Singapore Technologies Aerospace and Alenia Aermacchi will complete the delivery of last of the 12 M-346 new generation advanced traine...
Singapore Technologies Aerospace and Alenia Aermacchi will complete the delivery of last of the 12 M-346 new generation advanced trainers to the Royal Singapore Air Force in March 2014. Currently, a total of 10 aircraft have been delivered along with the ground based training system and the associated M-346 initial logistics support package.
In February 2013, the RSAF commenced the pilot training in its Advanced Training School at the Cazaux Air Base in France, while in March 2013 the first training flight for a pilot trainee in the M-346 was successfully conducted. This event marked the beginning of the full spectrum 3rd Generation Integrated Pilot Training System for the RSAF and it was also an important milestone for the M-346 programme.
The contract was signed in 2010 to replace RSAF's aged fleet of Douglas A-4 Skyhawk trainers. The twin engined M-346 is a transonic trainer aircraft based on the Yak-130 Mitten, initialy a joint venture between Russian Yakovlev and Italian Aermacchi, which split in 2000.
