Leonardo: with the DAAA certification, the M-345 training aircraft is ready for the world market

Leonardo is pleased to announce that the Air Force and Airworthiness Department (DAAA), certification body of the Italian Ministry of Defense, has issued the 'Initial Certification' for the training aircraft M-345. The certification represents the goal of an intense activity that has foreseen about 200 flights and the fundamental support of the Flight Experimental Department, of the 61 ° Stormo and 10th Aircraft Maintenance Department of the Italian Air Force.

Lucio Valerio Cioffi, Leonardo's Head of Aircraft Division, commented: “The recognition of the initial certification of the M-345 confirms the characteristics and capabilities of this aircraft, unique in its performance, acquisition and management costs, projecting this aircraft to the full title on the international market. The result achieved, Cioffi underlines, is the result of a strong synergy between industry, DAAA and the Armed Force with a view to the Country System which fits fully in the wake of excellence in training recognized internationally by the Italian Armed Forces ".

The certification of the M-345 is the first application for a fixed wing aircraft of the new standard of the DAAA AER (EP) .P-21, drawn up in accordance with the European EMAR-21 (European Military Airworthiness Requirements) standard - stringent requirement international certification that will also favor the export of the aircraft.

The M-345, thanks to its advanced avionics and the training system integrated with innovative simulators also connected with airplanes in flight, will allow the Air Force to significantly improve its training effectiveness and increase efficiency with a reduction in operating costs. The new planes, designed to meet the basic and basic advanced training requirements, will complement the M-346 used for the advanced phase of pilot training and, as part of the International Flight Training School project, will support the consolidation of the growth and internationalization of the training offer launched by Leonardo in partnership with the Air Force.

The integrated training system based on the ground and flight segment of the M-345 confirms Leonardo's worldwide technological leadership in the training of pilots destined for current and future generation aircraft, benefiting from the experience and technology already developed for M-346, including the "Live Virtual Constructive" capability, that is the possibility of integrating the aircraft in flight with simulated "friends" or "enemies" elements, allowing to "expose" the future pilot to the complexity of any possible operational scenario.

Leonardo: with the DAAA certification, the M-345 training aircraft is ready for the world market