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M-346 Trainer Aircraft

The UAE was expected as of 2001 to upgrade its 20 BAE Systems Hawk Mk63 and 18 Hawk Mk102 trainers to a common standard as well as acquire new aircraft. Germany has offered to share development of an advanced trainer/light combat aircraft (LCA) with the UAE, focussing on the AT-2000 Mako, which could enter production in 2007 and be operational by 2010. Seeking to break into the lucrative Gulf market, the German sales push included an October 1999 offer of 30 ex-Luftwaffe Alpha Jets, a move that could thwart further Hawk sales.

The UAE needs trainers to prepare pilots for its advanced fighter jets, such as the Dassault Mirage and the F-16. The UAE needs to replace its ageing Hawk trainers from BAE Systems, which are due to be phased out by 2015. BAE's latest version of the Hawk was eliminated from the selection process in 2007, leaving only the Italian and Korean entries. The Golden Eagle reportedly costs between $13.5 million and $17m each, compared with the M-346 at between $12.5m and $13.5m. Alenia Aermacchi, part of the Finmeccanica group, was selected in February 2009 to provide 48 of its M-346 trainer to the UAE Air Force, edging out Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) and its T-50 Golden Eagle. But after a year of negotiations, by March 2010 the two sides had not signed a contract, fuelling speculation that the deal was in jeopardy. This aircraft is the most Advanced/Lead-In Fighter Trainer optimised for the role and can be proposed in operational variants for both Air Defence and Ground Attack roles. The M-346 offers very high levels of performance and manoeuvrability for the best cost-effective solutions. Moreover, the MB-339 of Alenia Aermacchi are operated today by the UAE Air Force in the PAN version (National Aerobatic Team Al Fursan).

The UAE was expected as of 2001 to upgrade its 20 BAE Systems Hawk Mk63 and 18 Hawk Mk102 trainers to a common standard as well as acquire new aircraft. Germany has offered to share development of an advanced trainer/light combat aircraft (LCA) with the UAE, focussing on the AT-2000 Mako, which could enter production in 2007 and be operational by 2010. Seeking to break into the lucrative Gulf market, the German sales push included an October 1999 offer of 30 ex-Luftwaffe Alpha Jets, a move that could thwart further Hawk sales.

The UAE needs trainers to prepare pilots for its advanced fighter jets, such as the Dassault Mirage and the F-16. The UAE needs to replace its ageing Hawk trainers from BAE Systems, which are due to be phased out by 2015. BAE's latest version of the Hawk was eliminated from the selection process in 2007, leaving only the Italian and Korean entries. The Golden Eagle reportedly costs between $13.5 million and $17m each, compared with the M-346 at between $12.5m and $13.5m. Alenia Aermacchi, part of the Finmeccanica group, was selected in February 2009 to provide 48 of its M-346 trainer to the UAE Air Force, edging out Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) and its T-50 Golden Eagle. But after a year of negotiations, by March 2010 the two sides had not signed a contract, fuelling speculation that the deal was in jeopardy. The deal was expected to be worth about €1 billion ($1.3 billion) for the acquisition of a complete Integrated Training Solution comprehensive.

The plans to buy 48 aircraft were put on hold when a side deal on UAVs failed. The Gulf state continued to fly Hawks and also purchased 25 PC-21s, but its future plans to expand pilot training requirements remained unclear as of 2015.

This aircraft is the most Advanced/Lead-In Fighter Trainer optimised for the role and can be proposed in operational variants for both Air Defence and Ground Attack roles. The M-346 offers very high levels of performance and manoeuvrability for the best cost-effective solutions. Moreover, the MB-339 of Alenia Aermacchi are operated today by the UAE Air Force in the PAN version (National Aerobatic Team Al Fursan).

The M-346 is the most Advanced/Lead-In Fighter Trainer currently produced and the only new generation trainer optimised for the role. Its excellent performance and flying qualities, close to modern frontline fighters, brings the M-346 to a superior teaching effectiveness level. The advanced design solutions provide also high safety standards and reduced acquisition and operational costs. The aircraft is tailored to train pilots to fly new generation combat aircraft and is well suited for every phase of advanced and pre-operational training, to reduce the flight hours on the more expensive frontline aircraft. The aircraft embodies the latest “design-to-cost” and “design-to-maintain” concepts, with avionics modelled upon those of new generation military aircraft such as Eurofighter, Gripen, Rafale, F-16, F-18, F-22 and F-35 JSF.

Its flexible platform is configured also for the operational roles as an Affordable Advanced Defence Aircraft (AADA). The structural design already includes nine hard-points, allowing up to 3000 Kg of external stores to be carried. The M-346 is characterized also by provisions for the installation and integration of Helmet Mounted Display, Multi-mode Radars, Electronic Warfare System and tactical data link. The speed of the M-346, its ability to climb quickly and the extreme manoeuvrability make it a highly survivable aircraft. The low maintenance man hours per flight hour and efficiencies, offered by a trainer-based aircraft design, also make it a very cost effective option.

CAE was selected by Alenia Aermacchi (AAEM) as the preferred FMS supplier for the M-346 aircraft, AAEM’s new generation advanced lead-in fighter trainer. As part of the overall M-346 ground-based training system, CAE will initially design and manufacture a prototype M-346 flight training device (FTD). The M-346 FTD will feature a high- fidelity replica of the M-346 cockpit with CAE’s Medallion™-6000 image generator driving a dome display that includes liquid crystal on silicon (LCoS) projectors. CAE will also provide a simulation-based development and validation environment so AAEM engineers and test pilots can perform a range of tests as the M-346 completes its development.

Military forces increasingly rely on sophisticated and interrelated weapons systems and equipment, computer systems, visual systems and other advanced technologies to operate in a broadening range of conditions and scenarios. Achieving a high state of operational readiness is a constant goal and challenge for militaries. Simulators enable military organizations to achieve their training and mission rehearsal goals while minimizing the physical use of expensive systems and equipment. In addition, the use of simulators helps to avoid injuries to personnel and the loss of equipment due to training accidents. Simulators allow for the training of tasks and missions that cannot be practiced in the real world.

Flight simulators are used to train pilots to operate a variety of military aircraft including fighter jets, helicopters, tankers and transport/maritime patrol aircraft. Flight simulators permit the crews of military aircraft to coordinate and improve their combat skills in a safe, cost-effective and realistic range of environments. The US Air Force estimates that one hour in a simulator costs less than six minutes in an actual aircraft. The simulators enable pilots to realistically practice both offensive and defensive tactics, such as firing aircraft weapons systems and avoiding attack from enemy surface and air threats. The immersive environment provided by simulators allows pilots to train for highly demanding maneuvers and life threatening scenarios, such as rotor failure, missile impact or the effects of exceptional turbulence.