Italian Air Force accepts Leonardo’s M-345 as basic trainer jet

ROME — The Italian Air Force has formally entered into service a new basic jet trainer, the Leonardo M-345, which will operate alongside the firm’s better known M-346 advanced trainer.

The M-345 entered service on Thursday at a ceremony at the Air Force’s 61st Wing at Galatina air base in southern Italy, where it will replace the long serving MB-339.

The Air Force said 18 aircraft have been ordered to date, with seven delivered and four involved in operational test and evaluation activities which wrapped up in March.

Four instructors are now trained, the Air Force said.

The jet encompasses phases 2 and 3 of flight training before pilots shift to flying the M-346 in phase 4.

“With the M-345 now integrated into the armed force’s training syllabus which already features the M-346 for the more advanced phases of training, the Italian Air Force will boast the most modern fixed-wing military training system in Europe,” said Stefano Bortoli, Leonardo Aeronautics Division Managing Director.

Powered by a Williams FJ44-4M-34 turbofan engine, the M-345 can reach a speed of 787 kilometers per hour at 20,000 feet.

Leonardo claims the jet offers a superior performance to a high end turbo-prop at the same operating cost.

The aircraft features three color touch-screen Multi-Function Displays (MFDs) and a Head-Up Display (HUD).

Leonardo also claims the aircraft is “capable of light operational roles”, with a payload capacity of over 1,000 kg across four underwing pylons and compatible with infrared-guided air-to-air missiles, 500 pound bombs, rocket pods and cannons.

That suggests Leonardo will market the aircraft for fighter duties as well as trainer tasks, just as it has successfully sold a light fighter version of the M-346.

The arrival in service of the M-345 has been a long time coming. Italy completed its order for 18 aircraft in 2019.

The type was original due to replace the MB339 as the aircraft used by the Italian Air Force’s acrobatic flying team, but that job has now been given to the M-346.

Tom Kington is the Italy correspondent for Defense News.

罗马——意大利空军正式启用了一款新型初级喷气教练机莱昂纳多M-345，该机将与该公司更为人熟知的M-346高级教练机一同服役。

M-345 于周四在意大利南部加拉蒂纳空军基地的空军第 61 联队举行仪式正式服役，它将取代服役多年的 MB-339。

空军表示，迄今为止已订购了 18 架飞机，其中 7 架已交付，4 架参与了作战测试和评估活动，这些活动已于 3 月结束。

空军方面表示，目前已有四名教官接受了培训。

该喷气式飞机涵盖了飞行训练的第 2 和第 3 阶段，之后飞行员将在第 4 阶段转而驾驶 M-346。

“随着 M-345 被纳入意大利空军的训练课程（该课程已包含用于更高级训练阶段的 M-346），意大利空军将拥有欧洲最先进的固定翼军事训练系统，”莱昂纳多航空事业部总经理斯特凡诺·博托利表示。

M-345 由一台威廉姆斯 FJ44-4M-34 涡扇发动机提供动力，在 20,000 英尺的高度上可以达到每小时 787 公里的速度。

莱昂纳多公司声称，该喷气式飞机在相同的运营成本下，性能优于高端涡轮螺旋桨飞机。

该飞机配备三个彩色触摸屏多功能显示器（MFD）和一个抬头显示器（HUD）。

莱昂纳多公司还声称该飞机“能够执行轻型作战任务”，其有效载荷能力超过 1000 公斤，可通过四个翼下挂架挂载，并兼容红外制导空空导弹、500 磅炸弹、火箭发射器和机炮。

这表明莱昂纳多公司将把这款飞机推向战斗机和教练机市场，就像该公司成功售出M-346轻型战斗机版本一样。

M-345的服役可谓姗姗来迟。意大利于2019年完成了18架飞机的订单。

该机型最初是为了取代 MB339 成为意大利空军特技飞行队使用的飞机，但现在这项任务已经交给了 M-346。

汤姆·金顿是《防务新闻》驻意大利记者。