At the Paris Air Show in Le Bourget, Leonardo presents for the first time the new fighter jet version of the M-346, an evolution of the basic concept of this aircraft family, designed to meet the most diverse requirements of air forces in the shortest possible time.
The M-346 fighter jet will be equipped with its own version of the Grifo multi-mode fire control radar developed and manufactured by Leonardo.
The new version of the M-346 complements the two existing M-346 aircraft versions: the Advanced Jet Trainer and the versatile M-346FT (Fighter Trainer). Leonardo has already carried out the studies for radar installation in the M-346FA and for mechanical integration. Its characteristics make the M-346FA not only an excellent modern jet trainer, but also a light combat aircraft that can carry out operational missions at a much lower cost than heavy fighter jets. The air forces of several countries have already expressed their interest in this aircraft.
With its seven external load stations for external payloads, the M-346FA is not only ideally suited as a modern training aircraft – like the rest of the M-346 family – but can also be used very effectively as a tactical multi-role combat aircraft for air-to-ground missions, air-to-air missions and tactical reconnaissance missions. The integration of the globally successful Grifo multi-mode radar gives the M-346FA unprecedented versatility and effectiveness thanks to the availability of numerous special air-to-air and air-to-ground radar modes.
One of the key features of the new M-346FA is the Grifo 346 multi-mode radar with mechanical scanning. The radar antenna is optimized for seamless integration with the aircraft and features IFF dipoles for friend or foe detection. The Grifo 346 radar can track up to 10 targets simultaneously in TWS (Track-While-Scan) mode, has a maximum range of more than 50 NM (92 km) in look-up mode and sub-metric resolution in SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) mode. The radar has seven air-to-air modes, six air combat modes, thirteen air-to-ground modes (including SAR, Inverse SAR, Ground Moving Target Indicator on SAR, Sea Moving Target Track) and three navigation modes.
The aircraft can also be equipped with targeting and reconnaissance pods. The Rafael RecceLite reconnaissance container is already an integral part of the M-346.
In terms of external payload, the M-346FA can carry additional fuel tanks with a capacity of 630 liters each as well as 227 kg Mk-82 bombs (both free-fall bombs and “snake eye” bombs with fall delay), laser-guided bombs (such as GBU-12 Paveway II, GBU-49 Enhanced Paveway II and Paveway IV, Lizard 2+ and 4), GPS-guided JDAMs (such as GBU-38 and Lizard 4), short-range air-to-ground missiles such as the MBDA Brimstone and sea-launched missiles such as the MBDA Marte ER. In addition, the aircraft can be equipped with infrared-guided air-to-air missiles (such as AIM-9L/X Sidewinder and IRIS-T), missile launchers for unguided rockets and a cannon pod. The M-346FA is designed for an external payload of more than 2,000 kg.
The aircraft is equipped with a Defensive Aids Sub-System (DASS), which includes a radar warning system (RWR) and a chaff/flares launcher system (CFD) as well as a missile warning system with six sensors for 360° coverage. An active jamming container for electronic countermeasures (ECM) and a radar cross-section reduction kit (RCS) are also available as options for interested customers.
For air-to-air missions such as defense, surveillance and air policing, the M-346FA is typically equipped with four AIM-9L/X or Iris-T missiles, two auxiliary fuel tanks and a cannon pod (or ECM pod), giving it a take-off weight (TOW) of 9,700 kg (including 3,015 kg of fuel and a pilot). With this configuration, the aircraft can conduct two hours of aerial surveillance patrols (CAP) at an altitude of 35,000 feet in a target area 100 NM (185 km) away from the base, with a total mission time of 2 hours and 40 minutes.
For air-to-ground missions, the M-346FA is typically equipped with a targeting pod, two missile launchers, two guided bombs and two air-to-air missiles and has a total take-off weight (TOW) of 8,960 kg (including 2,005 kg of fuel and a pilot). This configuration is ideal for air support missions (CAS): For example, the aircraft can be effectively deployed against a target at a distance of 130 NM (240 km) from the main base; the mission profile includes two transfer phases (from the base to the target area and back) at optimum altitude and speed, a 15-minute holding phase (at an altitude of 15.000 feet) at a distance of 15 NM (28 km) from the target, attack and escape phases totaling 30 NM (55 km) at a speed of 420 KCAS and at an altitude of 2,000 feet, and a 5-minute combat phase directly over the target at maximum power.
For reconnaissance tasks, the M-346FA can be equipped with a reconnaissance tank, two additional tanks and two air-to-air missiles. In this configuration, the take-off weight (TOW) is 9,440 kg (including 3,015 kg of fuel and a pilot) and allows a Hi-Lo-Hi mission profile for 2 hours and 25 minutes over a target at a distance of 480 NM (889 km) from the home base.
Equipping the M-346 with an air refueling system can further increase its operating time and range. In addition to the “combat” missions listed above, the M-346FA can also fulfill the training roles already available to M-346 pilots, such as the “attacker” role in air-to-air combat training and the “escort trainer” role to help experienced pilots stay combat ready, practice their mission command skills, and also maintain the “download effect” of the much cheaper flying hour versus mission aircraft.
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