fighter/attack variant called M-346FA. The latter development and qualification programme passed the critical design review in June 2019, to reach the formal qualification within 2020 and aircraft delivery in 2021. The M-346FA has already gained an international launch customer, which has acquired six platforms of the dual-role version, but due to contractual restrictions Leonardo declines to provide further contract information. Leonardo is however proposing the M-346 family in Europe for Switzerland and Austria requirements, Latin America (Argentina and Colombia) and Asia (Thailand and Malaysia) as well as Middle-East/ Africa. The M-346FA combines the M-346 AJT/ FT (Fighter/Trainer) Master platform’s high performances and training capabilities including both aggressor and companion missions with an enhanced avionics/mission configuration and armament package capable to meet air force’s growing and diversified operational requirements at far lower costs than those of front-line fighters. With a maximum take-off weight of 10,400 kg and a high-thrust/weight ratio propulsion package based on two Honeywell 6,300 lb thrusteach F124-GA-200 turbofan, coupled with a full authority, quadruplex fly-by-wire (FBW) fight control system (FCS) providing wide care-free handling flight envelope, the M-346FA exploits high maneuverability with superior rate of climb,
The Leonardo’s M-346FA mission suite will include the fourthgeneration X-band coherent pulse-doppler multimode Leonardo Grifo M346 radar, a DASS with RWR and CMDS and a data link. The new variant will also feature seven hard-points for external stores. © Leonardo
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high load factor (+8/-2.75 g) and angle-ofattack even with external payload together with supersonic max speed (1.2 Mach) and air-to-air refueling capabilities for long-range/endurance and time-on-station. The new-version airframe configuration differs from the AJT/FT versions for seven (vs five) hard-points including two new wingtip stations for advanced short-range airto-air missiles (ASRAAM), four underwings and one ventral stations for a total load of weapons and external stores of 2,000 kg. The initial payload package will include AIM-9L, ASRAAM, 500 lb class bombs (Lizar 2 + laser-guided and MK-B2 general purpose), HPM-250 12.7 mm gun pod, Rafael Litening targeting and Reccelite pods, as well as 630 liters each external fuel tanks but the optional weapon/system inventory also includes Paveway, JDAM, TEBER, SDB GBUs, MBDA Brimstone and other AAMs including Rafael Derby medium-range missile. In addition to the AJT/FT cockpit and mission suite architecture characterized by advanced glass-cockpit stations, the M-346FA integrates a nose-mounted fourthgeneration X-band coherent pulse-doppler multimode Leonardo Grifo 346 radar with IFF interrogator, a Helmet Mounted Display (HMD) for day/night operations, an enriched communications suite including secure and multi-band radios and a Link 16 NATO or not-NATO tactical data link
The new fighter/attack variant of M-346 advanced trainer will be capable to carry up to 2,000 kg of weapons and other external stores including AAMs, guided and unguided bombs, targeting and reconnaissance pods as well as rockets and gun pod. © Leonardo
