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Alenia eyes 'son of Yak' for USAF light attack fighter
Flight Global ^ | August 7, 2009 | Stephen Trimble

Posted on 08/09/2009 10:09:47 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki

Alenia eyes 'son of Yak' for USAF light attack fighter

For calling the M-346 jet trainer the 'son of Yak', neither Alenia nor Aermacchi may ever forgive me. But, in my defense, the M-346 is a westernized and updated version of the Yak-130 originally produced by the Yakovlev/Aermacchi joint venture in the early 1990s.

Now, this descendant of Soviet aeronautical skills could become Alenia's bid for the US Air Force's potential order for 100 light attack fighter-trainers.

The US-based subsidiary of Finmeccanica has confirmed to Flightglobal that the M-346 is being considered for the company's response to the USAF's request for information, which was issued last week. The M-346 is also Alenia's probable candidate for the USAF's T-38 replacement contract, called T-X.

Alenia North America also is considering offering the all-Italian (versus half-Soviet) MB-339 trainer. Interestingly, the USAF previously rejected the MB-339 for its primary trainer in favor of the Hawker Beechcraft (nee Raytheon) T-6A Texan II.

Both the M-346 and the MB-339 are the first jet-powered options to be publicly proposed for the potential light attack order.

The competition is dominated by turboprop-powered aircraft, ranging from high-end the (ie AT-6, Embraer Super Tucano) to low-end (ie Air Tractor AT-802U) to nostalgic revivals (OV-10, PA-48). The USAF also is considering several unknown clean-sheet designs.


TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; Russia
KEYWORDS: aerospace; alenia; m346; usaf; yak130

1 posted on 08/09/2009 10:09:48 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
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To: sukhoi-30mki
The Yak-130 combat trainer was selected as the winner of the trainer competition of the Russian Federation Air Force, in April 2002.
2 posted on 08/09/2009 10:15:17 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
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To: sukhoi-30mki

Can we change the design enough to make it look American?

=o)

Better than a prop plane I guess


3 posted on 08/09/2009 10:29:21 AM PDT by GeronL (Guilty of the crime of deviationism.http://tyrannysentinel.blogspot.com)
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To: sukhoi-30mki
or maybe we can go with the other YAK, the 141 LOL...


Apparently it was a deathtrap though and ha zero legs after a VTOL take off

4 posted on 08/09/2009 10:32:36 AM PDT by GeronL (Guilty of the crime of deviationism.http://tyrannysentinel.blogspot.com)
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To: sukhoi-30mki
Looks like a nice robust Russian design.

We could do worse...

5 posted on 08/09/2009 10:39:04 AM PDT by null and void (We are now in day 200 of our national holiday from reality. - 0bama really isn't one of US.)
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To: null and void

It is said that you can tell how well an airplane flies by how nice it looks. I doubt that’s true, but if it is, the M346 should be a nice flying airplane.


6 posted on 08/09/2009 10:46:50 AM PDT by GBA
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To: GBA
It is said that you can tell how well an airplane flies by how nice it looks.

How does one then explain aircraft such as the P-48 Thunderbolt and F-4 Phantom II?

7 posted on 08/09/2009 2:32:47 PM PDT by jimtorr
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To: jimtorr

I’m sure a few folks will look at me even more strangely than before...but I’ve always liked the F-4’s look. It’s not sleek, but it oozes power.

Of course, I think the A-10 Warthog is a beautiful sight, so y’know, maybe it’s just me.


8 posted on 08/09/2009 3:04:43 PM PDT by DemforBush (Somebody wake me when sanity has returned to the nation.)
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To: jimtorr

There are exceptions, but personally, I think both the P-47 and the F-4E looked good from what I’ve heard were good flying airplanes. But what do I know...I think the A-10 is beautiful.


9 posted on 08/09/2009 3:06:59 PM PDT by GBA
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To: DemforBush

You clearly have good taste and a discerning eye for airplanes.


10 posted on 08/09/2009 3:11:41 PM PDT by GBA
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To: sukhoi-30mki
Yak, are we sure we want a yak?

11 posted on 08/09/2009 4:06:51 PM PDT by Islander7 (If you want to anger conservatives, lie to them. If you want to anger liberals, tell them the truth.)
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To: jimtorr

POWER!!!


12 posted on 08/10/2009 12:02:23 AM PDT by Atchafalaya (f)
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