PARIS AIR SHOW - Alenia Aermacchi and the Italian Ministry of Defence's Secretariat General of Defence/National Armaments Directorate have signed an agreement to jointly define the operational specifications and collaborate on the development of a new basic-advanced trainer, the M-345 HET (High-Efficiency Trainer). The new model is scheduled to enter service between 2017 and 2020.
The agreement, announced at the Le Bourget Paris Air Show, calls for the immediate creation of a joint working team between the MoD and industry to define the technical specifications of this new variant of the M-345 jet trainer (formerly designated the M-311) and identify the steps necessary for development of the aircraft in light of the requirements of the global trainer market.
The goal, according to Alenia Aermacchi, is to make the M-345 HET a cheaper and more effective trainer of military pilots than current advanced turboprop trainers. The M-345 HET will be equipped with a HUD (head-up display) in the front cockpit and a repeater in the rear cockpit, and multifunction digital displays for both pilot stations and HOTAS (hands-on throttle-and-stick) controls. There will be a high level of commonality between the cockpit of the M-345 HET and the M-346 advanced jet trainer, allowing for the interoperability in joint training missions. The introduction of a pressure refueling system and of an OBOGS (on-board oxygen generating system) will significantly reduce the quantity of personnel required for aircraft ground operations, Alenia Aermacchi says, reducing the interval time between flights and also reducing support costs.
