The Aermacchi M-345 High Efficiency Trainer (HET) jet marked its public debut at the Le Bourget / Paris Air Show, which completed first ...
The Aermacchi M-345 High Efficiency Trainer (HET) jet marked its public debut at the Le Bourget / Paris Air Show, which completed first flight in December 2016.
The new military pilot trainer is designed to provide entire pilot training syllabus including basic flying to advanced missions.
Touted as a affordable trainer, Leonardo claims M-345 acquisition and life-cycle costs comparable to those of turboprop trainers, but sports superior performance.
The airframe with a +7/-3,5 g limit load factors, have a fatigue life of 15,000 flight hours and extensively makes use of composites. The aircraft is designed with simple maintenance requirements and is equipped with a Health Usage and Monitoring System (HUMS) to reduce the operating and life cycle costs.
Avionics are based on the latest M-346 Advanced Jet Trainer experience and match the standards of the latest combat jets. The glass cockpit features HOTAS (Hands On Throttle-And-Stick) controls, Head-Up Display (HUD), HUD repeater in rear cockpit, three 5"x7" LCD color touch screen Multi-Function Displays (MFD), real-time datalink and the Embedded Tactical Training Simulation system.
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The ETTS enables the M-345 to offer the whole spectrum of simulated training functions in flight and can simulate a tactical scenario (digital map with threats and targets), realistic Computer Generated Forces (friend and foe), on-board sensors (such as multimode Fire Control Radar, targeting pod and active/passive electronic countermeasures).
Besides pilot training, the M-345 have secondary combat capabilities and can be configured for ground attack, air to air combat and reconnaissance missions. It can carry a 1000 kg payload under its 4 wing pylons. Two of these are wet pylons capable of carrying external fuel tanks of 265 liter each.
The M-345 is powered by a single non-afterburning Williams FJ44-4M-34 turbofan engine with a 1,540 kg /3,400 lbs. maximum thrust. The FADEC digital flight control equipped engine have low fuel consumption and increased reliability.
Cockpit is equipped with two Martin Baker Mk.IT16D zero-zero ejection seats that improve flight safety. Operating efficiency is ensured by single-point pressure refueling and on-board oxygen generation (OBOGS) systems that vastly reduce ground support crew and turn around times.
Two non-pressurized internal fuel tanks carry 700 kg fuel that give a 760 nm (1.410 km) ferry range, which can be extended to 980 nm (1.815 km) with the two external tanks.
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Having a wingspan of 8.47 m and length of 9.85 m, the two seat trainer usually have a take off weight of 3,300 (7,275 lb) while the maximum take-off weight is 4.500 kg (9,920 lb).
It can achieve a top level speed of 400 KTAS (741 kmph) and can operate up to an altitude of 40,000 ft.
The program was officially launched in June 2013 and, was intended to replace the current Italian Air Force MB.339A trainer fleet, also re-equipping its famous “Frecce Tricolori” aerobatic team.
The Italian Air Force has already ordered a first batch of five aircraft and the first delivery is expected by 2019. Leonardo plans to fly first pre-series production aircraft by 2018.
During the air show, Leonardo revealed that it expects to sign contracts with two undisclosed customers by this year end.
