Alenia Aermacchi M-346 Master
| M-346 Master | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Type | jet trainer and light combat aircraft |
| National origin | Italy |
| Manufacturer | Alenia Aermacchi Leonardo S.p.A. |
| Status | In service |
| Primary users | Italian Air Force |
| Number built | 126 ordered 88 delivered (April 2024) |
| History | |
| Manufactured | 2004–present |
| Introduction date | September 2015 |
| First flight | 15 July 2004 |
| Developed from | Yakovlev Yak-130 |
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The Aermacchi M-346 Master is a family of military twin-engine transonic advanced jet trainers and light combat aircraft. Originally co-developed with Yakovlev as the Yak/AEM-130, the partnership was dissolved in 2000 and then Alenia Aermacchi proceeded to separately develop the M-346 Master, while Yakovlev continued work on the Yakovlev Yak-130. The first flight of the M-346 was performed in 2004. The type is currently operated by the air forces of Italy, Israel, Singapore, Greece, Qatar, Turkmenistan and Poland. Since 2016 the manufacturer became Leonardo-Finmeccanica as Alenia Aermacchi merged into the new Finmeccanica, finally rebranded as Leonardo in 2017.