Leonardo promotes M-346 advanced trainer jet in Brazil

Leonardo promotes M-346 advanced trainer jet in Brazil.

April 2, 2019 - Italian aerospace company Leonardo is currently participating in LAAD 2019, the leading Latin American defense and security event, which opened today in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Leonardo has a significant presence in Brazil, with more than 200 helicopters in service in the country. Furthermore, the company has established one of its largest logistics support centers in the world there, providing technical assistance, spare parts, maintenance, and repairs to customers throughout South America.

On the systems side, Brazil has over 150 Leonardo radars installed on its combat platforms, including the AMX, F-5, KC-390, P95, and Super Lynx Mk21B. Leonardo also supplies approximately 60% of the avionics for the Brazilian Air Force's new Gripen E fighters, including the Raven radar, Skyward-G Infra-Red Search and Track (IRST) passive targeting system, and new Mode-5-capable Identification Friend/Foe systems. Together, these electronic components provide the aircraft with a superior ISTAR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Intelligence Surveillance) system for intelligence gathering, combined with advanced target detection, acquisition, and tracking capabilities. Leonardo has also supplied Brazil with military air traffic control radars.

The company is also working on a contract to extend logistics support for AMX aircraft and to supply modernized Super Lynx Mk21B helicopters to the Navy.

Following the success of the AMX program, Leonardo is evaluating the opportunity to equip the Força Aérea Brasileira (Brazilian Air Force) with its modern M-346 combat and training aircraft, which also incorporates latest-generation ground-based training systems.

The M-346 boasts all the best features needed to replace the AMX: it can be an excellent trainer, but also a fighter capable of performing light attack and reconnaissance missions. Its capabilities are now well-established, as demonstrated by the achievements of its current users, including the Italian Air Force, the Israeli Air Force, the Polish Air Force, and the Republic of Singapore Air Force. The M-346 can also integrate the Reccelite pod, the system that made the AMX an excellent reconnaissance aircraft.

The Brazilian Air Force currently has 56 AMXs, with retirement scheduled for 2032.

👉 You may also like: Leonardo offers M-346FA to Malaysia

Written by Matteo Sanzani
Source: Leonardo
Image: Italian Air Force