New Solution For Undergrad Jet Training

Textron Aviation Defense has launched a tour to show off the Beechcraft M-346N jet trainer as a “ready-now” total integrated training system for the U.S. Navy’s Undergraduate Jet Training System (UJTS).

The M-346N is part of an integrated system based on the original M-346 developed by Leonardo, which is training pilots for 4th and 5th generation air forces globally. It is the mainstay of the International Flight Training School in Italy, managed by Leonardo and the Italian Air Force. U.S. Air Force pilots are actually being trained there now.

Travis Tyler, President and CEO of Textron Aviation Defense said, “Assembled in the United States and backed by Beechcraft’s 85-year legacy of training U.S. military pilots, the M-346N represents the next evolution in jet trainer capability. This platform is operationally proven and ready to deliver a comprehensive and advanced training solution to the U.S. Navy today.”

The full training ecosystem surrounding the M-346N includes high-fidelity ground-based devices, adaptive AI-assisted instruction and a Live-Virtual-Constructive architecture that links aircraft, simulators, and computer-generated forces in real time.

The system also features Precision Landing Mode to get naval aviators prepped for carrier-based operations. Interestingly, the M-346 is not equipped or modified for carrier landings, but the system is geared around what is called Field Carrier Landing Practice (FCLP) that allows pilots to train on land bases for the entire approach and landing maneuver as performed on the carrier, but for the arrested landing.

The FCLP gets pilots ready to go to the ship and do the real thing, but that doesn’t happen until lated in the training syllabus when students get deployed to the boat with the T-45 Goshawk.

FMI:  defense.txtav.com/