VLADIMIR KARNOZOV / LONDON
Prototype now due to fly next June, while in-service date is delayed two years to 2007
First flight of the Aermacchi M346 advanced trainer is running a year behind and production two years behind the ambitious schedule set by the manufacturer at programme launch in July 2000.
The Italian company now plans to fly a prototype M346 next June, while production is due to begin in 2007 rather than the initial in-service date of 2005.
Aermacchi unveiled the M346 programme at the Farnborough air show in 2000, following its decision early that year to cease working with Yakovlev on development of the Yak-130. The companies worked on the Yak-130, on which the M346 is based, from 1993-99. The Russian company, which continues to develop the Yak-130, was paid $70 million to supply documentation on the flying demonstrator, which completed 300 flights.
"The M346 is a totally Western state-of-the-art aircraft," says Giorgio Brazelli, Aermacchi managing director and chief executive. The Yak-130 has "a considerable amount of Russian equipment. NATO would never accept a mix of Russian and Western technologies," he adds.
At a 6,700kg (14,760lb) normal take-off weight, the M346 is 1,000kg lighter than the Yak-130D. It has a "much more slender fuselage" with the cross-section reduced by 1m2 (10.8ft2), says Brazelli. It also has improved aerodynamics and a higher thrust-to-weight ratio. The aircraft is powered by two 6,250lb-thrust (28kN) Honeywell F124-100s, produced in co-operation with Fiat Avio.
P01, the first prototype, is to roll out in May, with P02 and P03 to follow in 2004 and 2005, respectively. Fuselage and wing assembly rigs for prototype assembly will also be used for production aircraft. The wing, fuselage frames and tail unit for P01 have been completed, and two more wings are in production. Iron bird and system integration rig tests have also started.
Aermacchi has set a target unit price of $15 million for the unarmed M346. "When you add armament the price goes up to the $25 million bracket, making the aircraft too expensive," Brazelli says. "Other companies might choose to build a light fighter or attack aircraft. We are not going that way." Aermacchi says it will cost €500 million ($494 million) to complete development of the M346 to military certification.
The manufacturer believes there is a market for 2,300 new trainers over the next 30 years.
Source: Flight International
