The new aircraft that will replace the MB.339PAN, currently used by the Frecce Tricolori, was unveiled today.
The presentation took place alongside the homecoming ceremony of the Italian Aerobatic Team following their North America Tour.
The aircraft, designed and manufactured in Italy by Leonardo SpA, is already in service with the Italian Air Force for advanced pilot training, preparing them for 4th and 5th generation fighter jets. The M.346, this new aircraft, will allow the Frecce Tricolori to continue representing Italy worldwide.
Also revealed was the new livery, designed by Pininfarina, which embraces the theme of the “renaissance of the tricolor.” The design highlights the beauty and fluidity of the Frecce Tricolori’s flight, celebrating teamwork, dedication, ingenuity, and national pride.
The result is a harmonious design, visible in three dimensions, ensuring that during the aircraft’s maneuvers, a recognizable graphic element consistently conveys a sense of speed and dynamism to the audience.
It’s a perfect combination of elegance and power, distinctive traits of both Pininfarina and the National Aerobatic Team, representing industriousness, ingenuity, and teamwork—core values of the Italian Air Force.
(photos and text via ItAF)