A Decade of Bielik: 10 Years of the M-346 in the Polish Air Force

On November 14, 2016, the first Leonardo M-346 aircraft landed in Dęblin, becoming in the following years the foundation of a modern pilot training system for the Polish Air Force. That day marked the beginning of a new era – an era of integrated, digital, and multi-phase preparation of pilots for service on modern combat aircraft.

Photos: 4th Training Aviation Wing

As emphasized by the Commander of the 4th Training Aviation Wing, Brig. Gen. Pilot Waldemar Gołębiowski, the decision to introduce the Leonardo M-346 was one of the most important milestones in modernizing the training system.

“November 14, 2016, was one of the key moments in the modernization of the Polish Air Force pilot training system. The introduction of the M-346 marked a shift from a model based primarily on basic flight training to an integrated system preparing pilots to operate in the environment of modern combat aircraft,” said Gen. Gołębiowski, emphasizing that it was a strategic decision that initiated the development of a coherent, multi-phase training system aligned with the requirements of the contemporary battlefield.

Advanced combat mission simulation and the integration of live flights with simulator-based training play a key role in the new training model. The Deputy Commander of the 4th Training Aviation Wing, Col. Pilot Łukasz Piątek, an experienced Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot, emphasizes that this capability is precisely what enables the Bielik to significantly shorten a pilot’s path to combat aircraft.

“The Leonardo M-346 Bielik makes it possible to reduce training time on the F-16 thanks to its built-in advanced simulation system. It allows for the simulation of medium- and short-range air-to-air weapons, a wide range of air-to-ground munitions, as well as laser- and GPS-guided bombs. The ETTS provides simulation of the Radar Warning Receiver system. In practice, it enables training and proficiency development in virtually every aspect of mission execution performed on the F-16,” said the Deputy Commander of the 4th Training Aviation Wing.

As Col. Pilot Łukasz Piątek notes, the role of experienced instructor personnel is invaluable.

“Instructor pilots ensure a high level of professionalism in training, backed by certification from the United States Air Force,” he said. Thanks to USAF certification, the training system enables a direct transition to combat platforms.

As a result, Polish pilots do not need to undergo an intermediate training phase in the United States on T-38 aircraft. “The system based on the Leonardo M-346 allows for a direct transition to the target platform – both the F-16 and the F-35 – which leads to measurable savings and shortens the overall training period,” Col. Piątek explained.

Training on the M-346 also shapes the mindset of a fighter pilot.

“Training based on the concept of ‘single-seat mentality’ – the mindset of a fighter pilot who independently controls the aircraft and dominates the air – is of key importance. It is the perfect blend of boldness and humility, combined with the ability to withstand G-forces of up to +8G and the instillation of Excellent Fighter Pilot Discipline – the discipline and self-control essential for mission execution,” the F-16 pilot emphasized.

The importance of the Leonardo M-346 Bielik within the training system is emphasized by the Commander of the 41st Training Air Base, Col. Pilot Marek Kejna. As he explains, its introduction marked a major technological leap compared to earlier training aircraft.

“The TS-11 Iskra, despite its long and highly distinguished service, was no longer able to fully meet the needs of a modern combat pilot training system,” said the Commander of the 41st Training Air Base. The difference between the two platforms lies primarily in the training philosophy and the scope of competencies that today’s pilot must possess.

“Piloting, meaning the ability to control an aircraft, navigate, and maintain situational awareness, used to be the fundamental elements of a pilot’s work. Today, aircraft equipped with mission computers, fly-by-wire systems, and modern avionics significantly facilitate these tasks by providing clear information on position and flight parameters. This allows the pilot to devote much more attention to information management and to operating systems related to the execution of combat missions,” said Col. Pilot Marek Kejna.

And that is precisely what the Bielik is designed for.

“It is an aircraft created to prepare pilots to operate in the environment of modern air operations. The Iskra taught how to fly; the Bielik teaches how to operate,” Col. Kejna concluded.

From the perspective of the training process, the transition from basic flight instruction to tactical mission execution plays a key role. As emphasized by the Commander of the Aviation Operations Group, Lt. Col. Pilot Jacek Moskal, this process begins even before the first flight.

“The entire process of guiding a cadet through the training phase on the Leonardo M-346 is not just about transferring knowledge or teaching piloting skills – it is a comprehensive introduction of a young pilot to the realities of tactical aviation, where responsibility, discipline, and situational awareness are of crucial importance,” Lt. Col. Moskal noted.

As he adds, the most demanding stage begins before the cadet ever takes off. “The transition from basic instruction to real flights starts on the ground in simulators. That is where we teach responses to emergency situations, system management, and decision-making under time pressure,” said the Commander of the Aviation Operations Group.

After completing the simulator phase, airborne training begins, gradually incorporating increasingly complex tasks.

“Over time, we introduce tactical elements – formation flying, air combat, intercept missions, and tasks involving simulated weapons. We grant the cadet greater independence, but we also expect greater responsibility. This combination of theory, simulation, and practical application makes the training phase on the M-346 Bielik the most challenging, but also the most rewarding – for both the cadet and the instructors,” Lt. Col. Jacek Moskal concluded.

The experience of the past decade also shows how significantly the process of preparing cadets for advanced training has evolved. As emphasized by M-346 instructor pilot Maj. Pilot Adrian Chudziński, the training was demanding from the outset, but over the years the system has gradually matured and adapted to the needs of students.

“Training for cadets is intensive and demanding,” the instructor said. “Over these ten years, both the training program and the way candidates are prepared have clearly changed. At the beginning, one of the major challenges was that training on the Leonardo M-346 Bielik is based on English-language documentation, and briefings and classes are conducted in English, which posed a serious barrier for many cadets. Today it is easier, because at earlier stages of training, such as on the Orlik aircraft, students already work with documentation and attend briefings in English,” Maj. Chudziński explained.

According to the instructor, an important element of the changes was also the growing experience of the training staff and the evolution of the training programs.

“As instructors gained experience, the training programs and documentation were gradually refined, making them more student-friendly,” he emphasized.

Fifth-year cadets are assigned to the 41st Training Air Base for M-346 training.

“These are the selected top candidates, highly motivated and fully aware that they are preparing for service on combat aircraft,” he said. Not all trainees complete the course. “This is primarily due to the need to maintain the high standards required of pilots who, upon completion, will transition to the F-16 or F-35,” Maj. Adrian Chudziński concluded.

For today’s cadets of the Polish Air Force University, the Leonardo M-346 is no longer a novelty, but a natural stage on the path to combat aviation. It is on the Bielik that they first fully confront the realities of modern air operations and the responsibility that comes with future service.

As a cadet sergeant at the Polish Air Force University explains, the first flight on the Leonardo M-346 is the moment when one truly begins to think like a combat aviation pilot.

“On the one hand, there is immense satisfaction and the fulfillment of a dream; on the other, there is the awareness of responsibility for every decision made in the air,” the future pilot said.

Training on the Bielik is only the beginning of the journey.

“It shows how much still lies ahead of us, but at the same time it gives a sense that we are being prepared for service at the highest level and for the kinds of missions every young pilot dreams of,” he emphasized.

Ten years of operating the Leonardo M-346 Bielik represent above all a story of training success, but also include difficult and painful experiences for the entire aviation community. On July 12, 2024, during a flight in Gdynia, an M-346 aircraft crashed, resulting in the death of an experienced instructor pilot from the 41st Training Air Base, Lt. Col. Pilot Robert Jeł (M-346 Bielik disaster).

The late Maj. Pilot Robert “Killer” Jeł / Photo: Mateusz Chodelski, 4th Training Aviation Wing

His death was a profound loss to Polish military aviation – to his colleagues, students, and the entire training community. The tenth anniversary of the Bielik is therefore not only an occasion for reflection and pride in its achievements, but also a moment of remembrance and contemplation for those who gave their lives while training successive generations of Polish Air Force pilots.

Ten years of operating the Leonardo M-346 Bielik have confirmed that the introduction of this platform was one of the key modernization decisions within the Polish Air Force training system. The aircraft has become an integral element of the multi-phase process of preparing combat aviation pilots, providing training aligned with the demands of modern air operations.

As emphasized by Brig. Gen. Pilot Waldemar Gołębiowski of the 4th Training Aviation Wing:

“The M-346 Bielik performs very well in the role for which it was introduced, fulfilling key tasks within the Air Force pilot training system. At the same time, the evolving nature of air combat may generate new training requirements and needs, to which the 4th Training Aviation Wing will adapt.“

The M-346 Bielik aircraft currently have limited weapons-carrying capabilities.

“This results from the fact that at the time the contract for acquiring the AJT (Advanced Jet Trainer) platform was being processed, there were no such requirements,” said Brig. Gen. Pilot Waldemar Gołębiowski of the 4th Training Aviation Wing.

In recent years, however, the manufacturer has developed a combat-capable trainer version of the aircraft, the Leonardo M-346FA, which in its latest Block 20 configuration has been selected by the Austrian Air Force.

“The capabilities of our Bielik could be enhanced by equipping it with an aerial refueling probe, a podded 12.7 mm or 20 mm gun, 70 mm rockets (either guided APKWS or unguided Hydra), as well as targeting and reconnaissance pods,” the Commander of the 4th Training Aviation Wing noted (Leonardo M-346F Block 20 Light Trainer and Combat Aircraft for Indonesia).

A decade of operating the Bielik fleet has meant thousands of flight hours, dozens of trained pilots, and a training system now regarded as one of the most modern in Europe. It has also provided the experience that enabled Poland to build a comprehensive national system for preparing combat aviation pilots – from their first training flights to the transition to the F-16 and F-35 (The first woman has begun flight training on the M-346 Bielik).

After ten years of service, the Leonardo M-346 remains not only a training aircraft, but also a symbol of the transformation of the entire Polish Air Force training system. The 4th Training Aviation Wing faces further years of challenges and continued refinement of a training system that will be consistently developed in line with the evolving demands of the modern battlefield. The operation of this platform will undoubtedly bring new experiences and challenges that will shape future generations of Polish military pilots.

Press release