Aircraft & UAVs

M-346

The Leonardo M-346 is an Italian twin-engine advanced jet trainer and lead-in fighter trainer developed for modern military pilot instruction, with a combat-capable M-346FA derivative. It is already in service with several air forces and has been selected or procured by additional operators for advanced training and light attack roles.

Various ConflictsUnspecified

M-346, Advanced jet trainer / lead-in fighter trainer, Aircraft & UAVs

Image source: Aermacchi M-346.JPG

Profile

Origin: Italy
Built by: Leonardo
Type: Advanced jet trainer / lead-in fighter trainer
Service note: 2000s-present
Designed: 1990s-2000s
Produced: 2010-present
Variants: M-346 AJT, M-346FA

trainerlight attackfighter trainerNATO

Specifications

Crew: 2
Engines: Two Honeywell F124-GA-200 turbofan engines
Max speed: About Mach 1.15
Service ceiling: About 45,000 ft
External stores: Seven hardpoints with about 3,000 kg total payload capacity

Service And Conflict Use

Service History

In service: Entered service in the 2010s; Nigeria has publicly pursued acquisition of the M-346 as a fighter ground-attack platform.
Used by: Italian Air Force, Singapore Air Force, Israeli Air Force, Polish Air Force, Qatar Emiri Air Force, Hellenic Air Force

Conflict Usage

Side: Unspecified

Modern conflict relevance comes from the M-346's ongoing procurement and fielding by air forces, including Nigeria's planned acquisition of 24 aircraft, but the available sources here do not establish a specific named combat deployment.

M-346 Images

M-346, Advanced jet trainer / lead-in fighter trainer, Aircraft & UAVs - view 1 — Source: Aermacchi M-346.JPG

M-346, Advanced jet trainer / lead-in fighter trainer, Aircraft & UAVs - view 2 — Source: Leonardo, M-346FA (35640670416).jpg

M-346, Advanced jet trainer / lead-in fighter trainer, Aircraft & UAVs - view 3 — Source: Alenia Aermacchi M346 Master (7976005309).jpg

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Related News

Sources

Leonardo M-346Publisher: Leonardo | Note: Supports manufacturer background and the M-346's role as an advanced military pilot training aircraft. | Accessed: 2026-06-23 Leonardo M-346FAPublisher: Leonardo | Note: Supports the light-combat derivative and its close-air-support and tactical reconnaissance mission set. | Accessed: 2026-06-23 NAF M-346 procurement in ItalyPublisher: Nigerian Air Force | Note: Supports Nigeria's procurement and fielding context for M-346 aircraft. | Accessed: 2026-06-23 Nigeria expands fleet with Italian jets and helicoptersPublisher: Reuters | Note: Supports the broader Nigerian fleet expansion context in which M-346 procurement appears. | Accessed: 2026-06-23 Nigeria adds combat aircraft to fleetPublisher: Africa Defense Forum | Note: Supports the Nigerian Air Force's announced operational use of M-346 aircraft for training, close air support, air interdiction, and tactical reconnaissance, which is modern conflict relevance without a verified named conflict assignment in the sources gathered here. | Accessed: 2026-06-23 Aermacchi M-346.JPGPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Publicly hosted image of an M-346 aircraft for page media use. | Accessed: 2026-06-23 Leonardo, M-346FA (35640670416).jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Publicly hosted image of the M-346FA variant for page media use. | Accessed: 2026-06-23 Alenia Aermacchi M346 Master (7976005309).jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Publicly hosted image of the M-346 Master for page media use. | Accessed: 2026-06-23