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What Is the M-346 Master? Specs, Operators and the Light-Attack Variant

The M-346 Master is Leonardo’s twin-engine advanced jet trainer — one of the most successful lead-in fighter trainers in its class, preparing pilots to transition to modern combat jets. In its M-346FA variant, it also takes on light-attack duties.

Product Identity

Manufacturer	Leonardo (Aermacchi)
Type	Advanced jet trainer / light attack
Origin	Italy
First flight	2004
In service	2011 (Italy, as T-346A)
Variants	M-346 (trainer), M-346FA (attack), M-346FT
Production	Active

What the M-346 Is

The M-346 fills a critical gap in training pilots for fifth-generation fighters. It sits in the high-performance training class that can realistically simulate the flight hours that would otherwise be spent on expensive combat jets like the F-35, Typhoon or Rafale — at far lower cost. With a fly-by-wire control system and an advanced avionics cockpit, it embeds virtual radar, weapons and threat environments to prepare pilots for real combat.

Development Story

The aircraft’s roots lie in the 1990s Yak/AEM-130 trainer project jointly run by Italy’s Aermacchi and Russia’s Yakovlev. When the partnership ended, Aermacchi developed its own design independently, producing the M-346, which first flew in 2004 and entered Italian service as the T-346A. Leonardo later bundled the jet with an integrated training ecosystem — ground-based simulators and mission planning — turning it into an “aircraft plus training system” package.

Technical Specifications

Feature	Value
Length	~11.5 m
Wingspan	~9.7 m
Max take-off weight	~9,500 kg
Engines	2 × Honeywell F124 turbofan
Max speed	~Mach 0.95 (~1,060 km/h)
Service ceiling	~13,700 m
Crew	2 (tandem)
Controls	Digital fly-by-wire

Mission Profiles and the M-346FA

While the core role is advanced jet training, the M-346FA (Fighter Attack) variant adds radar, sensors and weapon stations for light attack, border patrol and air-defence missions. This dual capability lets budget-constrained air forces meet both training and light-combat needs with a single platform.

Leonardo’s Role

The M-346 is a platform Leonardo designs and builds outright as prime contractor; the programme’s intellectual property and systems integration belong entirely to Leonardo. The company also runs an International Flight Training School (IFTS) in Italy, extending the M-346 beyond aircraft sales into a “training-as-a-service” business model.

Operators

Country	Status
Italy	Lead operator (T-346A)
Israel	Active (“Lavi”)
Singapore	Active
Poland	Active
Greece	Active
Qatar	Active
Turkmenistan, Nigeria	Active / M-346FA

Competing Systems

System	Maker	Country	Difference
HÜRJET	Turkish Aerospace	Turkey	Single-engine new-generation rival
T-7A Red Hawk	Boeing/Saab	USA/Sweden	US military standard, newer
FA-50	KAI	South Korea	Combat-weighted, aggressive on export
Yak-130	Yakovlev	Russia	Same origin, eastern market

Turkey Relationship

Turkey does not operate the M-346; instead, Turkish Aerospace’s indigenous HÜRJET is positioned as a direct competitor. Per open sources, the HÜRJET aims both to meet the Turkish Air Force’s training needs and to compete on the export market against platforms like the M-346. The two aircraft are therefore seen as rivals likely to meet head-to-head, particularly in Gulf and Asian markets.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths: a mature, proven design; a broad user base; an integrated training-system package; and dual capability via the M-346FA. Weaknesses: newer-generation rivals like the T-7A and HÜRJET entering the market; the attack variant’s limited capacity versus heavy fighters; and intensifying export competition.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which country makes the M-346?

It is an advanced jet trainer designed and built by Italy’s Leonardo (Aermacchi).

Is the M-346 a fighter?

It is primarily a trainer, but the M-346FA variant adds radar and weapons for light-attack and air-defence missions.

What is the difference between the M-346 and HÜRJET?

The M-346 is a twin-engine, mature platform, while the HÜRJET is a single-engine new-generation Turkish design; both compete in the same advanced-trainer market.