Alenia Aermacchi M-346 Master

The Alenia Aermacchi M‑346 Master is a twin‑engine advanced jet trainer developed in Italy during the early 2000s. Conceived as a successor to the successful Aero L‑39 Albatros, the program began in 2004 under the name ‘M‑346’, with Leonardo (then Alenia Aermacchi) leading a partnership that included Israel’s Elbit Systems for avionics. First flight took place on 15 July 2004 and series production commenced in 2009. The aircraft features a highly digital glass cockpit, hands‑on‑throttle‑and‑stick (HOTAS) controls, and an optional embedded training system that can simulate up to six hostile aircraft, allowing pilots to practise air‑to‑air and air‑to‑ground missions without separate trainers. Powered by two Honeywell F124‑GA‑100 turbofan engines, the M‑346 delivers a thrust‑to‑weight ratio close to 1.0, enabling high‑g manoeuvres and sustained supersonic flight. Its lightweight carbon‑fiber wing, fly‑by‑wire flight control system, and modular hardpoints give it both trainer and light‑combat capabilities, making it attractive to over twenty air forces worldwide. The M‑346’s versatility has cemented its role as a bridge between basic training and frontline fighters, influencing modern pilot‑pipeline concepts and reinforcing Leonardo’s position in the global military‑aviation market.

Leonardo

Alenia Aermacchi M-346 Master

Classification

Production & History

Design & Classification