Azerbaijan acquires Italian M-346 Master combat training aircraft

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Azerbaijan acquires Italian M-346 Master combat training aircraft

The Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan has signed a preliminary agreement on the acquisition of Italian combat training aircraft Leonardo M-346 Master. The timing of the signing of a solid contract for aircraft has not yet been announced.

According to the bmpd blog, during the visit of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to Italy on February 20, 2020, Azerbaijani Minister of Defense Zakir Hasanov signed a declaration under the agreement between the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Leonardo SpA with the executive director of the Italian company Leonardo, in connection with the acquisition of an integration system M-346 aircraft. "



The agreement provides for the acquisition by the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense of 15 M-346 aircraft, other sources report ten aircraft, but with an option of 15. Leonardo previously demonstrated a third prototype M-346 in Azerbaijan.

The M-346 training aircraft was designed by the Russian JSC A.S. Yakovlev Design Bureau together with the Italian company L'Alenia Aermacchi. Due to disagreements between partners, the development of the model stopped at the final stage, and each of the companies received documentation of the basic version of the future aircraft (glider). After that, both companies released their own models: M-346 (L'Alenia Aermacchi) and Yak-130 (Yakovlev Design Bureau). The first flight of the M-346 took place on July 15, 2004, and its mass production began in 2010. Today, the machine is used to train pilots in Italy, Singapore, Israel and Poland. The length of the M-346 is 11,5 m, the wingspan is 9,7 m. The mass of an empty aircraft is 4,6 tons, the maximum take-off weight is 9,5 tons. The aircraft can reach speeds of up to 1060 km / h and climb to a height of 13,7 km The crew of the M-346 consists of two people.

In total, Leonardo has so far delivered 72 production M-346 aircraft (22 for the Italian Air Force, 12 Singapore, 30 Israel and eight Poland) and has contracts for the supply of eight more aircraft for Poland.
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  1. +1
    25 February 2020 11: 23
    On the one hand, the Yakovlevites themselves made a competitor. But, without this joint project, they probably would not have survived.
    In fact, the success of the M-346 shows an excellent Soviet / Russian school of aircraft construction, especially with regard to aerodynamics.
    1. 0
      25 February 2020 11: 28
      Something similar happened when the Europeans, together with Antonov, designed the car, but at the last stage they decided to complete what they started and it turned out, in my opinion, the A-400M. And they threw the Ukrainians. Such a scheme was scammed by normal after all the secrets were fished out.
      1. +2
        25 February 2020 11: 44
        There are still "two big differences". Antonovtsev was thrown and An-70 remained in oblivion. It's a pity, in my opinion, it was a very interesting project and aircraft. Unlike An-a, the Yak-130 became the main party of the Russian Aerospace Forces.
        To blame the Europeans is not worth it. They saw their chance and just used it. Unfortunately, as the saying goes: "nothing personal, just business."
      2. +5
        25 February 2020 12: 33
        I still wildly apologize, but the link can be on
        Quote: Sky Strike fighter
        Europeans together with Antonov designed a car
        . Preferably a European reference
        1. +1
          25 February 2020 14: 03
          In February 1996, to implement the An-70 program and its promotion to the foreign market, the Russian-Ukrainian consortium Medium Transport Aircraft (STS) was created from nine leading companies. The prospects seemed bright - at that time, the proposal to use the An-70 as a standard aircraft for the air forces of European NATO countries was actively discussed.

          In the end, the European structures expressed their readiness to seriously study such opportunities, demanded additional data, documents, etc. As a result, the history of Ukraine’s “cooperation” with European countries on the design of this aircraft has become perhaps the most brilliant of European countries’s intelligence operations against Ukraine in terms of technical espionage. I must say that the collapse of the KGB and the lack of proper cooperation in protecting economic and technical secrets between the national counterintelligence services of Ukraine (SBU) and Russia (FSB) contributed to their successful work.

          The leading German aircraft manufacturer, Daimler-Chrysler Aerospace (DAZA), took over the coordination of the requirements. However, after several months of joint work, DAZA (which, by the way, owned a 37% stake in Airbus Industry) refused to participate in the project. Some Russian experts noted that the requirements for the military-technical cooperation of the Euroflag "Future Large Aircraft" (FLA, future A400M) project were consistently changing as the German specialists got acquainted with the details of the An-70 design.
        2. +2
          25 February 2020 14: 27
          Quote: Pete Mitchell
          Preferably a European reference

          Are you more likely to believe the Western press? So there they will not tell you anything, especially when it comes to sensitive issues for Europeans. They (civilized Europeans), it is easier to keep silent, and often even brazenly lie. And on the issue of the similarity of the A-400 and the AN-70, I will not say anything, but the concept of both aircraft is very similar, in addition, the AN-70 made its first flight 15 years before the A-400. Knowing the post perestroika practice, selling all technologies at a cheap price to the west (especially in Ukraine), it is not surprising. What a pity, the plane was really promising. A worthy brainchild of Antonov Design Bureau, which was never realized.
          1. +4
            25 February 2020 15: 00
            Quote: orionvitt
            Are you more likely to believe the Western press?
            I am critical of any press. I agree with you in part
            Quote: orionvitt
            the concept of both aircraft is very similar, besides the AN-70, made its first flight 15 years before the A-400 ...

            And for me, a colleague formulated everything correctly
            Quote: Spade
            They created this car with Russian money. Together with Russia. And they threw us. And the Europeans did their own thing. And when the Ukrainians, having thrown Russia, turned to them, they simply sent them. In order not to produce competitors.
            As a result, the Europeans, who were lagging behind before, won the race.
            1. +2
              25 February 2020 15: 45
              Quote: Pete Mitchell
              They created this car with Russian money. Together with Russia.

              Not certainly in that way. As you know, it is many times more difficult to create an aircraft engine than an aircraft. The D-27 began to be designed at the Progress Design Bureau, back in Soviet times, just under the AN-70. If Russia invested in a glider and on-board systems, then Motor Sich provided four engines for the second flight model (which crashed in Omsk) completely free of charge, that is, at its own expense, on the personal order of Boguslaev. breathe life into a project that initially suffered from financial weakness. And these were not the best years for the company. It was rumored that the AN-70 project was deliberately ruined in order to eliminate a competitor. Since even NATO was looking at a promising "truck", while the A-400 was still at the concept stage. And then it happened, several years passed and the world was shown a "miracle" already from a European manufacturer, strangely resembling an Antonov car.
              1. +5
                25 February 2020 20: 16
                Quote: orionvitt
                It was rumored that the AN-70 project had been deliberately ruined to eliminate a competitor.

                I fully admit that the eads bourgeois did not hesitate to look into the An-70 project, especially if there was such an opportunity. And even more so, no one should hope for their honest cooperation: to prevent the emergence of a competitor - all means are good. And the rest
                Quote: orionvitt
                the concept of both aircraft is very similar
                , which determines their similarity, but no more.
                And of course I agree with you
                Quote: orionvitt
                sorry, the plane was really promising. A worthy brainchild of Antonov Design Bureau, which was never realized.
                Amen
      3. +1
        25 February 2020 14: 09
        Quote: Sky Strike fighter
        Something similar happened when the Europeans, together with Antonov, designed the car, but at the last stage they decided to finish what they started themselves and I think the A-400M turned out

        You are very confusing something.
        They created this car with Russian money. Together with Russia. And they threw us.

        And the Europeans did their own thing. And when the Ukrainians, having thrown Russia, turned to them, they simply sent them. In order not to produce competitors.
        As a result, the Europeans, who were lagging behind before, won the race.
      4. 0
        25 February 2020 19: 50
        When A - 400 was drawing, An - 70 was already flying. But they threw not only the Banderlog, there were also many Russian components. If 70 went into the series, everything would work, but not destiny. However, it is curious how Azerbaijan was "bought"? An Italian cannot be cheaper than the Yak - 130.
    2. +1
      25 February 2020 18: 26
      Quote: Kurare
      Yakovlevites themselves made a competitor

      come on))) Prior to cooperation with Yakovleva Design Bureau, Aermacchi released its TCBs, and not bad - MV-326 and MV-339, already sold in 14 countries of the world
  2. +2
    25 February 2020 11: 23
    and I look at the photo and think why they are so similar ...
  3. -5
    25 February 2020 11: 23
    In total, Leonardo has so far delivered 72 production M-346 aircraft (22 for the Italian Air Force, 12 Singapore, 30 Israel and eight Poland) and has contracts for the supply of eight more aircraft for Poland
    Italians got a free aerodynamics and design, let them rejoice.
    1. +15
      25 February 2020 11: 45
      Quote: Vladimir_2U
      Got italyashki for free aerodynamics and design

      With what fright "for free". This "freebie", at one time, saved the Yakovlevites from self-destruction.
      1. -5
        25 February 2020 11: 52
        Quote: Kurare
        What a fright "for free"

        Just like a freebie:
        Aermacchi's stake was estimated at $ 77 million. However, the Italians did not contribute money - by decision of the Russian Ministry of Finance, these funds went into the offset of the Russian public debt to Italy. The Yak-130 made its first flight in 1995 ... ... After a few years it became clear that the Italo-Russian Yak-130 could not count on the Western market - they prefer cars created as a result of cooperation between the allied countries .... ..OKB received compensation from the Russian Ministry of Finance for its own funds spent - $ 77 million in ruble equivalent
        Not Italy paid Yaku, but the Russian Federation.
        1. +5
          25 February 2020 11: 59
          Quote: Vladimir_2U
          Not Italy paid Yaku, but the Russian Federation.

          Well, yes, the money went "through the pockets" of state officials and, of course, not everything reached the Yakovlevites. But even this was "enough" not to bend.
      2. 0
        25 February 2020 16: 41
        Quote: Kurare
        This "freebie", at one time, saved the Yakovlevites from self-destruction.


        Someone started this bike, and you repeat. It was only about closing the program for creating the TCB. The government of the Russian Federation funded the creation of the Yak-130 on account of a public debt to Italy. The Italians did not pay a dime. So the money was still found. I would like to add that at the same time, projects for creating TCBs were presented by the firms of Sukhoi, Mikoyan and Myasishchev. Preference was given to Yakovlev. Is it reasonable?
        1. +1
          25 February 2020 17: 46
          Quote: VIT101
          Someone started this bike, and you repeat.

          hi Let's look at it this way: the Russian Federation has a public debt to Italy, which the Russian Federation needs to repay, Italy agrees to pay it off (partially) if the Yakovlev Design Bureau, together with Alenia Aermacchi, creates a new TCB. There would be no such agreement, perhaps, there would be no Yakovlev Design Bureau. As a "bonus", the TCB for the tender for the Russian Aerospace Forces, designed partly for Italian money.

          Like it or not, the money is Italian, albeit in the form of a Russian public debt.
        2. 0
          25 February 2020 18: 29
          Quote: VIT101
          I would like to add that at the same time, projects for the creation of TCB were presented by the firms of Sukhoi, Mikoyan and Myasishchev

          moreover, the Moscow Region did not allocate money for them, and the same Mikoyanovites had to make MiG-AT in collaboration with the French.
    2. 0
      25 February 2020 17: 07
      Quote: Vladimir_2U
      Got italy for free

      Well, you can argue about the "freebies".
  4. -6
    25 February 2020 11: 49
    They would have to compare with a dozen of our Yak130 to buy hi .
  5. +4
    25 February 2020 11: 54
    JUST compared TTX:
    Weight is 700 kg lighter. The ceiling is 1 km higher. More maneuverable. Engines checked by years. Modern avionics.
    Yes, the price bites. By the way, the YAK-130 is made entirely of aluminum (without composites), and this is a high "maintainability".
  6. -3
    25 February 2020 11: 57
    Friendship is friendship, and tobacco is apart. Would the Yak really come out more expensive? Or did Aliyev need the Italians to show respect?
  7. -1
    25 February 2020 12: 01
    This is a complete failure.
  8. +6
    25 February 2020 12: 07
    In general, procurement is interesting in itself. They brought them the usual basic type of some kind of revision there.




    That is, they bought virtually the same Yak - which is now. Applicable inBS extremely limited, like eLok. Yes, a little more advanced in theory, you can fasten the Talesov container and make friends with guided bombs. But not the fact that it is purchased.

    They certainly did not buy a charged version of the FA - with a radar, a bunch of guided weapons out of the box, and even anti-ship missiles (once 2 carries), which are now fastening the profile for ground targets. Since - they are very actively promoting it and they really, really, really need a starting customer. If it was FA, then it would be trumpeted everywhere.


    So the question is, why in fact TCB in the Air Force of Azerbaijan, which are 10 years old and self-dissolve? They have Now it’s not a fact that 20 flying combat aircraft will be typed. Rather, about 15. They have 10-12 flight eLok.

    So, most likely, the purchase of new aircraft is being studied, and large-scale (about 30-40).
    1. 0
      25 February 2020 18: 32
      Quote: donavi49
      why in fact TCB in the Air Force of Azerbaijan

      most likely, they will purchase (if the transaction takes place) UBS. Thus, killing two birds with one stone - there is a training aircraft, and, as it were, a light attack aircraft and a semi-fighter.
  9. 0
    25 February 2020 12: 23
    "... signed a preliminary agreement ...". The timing of signing a firm contract for the aircraft has not yet been announced.
    This is just a courtesy gesture during Aliyev's visit. More than one hundred such "protocols of intent" are signed, but at best a few of them reach implementation. , we close the discussion and disperse!
  10. -5
    25 February 2020 12: 25
    Azerbaijan acquires Italian M-346 Master combat training aircraft

    The same Yak-130, only a lot more expensive! fellow
    Well, let them, they have a lot of money from the sale of oil, and they need to lick the EU, they cannot live without bending over and not substituting. lol
    1. +2
      25 February 2020 13: 45
      Do not carry nonsense. am
  11. -5
    25 February 2020 12: 33
    Why not YAK? Was there a tender at all, or was it "on an uncontested" basis? It seems that in aviation, Azerbaijan remains a Russian client.
    1. +2
      25 February 2020 13: 16
      This is Armenia. Azerbaijan still has a Soviet park, bought back in the 90s on the secondary. Actually, after the completion of the contract, M346 will be flying almost more than all living combat aircraft in Azerbaijan combined.
      1. 0
        25 February 2020 14: 21
        This is Armenia. Azerbaijan still has a Soviet park, bought back in the 90s on the secondary. Actually, after the completion of the contract, M346 will be flying almost more than all living combat aircraft in Azerbaijan combined.

        Armenia had nothing at all before deliveries. And the Su-30s are not delivered on such a large scale. There, I think, the supply of modern helicopters would have had a greater influence on the alignment of forces.
  12. DPN
    -4
    25 February 2020 13: 09
    And all this is against yesterday’s relatives. (Republics)
    1. +7
      25 February 2020 13: 30
      As more gifts (oh, on credit) to the Armenians, in the form of SU-30 and listed as a list. For several years, Azerbaijan requested that the Russian Federation sell aircraft for the Azerbaijani Air Force, I note for real money. We received a refusal. Now preparations are underway for the purchase of aircraft from for this purpose, the M-346 Master is bought for this purpose, in order to train pilots according to those standards. These are echoes of the refusal arranged by the Armenian lobbyists in the Russian Federation.
      1. -2
        25 February 2020 14: 17
        As more gifts (oh, on credit) to the Armenians, in the form of SU-30 and listed as a list. For several years, Azerbaijan requested that the Russian Federation sell aircraft for the Azerbaijani Air Force, I note for real money. We received a refusal. Now preparations are underway for the purchase of aircraft from for this purpose, the M-346 Master is bought for this purpose, in order to train pilots according to those standards. These are echoes of the refusal arranged by the Armenian lobbyists in the Russian Federation.

        This is a policy issue. You confuse the Russian Federation and the United States - there are no lobbyists who can influence the course of foreign policy in Russia.

        And the supply of weapons is politics. Honestly, I don’t understand why Baku will not contact Pakistan (read - China) about JF-17 deliveries. Yes, the machine is not the most modern, but enough to upgrade the fleet. For political reasons, the supply of modern aircraft from all manufacturers is de facto closed. So the choice is small. But Pakistan and China do not bother with politics, they sell it to everyone who pays, even the most cannibalistic regimes.
        1. 0
          25 February 2020 20: 08
          "There are no lobbyists capable of influencing the course of foreign policy in Russia." Hidden lobbying that has infiltrated government bodies that put on a cocoon ... draws a line of government policy, which has a stronger influence on foreign policy than the United States, which has more open lobbying, where lobbyists, in competition with other lobbyist groups, influence on politics. Because it seems to you that there is lobbying in the United States. When you say foreign policy, you see a cocoon, and who created, inside ...
          1. -1
            25 February 2020 22: 26
            What kind of beast is this - hidden lobbyism? Can you imagine at what level decisions are made on the supply or ban on the supply of such weapons? And who in our country shapes foreign policy? If you don’t know, then I will answer - this is the president. Do you think that Putin can lobby for something there?
            1. 0
              25 February 2020 22: 38
              Do not believe it, yes. There is a team, and everyone has advisers under the team. Gorbachev ruined the country not because he wanted so badly, but because of the team, which apparently determined the course-policy for the country, but actually worked for that idea, hidden in a cocoon.
              1. 0
                26 February 2020 11: 00
                Quote: Oquzyurd
                Do not believe it, yes. There is a team, and everyone has advisers under the team. Gorbachev ruined the country not because he wanted so badly, but because of the team, which apparently determined the course-policy for the country, but actually worked for that idea, hidden in a cocoon.

                Those. Do you think that someone can convince Putin of something?))
            2. -1
              26 February 2020 02: 10
              I do not know your name, but I read your comments. For many years, Pakistan has been promising Azerbaijan to deliver the JF-17, but this is bad luck, the Chinese are making engines for them. And the supply to Azerbaijan is not included in the nearest Chinese plans. As for the Russian Federation, the refusal to supply combat aircraft to Azerbaijan perfectly illustrates the actual level of partnership between the countries. When your partner is stealthily competing with you in different industries, it is unlikely that he should sell military aircraft.
              1. 0
                26 February 2020 11: 02
                Quote: genisis
                I do not know your name, but I read your comments. For many years, Pakistan has been promising Azerbaijan to deliver the JF-17, but this is bad luck, the Chinese are making engines for them. And the supply to Azerbaijan is not included in the nearest Chinese plans. As for the Russian Federation, the refusal to supply combat aircraft to Azerbaijan perfectly illustrates the actual level of partnership between the countries. When your partner is stealthily competing with you in different industries, it is unlikely that he should sell military aircraft.

                What is the story of China? It seemed to me that the Chinese are ready to sell everything to everyone. If they have such a responsible position in aviation technology, then this is welcome. Although, perhaps this is due to the fact that Russia does not supply, and China does not want to quarrel out of the blue with Russia even because of 2-3 billion. For China, these are trifles.
                1. +1
                  26 February 2020 11: 43
                  Explaining Chinese actions is much simpler. Do not have time to make engines for their needs and the needs of Pakistan. Therefore, the order of Azerbaijan for so many years can not be realized. Although China has significant disagreements with the Turks regarding the Uyghurs. But, again, airplanes cannot be delivered yet due to the lack of capacities for the production of engines in sufficient quantities.
                  1. 0
                    26 February 2020 21: 43
                    Clear.
                    They are engines of aircraft of 4 generations (maximum) can not produce in the required quantity, but they already say that under the Su-57 are bad engines)))
  13. +4
    25 February 2020 14: 00
    Good day to all.
    1. This aircraft is already in service with the Azerbaijani Air Force - 10 units.
    2. In the post-Soviet space, only Russia produces military aircraft; therefore, we can only purchase from you. And since there are obviously problems with Russia, we are forced to buy from other countries.
    3. As a carrier of guided weapons - very suitable.
  14. -2
    25 February 2020 14: 04
    This is clearly a response to the supply of the Su-30 to Armenia. They will probably increase the number of aircraft, for which new UB versions are needed. What are they exploiting now?
  15. -1
    25 February 2020 15: 17
    Quote: kotdavin4i
    Good day to all.
    1. This aircraft is already in service with the Azerbaijani Air Force - 10 units.
    2. In the post-Soviet space, only Russia produces military aircraft; therefore, we can only purchase from you. And since there are obviously problems with Russia, we are forced to buy from other countries.
    3. As a carrier of guided weapons - very suitable.

    That's right, only the background is not the same. Deliver Russia aircraft to Azerbaijan in full; this is a sharp imbalance of forces. Accordingly, in the inevitable conflict, political losses will exceed economic ones. There are no supplies.
    Buying a TCB prelude before buying any new or used platform from Europe or Asia. And which TCB is not so important as the possibility of contacts with the European Union, which Azerbaijan is doing. The normal policy of balancing small states between a rock and a hard place.
  16. The comment was deleted.
  17. 0
    25 February 2020 15: 54
    And what are they cheaper than the Yak-130?
  18. 0
    25 February 2020 17: 16
    Quote: iouris
    This is a complete failure.

    I don’t even remember everything, in what agreements Russia and Azerbaijan are, probably a dozen. Wow, such an ally! And how to buy airplanes, so in Italy. His twin is made in Russia. hi
  19. 0
    25 February 2020 17: 35
    It may also be that ours gained more from this situation: the Italo-French (and the Germans participated) since the 80s were very similar, and I must say excellent UBS "Alpha-Jet". And we have only Czech "Albatrosses" ... Schools of their own full-fledged light UBS-attack aircraft, as such, did not exist. Therefore, most likely the failed contract was destroyed for political reasons (Italy is still an active NATO member with a serious military-industrial complex).
  20. 0
    25 February 2020 18: 24
    The M-346 trainer aircraft was designed by the Russian JSC "Experimental Design Bureau named after A. Yakovlev" together with the Italian company L'Alenia Aermacchi.
    it’s necessary to lie like that! Together with the Italians, the Yak / AEM-130 was designed, in fact, the Italians sponsored the project (but also brought their ideas for the concept of the aircraft, it was from their submission that they made a combat training aircraft).
    But then yes, the ways of the companies diverged - the Yakovlevites completed their TCF, and Aermacchi, based on the Yak-130 glider, created its own aircraft, which received the designation M-346 - an aircraft that is structurally similar in many respects to the Yak-130, but completely made from Western materials, equipped Western engines, systems, avionics and weapons.

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