Contributor - UK

David Donald

Leonardo booked an order in July for six M-346FA light fighter/attack aircraft, Leonardo SpA CEO Alessandro Profumo revealed during a press conference following the publication of the company’s 2019 first-half results on July 30. He&nbsp;declined to reveal the air force’s identity, noting only that it is a “major international customer.”&nbsp;He also said that the first export order for the M-345 basic/advanced trainer would be revealed later in the year.

 


Unveiled at the <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2017-06-29/leonardos-m346-gets-some-teeth">2017 Paris Air Show</a>, the M-346FA is based on the airframe of the M-346 advanced jet trainer that has been sold to Italy (designated T-346A), Israel (where it is known as the Lavi), Poland, and Singapore. It is a further evolution of the <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2016-07-11/aeromacchi-m-346ft-debuts-farnborough-2016">M-346FT (fighter trainer)</a> with more weapons capability and tactical datalink added to the baseline version.

 


Retaining a full advanced/lead-in fighter trainer capability, the FA variant has significantly enhanced combat capability thanks to a Leonardo Grifo-346 multi-mode radar and IFF (identification friend or foe) equipment. Among the radar’s capabilities are synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and Inverse SAR for surface target identification. In track-while-scan mode it can track up to 10 aerial targets simultaneously. Maximum range is greater than 50 nm (92 km).

 


The aircraft has seven hardpoints for the carriage of a variety of weapons and targeting/reconnaissance pods, network-centric communications including Link 16 or customer-specific tactical datalink, and a defensive aids sub-system. Voice command and helmet-mounted display are options. It has in-flight refueling capability and includes an embedded virtual tactical training system.

 


Leonardo has earlier stated that the M-346FA would be certified by Armaereo, Italy’s military approvals authority by the end of next year, with service entry slated for 2021. The aircraft has been marketed to a number of nations in South America, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia, including Argentina and <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2019-03-28/lima-2019-international-oems-react-malaysias-lca-program">Malaysia</a>.

 


The financial results showed strong growth for Leonardo overall, with H1/2019 orders and revenue up on the figures from the first half of 2018. The helicopter&nbsp;division was boosted by orders from Spain for 23 NH90s and Poland for four AW101s, while the aircraft division received an order for 13 additional M-345 trainers for Italy. Deliveries of aircraft and major components were up, including a pair of C-27Js, and 18 wings for the Lockheed Martin F-35 program.

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