The first M-346 trainer jet destined to the Frecce Tricolori aerobatic team was spotted at Leonardo’s facilities in Venegono after receiving its livery.
The first M-346 trainer jet destined to the Italian Air Force’s Frecce Tricolori aerobatic team was spotted after being rolled out of factory at Leonardo’s facilities in Venegono. The photos, which first emerged on Oct. 17, show that the aircraft has already received the new livery announced in 2024, although it is still missing the number and the Frecce Tricolori markings on the tail.
The photos were captured by local aviation photographer Jacopo Castelli, who kindly shared them with us.
The M-346 Advanced Jet Trainer (T-346A in accordance with the Italian MOD Mission Design Series) was chosen as the successor of the team’s MB-339s in 2024. The decision was announced during an event celebrating the team’s return from their North America Tour 2024.
On the same occasion, the service also presented the new livery designed by Pininfarina, the renowned Italian design and engineering firm famous for its work in the automotive industry, particularly in the design of luxury and high-performance vehicles. The livery was applied to an aircraft which was then towed in front of the guests attending the ceremony.
A week later, the annual multiyear defense planning document (Documento Programmatico Pluriennale della Difesa), which reviews the military funding for 2024-2026, mentioned the acquisition of 20 additional M-346s by the Italian Air Force. The Frecce Tricolori would get 15 of those aircraft, while the remaining 5 will join the other 18 currently used for training by the 61st Wing and the International Flight Training School (IFTS).
The Frecce Tricolori will thus receive ten aircraft for their main formation, plus the one of the commander and four spares. These aircraft will be in the same configuration of the ones already in service, instead of the newer Block 20 aircraft.
Additionally, the 15 aircraft destined to the Frecce Tricolori will have other customized features, such as the smoke generators. The team uses a liquid composed of vaseline oil to which non-polluting pigments are added, sprayed near the engine’s exhaust to produce the colored smoke.
The M-346s will replace the team’s aging MB-339s, which were adopted in 1982. The initial plan was to equip the Frecce Tricolori with the M-345 High Efficiency Trainer, chosen to replace the ItAF fleet of MB-339s, but the decision has been reverted.
The Frecce Tricolori, MB-339 and M-346
The MB-339 was born as a replacement for the MB-326, previously used to train Italian pilots, and designed with almost all Italian technology, with the exception of the Rolls-Royce Turbo Viper 632 engine. The MB-339 flew for the first time in 1976 and was introduced in service in 1981, immediately demonstrating great capabilities both as advanced trainer and as ground attack aircraft.
The MB-339 became even more popular thanks to its adoption by the Frecce Tricolori National Aerobatic Team in 1982. The aircraft also had good commercial success outside of Italy, and has been in service in Argentina, Peru, Malaysia, New Zealand, Nigeria, United Arab Emirates, Eritrea and Ghana. Some MB-339s from New Zealand now found a second life with Draken International, which uses them to support training of allied air forces.
The M-346 was introduced in the Italian Air Force in 2015 and, since then, it prompted a revolution in the training, as it not only brought an aircraft, but an entire integrated system associated with simulators and multiple training aids. The performance of the aircraft, which are very similar to 4th and 5th gen aircraft, make the transition from the trainer to the Operational Conversion Unit extremely smooth, allowing also to offload training activities from the OCU to the Phase IV.
Thanks to its performance and capabilities, the T-346 is considered on the same level of the F-16 Fighting Falcon. Because of this, the M-346 has also been used as Aggressor aircraft during air combat training missions with great results since 2015. For an instance, during the Tactical Leadership Programme at Amendola Air Base in 2018, a T-346 was able to reportedly outmaneuver and “shoot down” with ease an F-15C during BFMs.
The aircraft’s performance have been further expanded recently, with the increase of the maximum allowed angle of attack from 25° to 30° and the increase of the G limit when the aircraft is equipped with a centerline external fuel tank from 5 G to 6 G. The different performance, compared to the MB-339, will require the Frecce Tricolori to adapt their flight display to the new aircraft.
The Italian Air Force currently operates 18 M-346s, which fly out of Decimomannu Air Base together with four Leonardo-owned aircraft as part of the shared fleet of the 61° Stormo and International Flight Training School. The Frecce Tricolori currently operate 11 aircraft, Pony 0 to Pony 10, plus a number of spares.
Thanks again to Jacopo Castelli for the photos he sent us, you can find more of his work on Instagram at @spotter_jaki.
