Credit
Tim Felce (Airwolfhound) · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Resized · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Source ↗ · Modified
FORCETALLY
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At a glance
Measured figures
Close-support version · Length
Single source13.23 m (43 ft 5 in)[source]
Configuration
| Specification | Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet | Leonardo M-346 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Light attack and advanced trainer aircraft[source] | Jet trainer and light combat aircraft[source] |
| National origin | France / West Germany[source] | Italy[source] |
| Manufacturer | Dassault Aviation / Dornier Flugzeugwerke[source] | Alenia Aermacchi Leonardo S.p.A.[source] |
| Status | In service[source] |
M-346 · Length
11.49 m (37 ft 8 in)[source]
Empty; Close-support version · Empty weight
Single sourceGross; Close-support version · Gross weight
Single sourceMaximum take-off; Close-support version · Max takeoff weight
Single source3,515 kg (7,749 lb)[source]
5,000 kg (11,023 lb)[source]
7,500 kg (16,535 lb)[source]
Empty; M-346 · Empty weight
Single sourceGross; M-346 · Gross weight
Single sourceFerry; Close-support version · with 2x 310 L (82 US gal; 68 imp gal) droptanks
Single source2,940 km (1,830 mi, 1,590 nmi) with 2x 310 L (82 US gal; 68 imp gal) droptanks[source]
Close-support version · lo-lo-lo profile, gun pod, underwing weapons and two drop tanks
Single source610 km (380 mi, 330 nmi) lo-lo-lo profile, gun pod, underwing weapons and two drop tanks[source]
Close-support version · 2 × SNECMA Turbomeca Larzac 04-C5 turbofan engines thrust each
Single source2 × SNECMA Turbomeca Larzac 04-C5 turbofan engines, 13.24 kN (2,980 lbf) thrust each[source]
M-346 · 2 × Honeywell/ITEC F124-GA-200 turbofan engines thrust each
Single source2 × Honeywell/ITEC F124-GA-200 turbofan engines , 28 kN (6,300 lbf) thrust each[source]
Close-support version · at high altitude
Single sourceClose-support version · internal fuel only at low altitude
Single source(internal fuel only) 2 hours 30 minutes at low altitude; 3 hours 30 minutes at high altitude[source]
M-346 · Endurance
Single sourceM-346 · with external drop tanks
Single sourceM-346 · Hardpoints : Provision for a total of seven pylon stations (one× under-fuselage, four× under-wing plus two× wingtip), capable of mounting up to of external payload and up to three× 630 litres (140 imp gal ; 170 US gal ) external drop tanks (only under-fuselage and two inward wing pylons are wet-plumbed)
Single sourceHardpoints : Provision for a total of seven pylon stations (one× under-fuselage, four× under-wing plus two× wingtip), capable of mounting up to 3,000 kilograms (6,600 lb ) of external payload and up to three× 630 litres (140 imp gal ; 170 US gal ) external drop tanks (only under-fuselage and two inward wing pylons are wet-plumbed)[source]
Bars compare reported quantities only. A larger figure does not make a system better; configurations and test conditions differ.
In service[source]
| Primary users | French Air and Space Force Top Aces Egyptian Air Force Royal Thai Air Force[source] | Italian Air Force Israeli Air Force Polish Air Force Republic of Singapore Air Force Hellenic Air Force[source] |
|---|
| Number built | 480[source] | 165 ordered 103 delivered (September 2025)[source] |
|---|
| Manufactured | 1973–1991[source] | 2004–present[source] |
|---|
| Introduction date | 4 November 1977[source] | September 2015[source] |
|---|
| First flight | 26 October 1973[source] | 15 July 2004[source] |
|---|
| Fuel capacity | 1,520 kg (3,351 lb)[source] | 2,000 kg (4,409 lb) internal[source] |
|---|
| Guns | One 27 mm Mauser BK-27 cannon in centreline gun pack with 150 rounds or one 30 mm DEFA cannon in centreline pod with 150 rounds[source] | — |
|---|
| Hardpoints | 5 with a capacity of 2,500 kg (5,512 lb), with provisions to carry combinations of: Rockets: Two Matra rocket pods with eighteen SNEB 68 mm rockets each or two CRV7 rocket pods with nineteen 70 mm rockets each Missiles: Two AIM-9 Sidewinders ; two Matra Magic IIs ; two AGM-65 Mavericks Bombs: a variety of bombs (such as the Hunting BL755 cluster bomb ) Other: Two 310 L (82 US gal; 68 imp gal) Drop tanks[source] | Provision for a total of seven pylon stations (one× under-fuselage, four× under-wing plus two× wingtip), capable of mounting up to 3,000 kilograms (6,600 lb ) of external payload and up to three× 630 litres (140 imp gal ; 170 US gal ) external drop tanks (only under-fuselage and two inward wing pylons are wet-plumbed) Gun pods : FN Herstal HMP250 12.7mm machine gun Nexter 20mm M621 cannon Air-to-air missiles : AIM-9 Sidewinder I-Derby ER IRIS-T Air-to-surface missiles : AGM-65 Maverick air-to-ground missile Anti-ship missiles : Marte MK-2A anti-ship missiles Mark 82 500lb and Mark-83 1,000lb free-fall or retarded bombs[source] |
|---|
| Aspect ratio | 4.8[source] | — |
|---|
| Stall speed | 167 km/h (104 mph, 90 kn) (flaps and undercarriage down)[source] | 176 km/h (109 mph, 95 kn)[source] |
|---|
| g limits | +12 / -6.4 (ultimate)[source] | + 8 - 3[source] |
|---|
| Time to altitude | 9,145 m (30,000 ft) in less than 7 minutes[source] | — |
|---|
| Landing speed | 170 km/h (110 mph; 92 kn)[source] | — |
|---|
| Take-off run | 410 m (1,350 ft)[source] | — |
|---|
| Landing run | 610 m (2,000 ft)[source] | — |
|---|
| Rockets | Two Matra rocket pods with eighteen SNEB 68 mm rockets each or two CRV7 rocket pods with nineteen 70 mm rockets each[source] | — |
|---|
| Missiles | Two AIM-9 Sidewinders ; two Matra Magic IIs ; two AGM-65 Mavericks[source] | — |
|---|
| Bombs | a variety of bombs (such as the Hunting BL755 cluster bomb )[source] | — |
|---|
| Other | Two 310 L (82 US gal; 68 imp gal) Drop tanks[source] | — |
|---|
| Alternative designation | Alpha Jet[source] | M-346 Master[source] |
|---|
| Developed from | — | Yak/AEM-130[source] |
|---|
| Never exceed speed | — | 1,470 km/h (910 mph, 790 kn) / M1.2[source] |
|---|
| Wing loading | — | 285 kg/m 2 (58 lb/sq ft)[source] |
|---|
| Thrust/weight | — | 0.84[source] |
|---|
| Radar | — | Grifo-M346 radar (M-346FA)[source] |
|---|
Maximum take-off; M-346 · trainer
Single source2 hours 45 minutes (4 hours with external drop tanks)[source]