“Alenia Aermakki” will put the 30 TCB M-346 “Master” of the Israeli Air Force
Alenia Aermacchi has announced the signing of a contract with the Israeli Ministry of Defense for the supply of X-NUMX M-30 Master training aircraft and associated training equipment.
The total cost of the agreement is estimated at 1 billion dollars. In addition to Alenia Aermacchi, other divisions of the Finmeccanica group will take part in the M-346 production program, including Selex Galileo, Selex Elsag and Sirio Panel.
According to Israeli media, the share of “Alenia Aermacchi” will account for about 600 million dollars of the total cost of work under the contract.
The contract is part of an intergovernmental agreement between Israel and Italy, which includes the supply of aircraft, engines, simulators, provision of services, material support, personnel training. The rest of the equipment supply program will be implemented by other Israeli and foreign companies.
The Israeli Ministry of Defense chose Alenia Aermakki MTS-Master Master of Alenia Aermakki as the new jet training aircraft of the in-depth flight training of the country's air force in February of this year. As planned, the delivery of TCB will begin in the middle of 346.
In June of this year, the Israeli Cabinet confirmed that the Italian Master MTS, X-NUMX, will replace the TA-346J / F Skyhawk, which is used to train the F-2015 and F-4 pilots, from 15.
The M-346 is one of the most advanced TCFs on the market and is intended for the initial and in-depth training of pilots of the 4 and 5 generation fighters, including the EF-2000, JAS-39 Gripen, Rafale, F-22 and F-35. It can also be used as a light attack aircraft. The design provides for the installation of nine suspension points, allowing up to 3000 kg of external load to be carried. The pilot can use the helmet-mounted information display and target designation system.
M-346 is made with a wide use of composite materials, equipped with a “glass cabin”, a digital remote flight control system that allows the aircraft to remain fully controlled at 35 angle of attack degrees. The aircraft is equipped with a multi-mode radar and electronic countermeasures system, two engines F-124GA-200 "Honeywell / Avio" power 2835 hp each that allow you to reach speeds up to 1,2 M.
Together with the Alenia Aermakki aircraft, it supplies an integrated ground training system.
M-346 performed the first flight in July 2008 of the year. In December, 2008, the aircraft performed the first supersonic flight, developing speed 1,15 M.
M-346 received a military type certificate from the Directorate of Arms of the Ministry of Defense of Italy in June 2011.
The assembly line M-346 provides the possibility of producing 4 aircraft per month.
Previously, Alenia Aermacchi signed contracts for the supply of 6 M-346 aircraft to the Italian Air Force (2009 year) and 12 TCB for the Singapore Air Force (2010 year). The first 2 TCB were transferred to the Italian Air Force at the beginning of this year and are being tested. In the future, the Italian Air Force intends to increase the order for TCB to 15 units. The first planes will be delivered to Singapore during the current year.
In February, the United Arab Air Force 2009 selected Alenia Aermakki with the M-346 winner of the tender for the supply of 48 aircraft in three versions: training and training, combat training and acrobatic. Despite lengthy negotiations, the official contract has not yet been signed.
The T-100 version is considered as a potential candidate for the supply of the US Air Force under the TX tender for the replacement of the Talon T-38 that are in service.
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