Italy’s new M-346 aerobatic jet takes flight for first time with striking new livery

Sporting the colours of the Italian flag, the first M-346 built for the Italian Air Force’s Frecce Tricolori aerobatic team made its maiden flight on 29 October.

Marking a milestone in the Frecce Tricolori’s transition to a new generation of aircraft, airframe manufacturer Leonardo rolled out the M-346 at its plant in Venengono near Varese on 16 October. Photos of the jet first emerged the following day and show it already carrying the new livery.

However, it still lacks its number and the Frecce Tricolori markings on its tail, according to The Aviationist.

The livery combines the three colours of the national flag with dark blue. It was designed by the Italian firm Pininfarina and first shown to the public in 2024. The Italian Air Force describes it as developing the theme of the “renaissance of the tricolor.”  

A new era for the Frecce Tricolori team

The M-346 will replace the MB-339s flown by the national aerobatic team since 1982. The decision to renew the fleet was announced in September 2024 at Istrana air base as the team returned from a display tour of the US. The twin-engine M-346 was chosen over an earlier plan to opt for the single-engine M-345.

According to the Aviationist, the Air Force plans to acquire 15 M-346s for its aerobatic team. Ten will be assigned to the main formation, one to the commander and four will be spares.  Another five will join the 18 already used for training by the 61^st Wing and the International Flight Training School.

The M-346’s performance differs from that of the MB-339, so the team will need to adapt its display routine. With deliveries expected to begin in 2027, the first full display season on the new jet is currently pencilled in for 2028.

The M-346’s technical credentials

Leonardo, which manufactured the aircraft, describes the M-346 as “the backbone” of the International Flight Training School in Decimomannu in Sardinia.

The advanced flight training centre is used by military pilots from Air Forces around the world and was created through collaboration between the manufacturer itself and the Italian Air Force.

The jet is optimised for advanced military pilot training, offering a broad range of training capabilities and long-term reliability, according to Leonardo. It features a wingspan of 31.9 ft, and a maximum speed of 1,090km/h.

The twin-engine, tandem-seat aircraft is equipped with a fly-by-wire flight control system with quadruple redundancy. With its Auxiliary Power Unit (APU), it can also be operated in complete autonomy.

The type has a long track record. The first prototype flew in July 2004 and Leonardo says the M-346 has already logged more than 125,000 flight hours with 126 sold worldwide.