up Display by offering the pilot to receive attitude, navigation, tactical and mission information directly on the helmet visor, independently of the direction in which he is looking. The HMD is fully integrated with aircraft avionics and with the Embedded Tactical Training Simulation system.The adoption of this new HMD system on the M-346 is a crucial element of training effectiveness and an important step towards making the Master ever more representative of operational aircraft. The M-346 Master will now allow student pilots to learn to use the HMD, avoiding the risks involved should it be encountered directly on the much more expensive operational aircraft (Eurofighter, F-35, Rafale, F-16). The HMD will also be integrated in the Full Mission Simulator.Test pilots Quirino Bucci and Matteo Maurizio tested the new HMD system to their fullest satisfaction, appreciating its ergonomics and performance from both the forward and rear seats.'We obtained significant results, with stable symbology under high g and ease of head movement thanks to the lightweight helmet', said after the flights Alenia Aermacchi Chief Test Pilot Quirino Bucci.The limited helmet weight under 1.6 kilos, achieved by the miniaturisation and careful placement of components - translates into lower pilot fatigue under high g manoeuvres, while the low voltage translates into a high levels of safety. A micro camera captures the pilot's field of view, including visor symbology, making it available for post-flight debriefings.The system selected for installation in the M-346 employs the latest optical and digital technologies. It allows the aircraft to operate by day and night, using Night Vision Goggles (NVG). The ability to present synthetic symbology and high-resolution images, plus the accuracy of the pilot's line of sight measurement, are peculiar characteristics of the M-346 Master HMD system.
At Farnborough International Air Show, Leonardo has announced the launch of a comprehensive capability enhancement package for the M-346 integrated training system including the aircraft’s core avionics, navigation/identification, mission equipment and ground training capabilities. The move reflects the training needs to align pilot’s skills to the evolution dictated by modern multi-domain battlefields, combat air technology, and information management.This latest development leverages the inherent growth capability embedded into the M-346 design as well as ten years of proven in-service experience with leading air forces across geographies and is an integral part of the broader organisational digitization roadmap initiative, fully consistent with Leonardo’s longer-term strategy. As such, both training and fighter variants will benefit from these enhancements to deliver even greater capabilities to the market for a wide spectrum of applications, while implying significant margin for further developments in the future. The ‘M-346 T Block 20’ and ‘M-346 F Block 20’ are the designations for the new standard.The new Block 20 standard will not be limited to the platform itself, but rather to the entire system including the ground based training system and shall be enabled by the widespread implementation of digitalization powered by AI.The Block 20 standard cockpit will feature two large area displays, one per each seat, replacing the existing six multi-functional displays, plus a low profile head-up display. These will be combined with a new digital video and data recorder and a new augmented reality helmet mounted display. The new cockpit will align the human-machine interface to those of the most sophisticated and future frontline combat air systems, with advantages in terms of quality training (i.e. look & feel plus a high fidelity immersive environment) and situational awareness in operational missions. The ‘M-346 Block 20’ will also benefit from new navigation, weapon management, flight management system, IFF - Identification of Friend or Foe - transponder.Specifically for the M-346 F variant, further critical capability enhancements include an AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) radar featuring fire control radar capability, integration of new weapons for both air-to-air and air-to-ground roles in addition to a built-in missile datalink.[continua]
A jewel born from 70 years of company experience in the trainer sector, with different versions sold in total in over 2,000 units worldwide. It is the M-346, currently in production at Leonardo's. Its CV includes over 120,000 flight hours, more than 100 machines sold globally and the most challenging assignment: being the backbone of the International Flight Training School, the school of excellence for training national and international military pilots, born from the collaboration between Leonardo and the Italian Air Force. Today we are working on the new Block 20 configuration, which will incorporate new digital and artificial intelligence features, to allow the M-346 to remain a "top performer" in current - and future - operational scenarios.The M-346 is a twin-engine, two-seat transonic jet aircraft, with fully digital flight controls and avionics, equipped with a fly-by-wire flight control system with quadruple redundancy and a modern human-machine interface with display for the "head up" (HUD – Head-up Display) and multifunction (MFD – Multi Functional Display) data presentation.The aircraft is the fulcrum of a training system consisting of an integrated on-board system for the simulation of tactical training (ETTS - Embedded Tactical Training System), which allows the aircraft to emulate sensors, armaments and CGF (Computer Generated Forces) and allows pilots to operate simultaneously, and in a combined manner, in LVC mode: Live (real flight), Virtual (the various types of simulators) and Constructive (interfacing with any type of force/threat generated by the computer).The system is completed by the GBTS (Ground Based Training System) ground training segment, composed of various flight and mission simulation systems, multimedia and classroom courses, mission planning and training management systems, and an integrated logistic support (ILS) which optimises the management of fleets and simulators to allow maximum operation.Changing operational scenarios, training times, the costs of flying fifth generation aircraft, the availability of new, more advanced cockpits, with an eye to the next generation of "combat air": these are all variants that require an update of the entire trainer system, based on a holistic approach that maintains the correct balance between flying skills and information management, within a dynamic system such as training.Today, digitalisation and artificial intelligence are the enablers of a further evolution that affects both the aircraft and the ground segment, and which will materialise in the new Block 20 configuration of the M-346, in the two Fighter and Trainer versions.The integrated capabilities of the training system will be enhanced through upgraded state-of-the-art sensors, weapon systems, datalinks, and onboard avionics, as well as enhanced human-machine interfaces through augmented reality systems. All supported by advanced supercomputing capabilities, artificial intelligence algorithms and intrinsic cyber resilience characteristics, with substantial benefits in terms of operational availability of the fleet and integrated services.The entire training ecosystem will benefit from the update, enhancing its distinctive live/virtual/constructive capacity and confirming itself as the best "incubator" for training the latest generation fighter pilots, capable of dealing with updated training syllabuses and threats emerging in the airspace, with or without a pilot.
El avión de entrenamiento militar M-346 de la compañía italiana Leonardo sigue trabajando en nuevos mercados. Austria apunta ahora como probable próximo cliente de la aeronave, según ha revelado su propia ministra de Defensa, Klaudia Tanner, que tiene sobre la mesa una oferta del Ministerio de Defensa italiano, a la que califica de "interesante", que está considerando para una adquisición conjunta de estos aparatos.De cuajar la venta de los aviones italianos, con los que Viena sustituiría su flota de aviones de entrenamiento Saab 105 que retiró hace casi cuatro años tras prestar servicio durante otros 50, Leonardo cosecharía en el país otro gran éxito, tras la venta obtenida en dos fases (2021 y 2023) de un total de 36 helicópteros AW169M LUH al país centroeuropeo.Los M-346, de los que un estudio del Centro Universitario de la Defensa (CUD) de San Javier (Murcia) concluyó hace tres años que son la mejor opción para reemplazar los viejos cazas F-5 del Ejército del Aire y del Espacio español, no son ajenos a los pilotos austriacos. La baja de los Saab 105 les ha llevado a proseguir con los entrenamientos en la Escuela Internacional de Entrenamiento de Vuelo (IFTS) que la Fuerza Aérea Italiana tiene abierta en Cerdeña en colaboración con Leonardo y con la participación de la firma canadiense CAE, y en la que se emplea el M-346 como principal vector de formación.Todavía no ha trascendido el número concreto de aeronaves que Austria busca adquirir, aunque se apunta a una docena de unidades, según recoge European Security & Defence.[continua]
