European military trainer aircraft

European military trainer aircraft

Keywords Dowty, Actuators

Dowty Aerospace Wolverhampton, UK, a TI Croup business, has been selected to design and manufacture the primary flight control actuators for a new advanced military jet trainer, the Aermacchi M-346. On projected aircraft sales this is potentially worth £75 million over the next 30 years, the prototype aircraft flight being scheduled for 2002.

The scope of supply comprises five triplex DDV controlled actuators to control the elevon, tailplane and rudder flight surfaces. Dowty's Wolverhampton business will work with BAE Systems Controls in Santa Monica and Teleavio in Italy to develop the complete flight control system and to provide a fully integrated package to the Italian aircraft manufacturer.

This new aircraft conforms to the requirements specified by the military working group set up for the Eurotrainer programme, endorsed by the European Chiefs of Staff Committee. In addition to the Italian AirForce, future markets centre on the joint reequipment of European military flight training schools,expected by the end of this decade. The aircraft is being specifically tailored to become a trainer for Eurofighter Typhoon pilots.

The M-346 will he a fully Westernised version of an aircraft that Aermacchi plans to develop with Russian partners, itself a derivative of the YAK-130 military trainer being developed to meet Russian Air Force requirements.