Aircraft & UAVs

Aermacchi MB-339

The Aermacchi MB-339 is an Italian advanced jet trainer and light attack aircraft developed by Aermacchi as a successor to the MB-326. Built entirely in Italy, it also served as the MB.339 PAN display aircraft for the Frecce Tricolori and saw combat use with Argentine Naval Aviation in the Falklands War and the Eritrean Air Force during the Eritrean-Ethiopian War.

Specifications

Crew
1-2 pilots
Powerplant
1 Rolls-Royce Viper Mk.632 turbojet, 17.8 kN
Maximum speed
900 km/h
Range
1,700 km
Length
10.97 m
Wingspan
10.85 m
Armament
Up to 2,040 kg of external stores, including AIM-9L Sidewinders, gun pods, cannon pods, bombs, rockets, and auxiliary tanks

Service And Conflict Use

Service History

In service
Entered Italian Air Force service in 1979; the MB.339 PAN joined the Frecce Tricolori in 1982 and export operators included Argentina, Eritrea, and the United Arab Emirates.
Used by
Italian Air Force, Argentine Naval Aviation, Eritrean Air Force, United Arab Emirates Air Force
Wars
Falklands War

Conflict Usage

Role
Light attack aircraft

Argentine Naval Aviation used the MB-339A as a light attack aircraft during the 1982 Falklands War.

Timeline

Aermacchi MB-339 Key Events

  1. First flight

    The MB-339 prototype flew for the first time on 12 August 1976.

    Sources: Aermacchi MB-339 - Wikipedia

  2. MB.339 PAN joins the Frecce Tricolori

    The MB.339 PAN replaced the Fiat G.91R in service with the Frecce Tricolori aerobatic team.

    Sources: MB.339 PAN adopted by Frecce Tricolori

  3. Falklands War attack sortie

    Lieutenant Owen Crippa used an MB-339A on a reconnaissance and attack sortie against the Royal Navy amphibious force.

    Sources: Aermacchi MB-339 - Wikipedia (Falklands use)

  4. Eritrean combat use

    Eritrean MB-339FDs and MB-339CEs were employed during the opening fighting of the Eritrean-Ethiopian War.

    Sources: Aermacchi MB-339 - Wikipedia (Eritrean use)

Aermacchi MB-339 Images

Related Weapon Systems

AIDC AT-3/T-5 Brave Eagle, Advanced jet trainer and light attack aircraft family, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsAIDC AT-3/T-5 Brave EagleAdvanced jet trainer and light attack aircraft familyThe AIDC AT-3/T-5 family covers Taiwan's indigenous two-seat jet trainer line, starting with the AT-3 Tzu Chung, which first flew in 1980 and entered service in 1985, and continuing with the T-5 Brave Eagle, a next-generation advanced jet trainer delivered to the ROCAF from 2021. AIDC and ROCAF sources describe the family as a pilot-training platform that also supported Thunder Tigers aerobatics, with the T-5 replacing the older AT-3 and F-5 trainer fleet.

Sources