POLAND PLANS TO BUY ADDITIONAL M-346 TRAINER JETS

More aircraft are needed to provide adequate training for students and instructors.

Poland intends to buy additional M-346 trainer jets.

Poland intends to order four more M-346 advanced trainer jets for delivery by 2020, with an option for a further four in 2021-22. The news appeared on some web media in January and it was recently confirmed also by the previous commander of the Polish 41st Training Air Base during an interview.

The Ex-Commander praises the decision of the National Defense Ministry to purchase additional M-346 trainers. - Two additional batches are indispensable to provide adequate training for our cadets. I think this is the minimum equipment required to properly train the future fighter pilots - General Rajchel said.

According to him the planes must guarantee an adequate number of flight hours for the students, but also for the training of a dozen instructors. - 16-18 planes are needed, 8 aircraft can not guarantee regular training for a group composed of 10-15 candidates - he said.

In February 2014, Poland signed a deal worth US$ 342M to acquire eight M-346s to replace the currently TS-11 Iskra. The contract also includes logistic support; a training programme for pilots and engineers; a state-of-the-art ground-based training system with dedicated classrooms and educational materials, including a Full Mission Simulator, a highly complex device able to replicate any possible operational scenario and also to be networked with real aircraft flying training missions.

The deliveries of the 8 aircraft started in November 2016 and were completed in December 2017.

➤ You may also like POLAND STARTS PILOT TRAINING ON M-346 BIELIK

Written by Matteo Sanzani

Images: Polish AF