Alenia Aeronautica

Last updated

Alenia Aeronautica S.p.A.
TypePrivate Subsidiary
Industry Aerospace and defence
Predecessor Aeritalia
Selenia
Founded1990
DefunctJanuary 2012
FateMerged
Successor Alenia Aermacchi
Headquarters
Rome
,
Italy
Number of locations
 Pomigliano, Turin, Venice, Varese, Grottaglie, Casoria, Nola, Foggia
ProductsCombat and Defense Aircraft
Trainer Aircraft (Alenia Aermacchi)
Military Air Lifters
Patrol Aircraft
Regional Turboprop (ATR)
Regional Turbofan (Superjet-100)
ServicesAero structures
Overhaul and Modifications (Alenia Aeronavali)
RevenueIncrease2.svg € 2.53 billion (FY2008)
Increase2.svg €250 million
Owner Leonardo S.p.A.
Number of employees
13,910
Parent Leonardo S.p.A.
Divisions Alenia Aermacchi
Alenia Aeronavali
Alenia Composite
Alenia SIA
Quadrics
Subsidiaries Alenia North America
ATR
Superjet 100

Alenia Aeronautica was an Italian aerospace company. Its subsidiaries included Alenia Aermacchi and Alenia Aeronavali.

Contents

Alenia Aeronautica was also the part-owner of ATR, a joint venture with European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS).

During January 2012, the company was reorganized as Alenia Aermacchi. [1] Three years later, it was fully merged into Finmeccanica, which has since reorganised itself as a more integrated business, adopting the Leonardo name for the group

History

Alenia Aeronautica was created during 1990 by merger of IRI's Aeritalia and Selenia subsidiaries. [2]

The new company was associated with several ongoing aircraft programmes and partnerships, including the multinational Eurofighter Typhoon fighter programme, the Panavia Tornado fighter-bomber. As a partner in Panavia Aircraft GmbH, Aeritalia manufactured the Tornado's wings while the other partners (British Aerospace and MBB/DASA) manufactured the rest of the airframe. [3] It also held a 20 per cent stake in Turbo-Union, a separate company formed to develop and build the RB199 engines for the aircraft. [4] [5] Production of the Tornado ended in 1998; the final batch of aircraft being produced was delivered to the Royal Saudi Air Force. [6]

RAF Typhoon FGR4 ZK356 shows off its delta wing, July 2016 Royal Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 MOD 45160576.jpg
RAF Typhoon FGR4 ZK356 shows off its delta wing, July 2016

Alenia had 19.5% a workshare stake in the Eurofighter Typhoon programme. [7] On 27 March 1994, the maiden flight of the Eurofighter prototype took place in Bavaria. [8] In September 1998, contracts were signed for production of 148 Tranche 1 aircraft and procurement of long lead-time items for Tranche 2 aircraft. [9]

Yak-130 development

M-346 prototype 002 at Le Bourget airshow, 2005 Aermacchi M-346-002(w).jpg
M-346 prototype 002 at Le Bourget airshow, 2005

During 1992, Aermacchi signed a cooperation agreement with Russian aircraft company Yakovlev to support a new trainer that the firm was developing for the Russian Air Force. Aermacchi secured the right to modify and market the aircraft for the Western market. [10] The resulting aircraft first flew in 1996 and by this point, the aircraft was being marketed as the Yak/AEM-130. [11]

In October 1998, it was reported that the venture was increasingly becoming an Italian-led effort due to a lack of Russian financial support. [12]

In mid-2000, it was announced that differences between the two firms and a lack of backing from the Russian participants had ended the partnership. Instead, each company would pursue independent development. Yakovlev received a final payment of US$77 million for technical documents. [13] [14] Yakovlev would be able to sell the Yak-130 to countries such as those in the Commonwealth of Independent States, India, Slovakia and Algeria, while Aermacchi had the right to sell the M-346 to NATO nations and others. [13] The M-346 is a highly modified version of the aircraft that developed under the joint venture, using equipment exclusively from Western manufacturers. [14] [15] [16] The first M-346 prototype rolled out on 7 June 2003, and conducted its maiden flight on 15 July 2004. [17]

In January 2005, the Greek Ministry of Defense signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to become a partner in the programme and an industrial cooperation agreement between Alenia and the Hellenic Aerospace Industry was signed the following year. [18]

In March 2008, the Chilean ENAER signed an MOU with Alenia at the FIDAE air show. [19] During May 2008, Boeing signed an MOU to cooperate on the marketing, sales, training and support of two Aermacchi trainers, the M-346 and the M-311. [20] On 18 December 2008, Aermacchi announced that the M-346 had attained a maximum speed of Mach 1.15 (1,255 km/h, 678 knots, 780 mph), claiming the occasion to be the first in which an all-Italian built aircraft had broken the sound barrier in 50 years. [21]

On 20 June 2011, a Military Type Certification was granted to Alenia Aermacchi for the M-346 Master by the General Directorate for Aeronautical Armaments of the Italian Ministry of Defence in Rome. [22]

C-27J

In 1995, Alenia and Lockheed Martin began discussions to improve Alenia's G.222 utility transport aircraft using C-130J's glass cockpit and a more powerful version of the G.222's T64G engine and four-blade propellers. This became the C-27J and in 1997, Alenia and Lockheed Martin formed Lockheed Martin Alenia Tactical Transport Systems (LMATTS) to develop the C-27J. The design changed to use the C-130J's AE 2100 engine and six-blade propeller. [23] Other changes include a fully digital MIL-STD-1553 systems and avionics architecture, and an updated cargo compartment for increased commonality. [24] The C-27J has a 35% increase in range and a 15% faster cruise speed than the G.222. [23] Alenia Aeronautica paired with American defense specialist L-3 Communications to form the Global Military Aircraft Systems (GMAS) joint venture to market the C-27J; [25] Boeing also joined GMAS. [26] During 2007, it was announced that the C-27J had been selected by the US Defense Department for its Joint Cargo Aircraft programme; [27] the C-27J team was awarded an initial contract worth US$2.04 billion for 78 C-27Js in June 2007. [28]

Transition to Leonardo

During 2002, Alenia Aeronautica was incorporated when Finmeccanica restructured itself, spinning off its various divisions as independent companies. Finmeccanica has since reorganised itself into a more closely integrated business, adopting the Leonardo name for the group. [29]

Products

Aircraft

Unmanned aerial vehicles

Collaborations

Missiles

See also

Related Research Articles

British Aerospace plc (BAe) was a British aircraft, munitions and defence-systems manufacturer that was formed in 1977. Its head office was at Warwick House in the Farnborough Aerospace Centre in Farnborough, Hampshire. It purchased Marconi Electronic Systems, the defence electronics and naval shipbuilding subsidiary of the General Electric Company, in 1999 to form BAE Systems.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aermacchi</span> Former Italian aircraft manufacturer

Aermacchi was an Italian aircraft manufacturer. Formerly known as Aeronautica Macchi, the company was founded in 1912 by Giulio Macchi at Varese in north-western Lombardy as Nieuport-Macchi, to build Nieuport monoplanes under licence for the Italian military. With a factory located on the shores of Lake Varese, the firm originally manufactured a series of Nieuport designs, as well as seaplanes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DASA</span> Defunct German aerospace manufacturing company (1989-2000)

DASA was a German aerospace manufacturer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Italian Air Force</span> Air warfare branch of Italys armed forces

The Italian Air Force is the air force of the Italian Republic. The Italian Air Force was founded as an independent service arm on 28 March 1923 by King Victor Emmanuel III as the Regia Aeronautica. After World War II, when Italy became a republic following a referendum, the Regia Aeronautica was given its current name. Since its formation, the service has held a prominent role in modern Italian military history. The acrobatic display team is the Frecce Tricolori.

Aeritalia was an aerospace engineering corporation based in Italy. It was formed out of the merger of two aviation companies, Fiat Aviazione and Aerfer, in 1969.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rolls-Royce AE 2100</span>

The Rolls-Royce AE 2100 is a turboprop developed by Allison Engine Company, now part of Rolls-Royce North America. The engine was originally known as the GMA 2100, when Allison was a division of former corporate parent General Motors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">EADS Mako/HEAT</span> European jet trainer/attack aircraft prototype

The EADS Mako/High Energy Advanced Trainer (Mako/HEAT) was a high-performance jet trainer or light attack aircraft intended for service with several European air forces. EADS proposed the Mako for the Eurotrainer program. The program was the final result of the AT-2000 project.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aeritalia G.222</span> Type of aircraft

The Aeritalia G.222 is a medium-sized STOL military transport aircraft. It was developed to meet a NATO specification, but Italy was initially the only NATO member to adopt the type. The United States purchased a 10 number of G.222s, designating them the C-27A Spartan in the 1990s. A G.222 was shot down over Yugoslavia, but formerly retired G.222 had a minimal service record in the former mission in Afghanistan; overall it has established itself in humanitarian missions and small missions from shorter less improved airstrips. Its modernized successor the C-27J has proven to be a moderate success on the international export market, as a twin turboprop military transport building on the legacy of the G.222.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dassault nEUROn</span> Experimental unmanned combat aerial vehicle

The Dassault nEUROn is an experimental unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) being developed with international cooperation, led by the French company Dassault Aviation. Countries involved in this project include France, Greece, Italy, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. The design goal is to create a stealthy, autonomous UAV that can function in medium-to-high threat combat zones. Comparable projects include the British BAE Systems Taranis, German/Spanish EADS Barracuda, Turkish Baykar Bayraktar Kızılelma and TAI Anka-3, American Boeing X-45 and Northrop Grumman X-47B, the Indian DRDO AURA, and the Russian Mikoyan Skat and Sukhoi Okhotnik.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aermacchi MB-339</span> Type of aircraft

The Aermacchi MB-339 is a military jet trainer and light attack aircraft designed and manufactured by Italian aviation company Aermacchi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alenia Aermacchi M-346 Master</span> Military training aircraft

The Aermacchi M-346 Master is a family of military twin-engine transonic advanced jet trainers and light combat aircraft. Originally co-developed with Yakovlev as the Yak/AEM-130, the partnership was dissolved in 2000 and then Alenia Aermacchi proceeded to separately develop the M-346 Master, while Yakolev continued work on the Yakovlev Yak-130. The first flight of the M-346 was performed in 2004. The type is currently operated by the air forces of Italy, Israel, Singapore, Greece, Turkmenistan and Poland. Since 2016 the manufacturer became Leonardo-Finmeccanica as Alenia Aermacchi merged into the new Finmeccanica, finally rebranded as Leonardo in 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yakovlev Yak-130</span> Russian military aircraft

The Yakovlev Yak-130 is a subsonic two-seat advanced jet trainer and light combat aircraft originally developed by Yakovlev and Aermacchi as the "Yak/AEM-130". It has also been marketed as a potential light attack aircraft. Development of the aircraft began in 1991 and the maiden flight was conducted on 25 April 1996. In 2002, it won a Russian government tender for training aircraft and in 2010 the aircraft entered service with the Russian Air Force. As an advanced training aircraft, the Yak-130 is able to replicate the characteristics of several 4+ generation fighters as well as the fifth-generation Sukhoi Su-57. It can also perform light-attack and reconnaissance duties, carrying a combat load of 3,000 kg (6,600 lb).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hellenic Aerospace Industry</span> Greek aerospace company

Hellenic Aerospace Industry (HAI) is the leading aerospace company of Greece. The company headquarters is located in Tanagra, 65 kilometers north-west of Athens, with the industrial complex covering an area of 200,000 sq.m.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alenia C-27J Spartan</span> Military transport aircraft

The Alenia C-27J Spartan is a military transport aircraft developed and manufactured by Leonardo's Aircraft Division. It is an advanced derivative of the former Alenia Aeronautica's earlier G.222, equipped with the engines and various other systems also used on the larger Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules. In addition to the standard transport configuration, specialized variants of the C-27J have been developed for maritime patrol, search and rescue, C3 ISR, fire support/ground-attack and electronic warfare missions.

BAE Systems Military Air & Information is a business unit of British defence company BAE Systems responsible for the design, development, manufacture and support of fixed wing military aircraft. MAI customers include the Royal Air Force, Royal Saudi Air Force, US Navy and Indian Air Force.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aermacchi M-345</span> Type of aircraft

The Aermacchi M-345 is a turbofan-powered military trainer aircraft designed and produced by the Italian defense conglomerate Leonardo S.p.A.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">T-X program</span> US Air Force advanced trainer acquisition program

The T-X program is a United States Air Force development and acquisition program for a new two-seat jet trainer to replace the Northrop T-38 Talon. On 27 September 2018, the US Air Force selected the Boeing/Saab T-X entry to become its trainer aircraft. The new aircraft was given the designation and name "T-7 Red Hawk" in September 2019. The Air Force's initial plan is to purchase 351 T-7s, and has an option to purchase up to 475.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alenia Aermacchi</span> Italian company active in the aeronautics sector

Alenia Aermacchi was a company active in the aeronautics sector, with offices and plants in Venegono Superiore, Varese, Turin Airport in San Maurizio Canavese, Province of Turin and Pomigliano d'Arco, Province of Naples. From 1 January 2016, the activities of Alenia Aermacchi merged into Leonardo's Aircraft and Aerostructures Division.

The Italian Armed Forces aircraft designation system is a unified designation system introduced by the Italian Armed Forces in 2009 for all Italian military aircraft. The system is based on the United States Armed Forces 1962 United States Tri-Service aircraft designation system.

FIAR S.p.A. was an Italian avionics and radar manufacturer; the Eurofighter's current radar contains its technology.

References

Citations

  1. ↑ "Anni 1961 – 1972 Il boom economico e l'Aeritalia – Finmeccanica". www.finmeccanica.com. Retrieved 19 February 2016.[ permanent dead link ]
  2. ↑ Lane, David (11 June 1991). "Alenia's disappointing debut". Financial Times.
  3. ↑ Segell 1997, p. 125.
  4. ↑ Segell 1997, p. 124.
  5. ↑ Long, Wellington. "Swing-Wing Wonder Weapon Is Going Into Production." Ludington Daily News,24 August 1976.
  6. ↑ Jackson et al. 1998, p. 241.
  7. ↑ Haertl, Ronald. "Eurofighter—A Milestone Report". Archived 26 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine European Security and Defence. Retrieved: 3 July 2011.
  8. ↑ "1994: Maiden flight for future fighter jet." BBC News, 27 February 1994. Retrieved: 19 March 2008.
  9. ↑ Chuter, Andy. "EF2000 deal firms up first batch order." Flight International, 23 September 1998.
  10. ↑ Moxon, Julian. "Aermacchi proves Yak-130/AEM performance." Flight International, 7 August 1996.
  11. ↑ "Yak/Aermacchi trainer funds released; Russia will buy up to 200." Aviation Week, 27 February 1996.
  12. ↑ "Italy studies the Yak/AEM-130 as Russia falters." Flight International, 21 October 1998.
  13. 1 2 Butowski, Piotr (1 May 2002). "Russian military trainer strategy falls into place; the selection of the Yak-130 marks an important step towards replacing the country's aging fleet of L-39Cs". Interavia Business & Technology. Aerospace Media Publishing. ISSN   1423-3215. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 22 August 2015– via HighBeam Research.
  14. 1 2 "Aermacchi assembles M-346 trainer team to replace Russians." Flight International, 1 August 2000.
  15. ↑ "F124 engine turns Yak-130 into the Aermacchi 346." Flight International, 25 July 2000.
  16. ↑ Doyle, Andrew. "Aermacchi may seek new engine for Yak-130." Flight International, 1 February 2000.
  17. ↑ CAE wins contract for the development and supply of Alenia Aermacchi's M-346 simulator (press release), 2004, archived from the original on 24 March 2006.
  18. ↑ Peruzzi, Luca. "Greece’s HAI snatches stake in M346 trainer programme." Flight International, 24 January 2006.
  19. ↑ "Alenia Aermacchi e Lacilena Enaer siglano MOU per M.346 e M.311" [ENAER signed a Memorandum of Understanding], Dedalo news, IT, March 2008, archived from the original on 3 March 2009.
  20. ↑ "Boeing signed a Memorandum of Understanding", Defense News[ dead link ].
  21. ↑ "The Aermacchi M-346 advanced trainer breaks the sound barrier. After 50 years an all-Italian aircraft flies at Mach 1" (PDF) (Press release). Alenia Aermacchi. 2008. Retrieved 19 February 2012.[ permanent dead link ]
  22. ↑ "M-346 Master Gains Military Certification" Air Forces Monthly (Key Publishing), Issue 282, September 2011, pp. 10. ISSN 0955-7091. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
  23. 1 2 Frawley, Gerald. "LMATTS C-27J Spartan". The International Directory of Military Aircraft, 2002/2003. Fishwyck, ACT: Aerospace Publications, 2002. ISBN   1-875671-55-2.
  24. ↑ "Enhancing Tactical Transport Capabilities" (PDF). Paper presented at the RTO SCI Symposium. Alenia Aerospazia and Lockheed Martin. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  25. ↑ "C-27J Team." Archived 2 July 2007 at the Wayback Machine "C-27J Spartan." Retrieved: 11 June 2011.
  26. ↑ "Boeing Jumps on JCA Competition." Archived 30 July 2012 at the Wayback Machine Air Force magazine, 2 May 2006.
  27. ↑ "C-27J tapped for Joint Cargo Aircraft" Archived 14 August 2007 at the Library of Congress Web Archives, Air Force Times, 14 June 2007.
  28. ↑ C-27J Spartan named as Joint Cargo Aircraft
  29. ↑ "LEONARDO: FILING OF ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION". www.leonardocompany.com. Retrieved 10 January 2017.

Bibliography

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.