Aermacchi M-345

M-311/M-345
The M-311 at the Paris Air Show in 2007
Role Light attack aircraft and advanced trainer
National origin Italy
Manufacturer Alenia Aermacchi
First flight M-311 1 June 2005
M-345 29 December 2016
Status Under development
Number built 2
Developed from SIAI Marchetti S.211

The Alenia Aermacchi M-345 (M-311 before 2012) is a turbofan-powered military trainer aircraft. It is a development of the SIAI Marchetti S.211/Aermacchi S-211.

Design and development

The M-345 is a small tandem two-seat shoulder-wing monoplane with a retractable tricycle landing gear, powered by a single Pratt & Whitney Canada JT15D-5C turbofan. It is based on the earlier SIAI-Marchetti S.211, with the addition of both structural and equipment improvements. The airframe has been strengthened, and a glass cockpit and modern avionics have been added. As a basic trainer, the aircraft is designed to complement the Aermacchi M-346 advanced trainer. The aircraft was designed with a secondary close air support capability with five underwing hardpoints.

The prototype aircraft first flew in June 2005.[1]

In April 2008, Alenia and ENAER of Chile signed an agreement to jointly manufacture and sell the M-346 and M-311 in South America.

On 28 May 2008, Boeing and Alenia signed a joint agreement to cooperate on marketing, sales, training and product support for both the M-346 and M-311.[2][3]

On 1 June 2015, Alenia Aermacchi presented the M-345 jet to the DGA for the nascent French replacement program for its Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jets. It is developing the Williams International FJ44-4M-powered M-345 for the Italian air force.[4] The M-345 first flew on 29 December 2016.[5]

Italy placed an initial order for five M-345s for the Italian Air Force on 13 January 2017. It has a requirement for up to 50 aircraft to replace Aermacchi MB-339s used in the basic training role and by the Frecce Tricolori aerobatic team.[6]

Variants

Alenia Aermacchi M-345 at Paris Air Show 2013.
M-345 For Italian Acrobatic Team "Frecce Tricolori"
M-311 
Modernized and uprated version of the SIAI Marchetti S.211/Aermacchi S-211; two prototypes built.[7]
M-345HET 
Redesignation of the M-311 from 2012, powered by 1 Williams International FJ44-4M turbofan[8]

Specifications (M-311)

Data from Alenia Aermacchi official site

General characteristics

Performance

Armament

  • Up to 1000 kg (2,205 lb) of weapons on five hardpoints, including gunpods, bombs, and rockets.

See also

Related development

References

Notes

  1. ↑ "Training aircraft", Projects (gallery), Airforce technology .
  2. ↑ Defense News .
  3. ↑ Boeing (press release), May 26, 2008, archived from the original on June 29, 2008 .
  4. ↑ Perry, Dominic (16 June 2015). "Paris: France plans Alpha Jet replacement". Flightglobal. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  5. ↑ Stevenson, Beth (3 January 2017). "Maiden Flight for M-345 Trainer". Flightglobal. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  6. ↑ Nicolli Air International July 2017, p. 11.
  7. ↑ "S.211" (production list). NL: SIAI-Marchetti. Archived from the original on 2006-10-28.
  8. ↑ Alenia picks FJ44 for M-345 trainer, mulls SF-260 replacement

Bibliography

  • Nicolli, Ricardo (July 2017). "High Efficiency Trainer". Air International. Vol. 93 no. 1. pp. 8–11. ISSN 0306-5634.
  • "M-345", Training systems products, Leonardo .
  • "M-311 – Basic Jet Trainer/Light Combat Aircraft", Projects, Airforce technology .
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