T-345A trainer jet completes Initial Certification

Directorate for Air Armaments and Airworthiness issues Military Type Certificate for T-345A aircraft.

T345 Initial Certification test
Leonardo M-345 trainer jet. It is designated T-345A by the Italian Air Force.

On 18 September 2020, the DAAA (Directorate for Air Armaments and Airworthiness), the Italian Ministry of Defence’s Certification Authority, issued the Military Type Certificate for the T-345A trainer aircraft. It allows the Italian manufacturer Leonardo to complete the Initial Certification (IC) phase and start the final tests in order to deliver the first aircraft to the Armed Force.

The Initial Certification of the T-345A marks the first case of enforcement of the new AER (EP) P-21 rule for a fixed-wing aircraft. This rule adopts the European EMAR-21 - (European Military Airworthiness Requirements) – a stringent international certification requirement that will also be beneficial to the export of the aircraft.

This important achievement is the result of five years of hard work by Leonardo and the Italian Defense Ministry, together with the support of the Reparto Sperimentale Volo (RSV) of the Italian Air Force.

The T-345A is developed and manufactured by Leonardo for the Italian Air Force, as a variant of the M345 HET (High Efficiency Trainer) project. It has been designed to meet basic and basic-advanced training requirements and complement the T-346A advanced jet trainer. Furthermore, the T-345A can potentially become part of the International Flight Training School (IFTS) project.

The T-345A, thanks to its advanced avionics and integrated training system, will allow the Italian Air Force to achieve a significant improvement in training effectiveness and greater fleet efficiency. The reduction in operating costs will be determined by the high fatigue life of the parts and the low level of maintenance required.

The collaboration between the DAAA and Leonardo Aircraft Division represents an excellent example of effective and synergistic work between Defense and Industry.

The DAAA acquires the Aerospace Defense Systems for the Armed Forces and the State Corps, and provides services to foreign Military Authorities, in the context of international cooperation and NATO. Furthermore, it acquires and manages aviation fuels, lubricants and related distribution and storage networks for Defense. The DAAA also guarantees the airworthiness and operational performance of the Aerospace Systems (from entry into service to decommissioning) and issues the Aeronautical Regulations.

Written by Matteo Sanzani
Source: Italian Ministry of Defense
Image: Leonardo

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