Aermacchi Recognised with Frost & Sullivan Product Innovation Award for M-346.

LONDON -- For setting new standards in the world military pilot training aircraft markets with its M-346 Advanced/ Lead-In Fighter Trainer, Aermacchi is selected to receive the 2004 Frost & Sullivan Product Innovation Award.

Aermacchi estimates that it will account for nearly 600 of the projected 1,650 advanced/ lead-in fighter trainer aircrafts sold over the next 25 years. "The company's innovative technology and product development strategies should enable the fulfilment of this ambitious target," notes Mr. Shai Shammai, Aerospace & Defence Consulting Manager with Frost & Sullivan. "Already, by achieving a unique balance between superior training qualities and control of the acquisition and in-service costs, Aermacchi's M-346 enjoys a significant competitive advantage."

The pioneering M-346 introduces cutting-edge technologies to the military training market. For instance, the M-346's superior aerodynamic design combined with a quadruplex re-configurable digital fly-by-wire (FBW) flight control system enhances manoeuvring performance and flying qualities, including flying at high angle of attack (over 40 degrees) under full control. It also ensures safe, trouble-free handling throughout the entire M-346 flight envelope. The M-346 also has a complete digital avionics suite with both cockpits having a head-up display (HUD), three multifunction displays (MFDs) and hands on throttle and stick (HOTAS).

Powered by two Honeywell F124 non-afterburning turbofan engines, the new Aermacchi trainer features the highest thrust-to-weight ratio of its category. This, coupled with the advanced aerodynamic design, gives the M-346 exceptional performance levels. It also facilitates endurance in the training area owing to moderate fuel consumption when compared to supersonic alternatives with afterburning engines. From a safety perspective, the twin-engine solution offers reduced attrition rates compared to single-engine types.

"Over the years, Aermacchi has made it a priority to understand its final customers' needs and to align its development with them," remarks Mr. Shammai. "This means constructive dialogue with instructors and operational pilots has always been a key element in the development process."

In keeping with its emphasis on continuous innovation, the company applied the 'integrated product team' (IPT) concept to M-346 development. Here, all the resources required for the design, industrialisation, manufacture and testing of prototypes and those for technical, operational and contract management are concentrated within a seamless programme organisation structure. This novel solution has been implemented for the first time in the Italian aerospace sector.

The M-346's performance and flying qualities together with a cockpit interface providing a mission management suite and human machine interface (HMI) of the latest type make it truly representative of the next generation combat aircraft. It optimises the teaching effectiveness of the platform and allows the download of flight hours from the very expensive operational conversion units (OCU). Therefore, the M-346 offers significant savings to customers in the overall training syllabus cost needed to bring the student pilot up to the required skill level.

About Aermacchi

Aermacchi, a Finmeccanica company, is the Italian leader in the design and manufacturing of military trainer aircraft. Its comprehensive product range covers all the phases of the training syllabus and includes:

--SF-260, screener/primary trainer piston or turboprop engine

--M-311, basic turbofan trainer

--MB-339CD, advanced and LIFT trainer

--M-346, next generation advanced and LIFT trainer

Aermacchi has also a growing presence in international military and civil programmes, thanks to its own technological and manufacturing know-how and the fruitful collaboration with its parent company, Alenia Aeronautica.

The major military programmes where Aermacchi is involved are the Eurofighter, C27J, Tornado and AMX. As regards civil aviation, Aermacchi designs and manufactures structural parts and engine nacelle components for several foremost programmes such as the Airbus A380, A330, A320 family, the Embraer 170 and the Falcon 7X.

For further information, please contact Diego Donati, Aermacchi Press Office, Tel.: [phone], Mail: [e-mail].

About Frost & Sullivan

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