Israel selects Alenia Aermacchi M-346 trainer aircraft

[archipeppe]

A really recent news and an absolute premiere for Italy: Alenia Aermacchi has been exclusively selected by Israel’s Ministry of Defence to provide M-346 aircraft for the training of Israeli Air Force (IAF) pilots.

The M-346s, which will make the Israeli Air Force’ new trainers fleet, and will replace the TA-4 Sky-Hawks, currently operated by IAF (Israel Air Force), will be a total of about 30 aircraft.

The official contract award is scheduled during the semester of 2012 and the airplanes will be delivered to the customer starting in the middle of 2014.


Further information as follows:
http://www.finmeccanica.it/Corporate/EN//index.sdo

 

[thunderwarrior]

It is worth noting that this is the third victory of the M-346 over the Lockheed sponsored South Korean rival T-50 ..... UAE (yet to be signed), Singapore and Israel.
B)

 

[Matej]

Another good news for the european aerospace industry. I am wondering, if Israel buy the stealth kit, developed for M-346.

 

[AeroFranz]

LO kit? i hadn't heard about that. i guess it makes sense. Do you know if it's just RAM coatings or something more substantial like a 'Silent eagle' treatment?

 

[Matej]

So far the information is contradictory. Some sources say that it is just for advanced training and in a clean configuration, other sources suggest that it is planned for a light combat variant. I hope to determine it during next Farnborough. What they agree on is that it was flight tested during 2011.

 

[Reaper]

A trainer with LO capabilities makes also a lot of sense! (sarcasm)

 

[TomS]

LO kit? i hadn't heard about that. i guess it makes sense. Do you know if it's just RAM coatings or something more substantial like a 'Silent eagle' treatment?

http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/alenia-aermacchi-tests-low-radar-cross-section-kit-for-351787/

It sounds like RAM coatings and so forth.

 

[thunderwarrior]

But at Alenia Aermacchi they keep their lips sealed .....

"Ma si pensa di rendere meno “osservabili” persino gli addestratori avanzati o quantomeno le varianti da attacco leggero che si intende trarne.
E’ il caso dell’italiano Alenia Aermacchi M-346 Master, per il quale è stato sperimentato e provato un kit che essenzialmente modificherebbe il muso e, forse, le due prese d’aria.
Abbiamo chiesto alla società di Finmeccanica, che ha lavorato nell’ambito del Piano Nazionale di Ricerca Militare, di saperne di più: intanto, che cosa comprenda oltre al muso in termini di riduzione della LO il “kit” in questione, poi se si è proceduto a ridurre anche la segnatura all’infrarosso, se si sia anche pensato a un “coating” particolare, e infine quale sia – almeno – l’ordine di grandezza della riduzione della RCS frontale dell’M-346 dopo la “cura”.
Da Venegono Superiore sono arrivate solo due parole: “No comment”."

Which, loosely translated, sounds more or less like this .....

"But there is the thinking to make less "observable" even advanced trainers, or at least the light attack variants that will be derived from them.
It 's the case of the Italian Alenia Aermacchi M-346 "Master", for which it was tried and tested a kit that essentially would change the nose and, perhaps, the two air intakes.
We asked the company Finmeccanica, which has worked in the National Plan for Military Research, to learn more: Meanwhile, what comprises the "kit" in the subject, apart from the nose, in terms of reduction of the LO, then if they have also proceeded to reduce the infrared signature, if they even thought of a special "coating", and finally which is - at least - the order of magnitude of reduction of the frontal RCS of the M-346 after the "cure".
From Venegono Superiore came just two words: "No comment"."

Source ..... http://cca.analisidifesa.it/downloads/4458681437_it.pdf ..... (page 9) .....

 

[AeroFranz]

I wonder if it would end up looking like the stillborn EADS Mako

 

[thunderwarrior]

I wonder if it would end up looking like the stillborn EADS Mako

Frankly, AeroFranz ..... I can not understand your comment .....
The EADS MAKO never came into the world and did not go beyond the stage of mock-up ..... while the M-346 is, instead, a reality ..... and is entering into service within the Italian Air Force .....

 

[Jemiba]

Frankly, AeroFranz ..... I can not understand your comment .....
The EADS MAKO never came into the world and did not go beyond the stage of mock-up ..... while the M-346 is, instead, a reality ..... and is entering into service within the Italian Air Force .....

I think Frank meant the similarities between the Mako, which its incorporated stealth features and
the M-346. And with some "stealthying" of the latter, the two types can even become more similar .
(Drawings from AI and http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rUHyHq68ak0/S3gbZ7KOnFI/AAAAAAAA3dY/9Z17pXESLU0/s1600-h/M346-3v.jpg )

 

[archipeppe]

I think Frank meant the similarities between the Mako, which its incorporated stealth features and
the M-346. And with some "stealthying" of the latter, the two types can even become more similar .

Franly speaking, the two aircrafts show quite different configurations even if they could use the same (and it has to be proven) stealthy technology....

 

[AeroFranz]

What i meant (and Jemiba correctly interpreted, thanks for posting the graphic comparison) was that from the description of the LO kit included in the article, it seems like (wild guess of my part) the M346 would get more or less pronounced nose chines and more squarish inlets. Both features of the defunct Mako, which I found interesting. The comparison came to mind because the Mako was obviously an attempt to get reasonable LO on the frontal quarter with a minimum of compromise.

To be clear, I am not saying Alenia is copying the Mako, these are just common solutions already found in a bunch of other planes. I am quite stoked this attractive little bird is finding success (Bazzocchi would be proud!), and I am crossing my fingers for the (delayed) T-X competition.

At least that's how I interpret it. Alenia probably wants an 80%-solution-with-20%-effort kind of deal. I don't think these limited mods would affect the primary structure, or planform for that matter - too much of a hassle. Applying RAM might be the most sensible thing. Although if the nose shape is modified, high-alpha aerodynamics would have to be re-checked of course, and that could be un bel casino.

 

[fightingirish]

The Israeli air force is to name its Alenia Aermacchi M-346 advanced jet trainer the 'Lavi', re-using the name previously carried by the Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) fighter developed in the 1980s.
Source: http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/israels-lavi-reborn-as-renamed-m-346-387862/

 

[GTX]

The Israeli air force is to name its Alenia Aermacchi M-346 advanced jet trainer the 'Lavi', re-using the name previously carried by the Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) fighter developed in the 1980s.
Source: http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/israels-lavi-reborn-as-renamed-m-346-387862/

I am sure that will upset some... ;D

 

[Matej]

Not mentioned yet but also Poland last days selected M346 as its new trainer. I am not sure at the moment but initial contract should be for eight aircrafts.

 

[TomcatViP]

The success story today has an unexpected outcome:

Israel, Greece sign $1.7 billion deal for Air Force training

The Hellenic Air Force will acquire 10 M-346 aircraft, and Israel’s Elbit Systems will establish a flight school and maintain training aircraft.

www.defensenews.com

Notice how the Greek armed services, weeks ago still unduly overlooked among Europeans just completly reshaped the Southern defence of the Non-Nato alliance of that continent (Greece, Israel, UAE that will probably aggregates more Mediterranean actors).

And amazingly the raw cost of the contract will put the M-346 in the same ballpark as the Rafale, according to the recent sale (?).

 

[Flyaway]

The success story today has an unexpected outcome:

Israel, Greece sign $1.7 billion deal for Air Force training

The Hellenic Air Force will acquire 10 M-346 aircraft, and Israel’s Elbit Systems will establish a flight school and maintain training aircraft.

www.defensenews.com

Notice how the Greek armed services, weeks ago still unduly overlooked among Europeans just completly reshaped the Southern defence of the Non-Nato alliance of that continent (Greece, Israel, UAE that will probably aggregates more Mediterranean actors).

And amazingly the raw cost of the contract will put the M-346 in the same ballpark as the Rafale, according to the recent sale (?).

Well if you are going to get your pilots trained and your own trainers trained you might as well go to one of the best.