Polish Air Force prepares to take delivery of M-346 trainer

November will see the Polish Air Force take delivery of the first of eight M-346 Master lead-in fighter trainer aircraft from Leonardo-Finmeccanica, marking what is set to be one of the early landmarks in a run of new military flight training investment within Central and Eastern Europe. Electromagnetic testing has taken place within an anechoic chamber and a phase of experimental and certification flights is beginning. A second Polish M-346 is scheduled to fly by the end of September to test the jet’s braking parachute among other capabilities.

The M-346 has already been adopted in Israel and Italy, and feedback from these nations is proving valuable. In this feature article, Defence IQ explores these recent experiences and why this development in Poland is ushering in a new wave of regional investment into the flight training market.

Colonel Wojciech Pikula, Commander of the 4th Flying Training Wing, will be providing the first post-adoption briefing at the Military Flight Training Eastern Europe forum (06-08 December, Bulgaria) to communicate feedback to the international community on the full experience...

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