**Overview of Allegations Against Leonardo’s M-346 Jet Trainer**
Italy’s Leonardo is defending the European origins of its M-346 jet trainer following claims made by British media that the aircraft is based on a Russian design. These allegations emerged as British tabloids reported that the M-346 was being considered as a replacement for the aging BAE Hawk T1 jets currently flown by the UK’s Red Arrows display team.
**Background on Joint Development with Yakovlev**
Leonardo previously collaborated with the Russian firm Yakovlev from 1993 to 2000 to design a jet trainer. However, the partnership was dissolved when both companies opted to develop their individual trainers. This historical collaboration did not prevent claims from the UK Sun newspaper, which stated the M-346 had “Russian designed” origins in an article published on a Monday, titled “Air Farce.” Defense spokesman James Cartlidge, representing the UK Conservative opposition, was quoted expressing concern that the Red Arrows’ displays should reflect British excellence.
**Political Reactions in the UK**
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was questioned regarding safeguards against Russian involvement in the Red Arrows’ aircraft development. He assured, “I can give you that guarantee – it’s very, very important that we don’t have Russian influence in Red Arrows or anything else for that matter.” Additionally, a spokesman confirmed that there were currently no plans to procure replacements for the Hawks.
**Leonardo’s Response**
In response to the allegations, Leonardo asserted that the M-346 was developed and produced in Europe in accordance with NATO’s most stringent standards. They highlighted that pilots across Europe, including those from the UK, have completed training on the M-346 in Italy. The company noted its predecessor, Aermacchi, conducted around 300 flights while prototyping a jet trainer with Yakovlev.
**Historical Context of the Collaboration**
The collaborative project ended in 2000 due to Yakovlev’s refusal to utilize a U.S. Honeywell engine. Paolo Mezzanotte, who worked with Aermacchi during that time, reflected on the split, indicating that there was a total disagreement regarding engine specifications. Post-separation, Italy proceeded to develop the M-346, while Yakovlev created the Yak-130.
**Clarification on Aircraft Design Similarities**
Mezzanotte acknowledged some superficial similarities between the two aircraft but emphasized that the core technologies differed significantly. He stated, “The manufacturing technology, the general systems, the mission systems, the propulsion, and the flight control system on the M-346 is totally different.” It was noted that, despite acquiring Yakovlev’s documentation, Italy opted for a complete redesign of the aircraft.
He concluded by mentioning that Yakovlev’s engineering capabilities were notable but that their manufacturing processes were less advanced compared to Italy’s standards at the time.
**Author Information**
This report was compiled by Tom Kington, the Italy correspondent for Defense News.
