Defence & Space

Rheinmetall wins major order for artillery ammunition

Rheinmetall Denel Munition wins major 155mm ammunition contract. Order worth several hundred million euros, deliveries from 2025 until 2027. It…

2025-07-04 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

A contractor has been selected for the repair of Mk 75 guns on Polish OHP frigates

The Gdynia Naval Port Command has published information on the outcome of the tender procedure for the repair of two…

2025-07-02 | Rafał Muczyński | 3 minutes

SIPRI: Nuclear risks grow as new arms race looms

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute published a report entitled SIPRI Yearbook 2025, which, among other things, discusses the issue of…

2025-06-16 | Redakcja | 10 minutes

Polish 35 mm SA-35 Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun with PIT-Radwar

During the recent MSPO trade fair in Kielce, the company PIT-Radwar presented its proposal for a 35 mm self-propelled anti-aircraft gun…

2025-06-13 | Przemysław Gurgurewicz | 13 minutes

Rheinmetall wins major order for artillery ammunition

Rheinmetall Denel Munition wins major 155mm ammunition contract. Order worth several hundred million euros, deliveries from 2025 until 2027. It…

2025-07-04 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

A contractor has been selected for the repair of Mk 75 guns on Polish OHP frigates

The Gdynia Naval Port Command has published information on the outcome of the tender procedure for the repair of two…

2025-07-02 | Rafał Muczyński | 3 minutes

SKW Cryptographic Security Certificate for Polish Comp@n Radio Set from the WB Group

The WB Group announced that the Comp@n system radio set, developed by its subsidiary Radmor, along with the Cryptographic Document Management…

2025-06-14 | Redakcja | 4 minutes

Advancing multi-domain EW operations: Rohde & Schwarz unveils latest innovations at AOC Europe

Rohde & Schwarz demonstrates the next generation of SIGINT/EW systems, sensor fusion and signal analysis solutions, designed to meet the evolving…

2025-05-12 | Redakcja | 2 minutes

Autonomous and Unmanned Systems by Łukasiewicz – PIAP at the OPEX 2025 Training Ground in Italy

During the HEDI OPEX 2025 experimental campaign at the CEPOLISPE training ground in Italy, the Łukasiewicz Research Network – Industrial…

2025-06-28 | Redakcja | 4 minutes

Paris Air Show 2025: Debut of Foudre – the French HIMARS

As previously announced by Turgis & Gaillard, the 55th International Paris Air and Space Show served as the venue for the…

2025-06-23 | Radosław Niesobski | 2 minutes

Rheinmetall wins major order for artillery ammunition

Rheinmetall Denel Munition wins major 155mm ammunition contract. Order worth several hundred million euros, deliveries from 2025 until 2027. It…

2025-07-04 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

Polish Ministry of National Defence: New Contract for K2 Tanks and Support Vehicles Imminent

In Warsaw, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, along with Secretary of State at the Ministry…

2025-07-02 | Redakcja | 10 minutes

Bayraktar TB2 and FlyEye Drones to Support Polish Police Manhunt for Killer Near Limanowa

The Bayraktar TB2 drone and FlyEye systems will support the Polish police in the search for 57-year-old Tadeusz Duda, suspected…

2025-06-30 | Rafał Muczyński | 5 minutes

Galvion’s European Production Hub in Poland is formally opened by the Ambassador of Canada tothe Republic of Poland

Canadian company Galvion announced that the Canadian Ambassador to Poland, Catherine Godin, officially opened the European Production Hub in Gdańsk.

2025-06-26 | Redakcja | 4 minutes

Rheinmetall wins major order for artillery ammunition

Rheinmetall Denel Munition wins major 155mm ammunition contract. Order worth several hundred million euros, deliveries from 2025 until 2027. It…

2025-07-04 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

A contractor has been selected for the repair of Mk 75 guns on Polish OHP frigates

The Gdynia Naval Port Command has published information on the outcome of the tender procedure for the repair of two…

2025-07-02 | Rafał Muczyński | 3 minutes

East Shield and the Baltic Defense Line: Cooperation and Investment in Defense Are the Cornerstone of Europe’s Security

East Shield, the Baltic Defense Line, the integration of available deterrence and defense capabilities, and EU defense funding were the…

2025-07-02 | Redakcja | 2 minutes

Russia Loses World’s Largest Helicopter, Mi-26, in Ukrainian Attack on Crimea

The Security Service of Ukraine reported that during a special operation at the Kirovske military airfield in occupied Crimea, a Pantsir-S1 air…

2025-06-29 | Rafał Muczyński | 4 minutes

Finland Ministry of Defense selects ICEYE for space-based intelligence and surveillance capabilities

The Polish-Finnish company ICEYE and the Finnish Ministry of Defense have signed a Letter of Intent that enables the Finnish Defense…

2025-06-27 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

Axiom Mission 4: The Historic Spaceflight of Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski

June 25, 2025, will go down in history as the day when the second Pole in our history flew into…

2025-06-25 | Rafał Muczyński | 5 minutes
Shooting

CZ Shooting Team athletes take home 13 medals from the CZ Extreme Euro Open

Sport shooters representing Ceska zbrojovka brought back six gold, four silver, and three bronze medals from Hodonice, along with four…

2025-07-04 | Redakcja | 4 minutes

Upgraded Z8i Scope from SWAROVSKI OPTIK

Swarovski Optik, the Austrian optics manufacturer with nearly 80 years of tradition, has unveiled an upgraded version of its Z8i…

2025-07-03 | Mariusz Piwowar | 3 minutes

Upgraded Z8i Scope from SWAROVSKI OPTIK

Swarovski Optik, the Austrian optics manufacturer with nearly 80 years of tradition, has unveiled an upgraded version of its Z8i…

2025-07-03 | Mariusz Piwowar | 3 minutes

Streamlight introduces the SL-SideSaddle

Streamlight, Inc., a leading provider of high-performance lighting tools, announces the SL-SideSaddle series, a new hands-free lighting solution built for outdoor adventure…

2025-07-01 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

IFRE 2025: Maskpol Showcases Protective Suits and Gas Masks

Maskpol, a company within the Polish Armaments Group (PGZ), presented part of its product range—protective suits and gas masks—at the 5th…

2025-06-17 | Michał Ihnatów | 2 minutes

UF PRO Introduces Waist/Flex Belts to Its Product Line

UF PRO, a Slovenian manufacturer of professional apparel and part of the Mehler Systems group, is adding a new accessory to its lineup…

2025-06-06 | Michał Ihnatów | 2 minutes

CZ Shooting Team athletes take home 13 medals from the CZ Extreme Euro Open

Sport shooters representing Ceska zbrojovka brought back six gold, four silver, and three bronze medals from Hodonice, along with four…

2025-07-04 | Redakcja | 4 minutes

Enforce Tac 2025 starts on February 24th

Enforce Tac is an international trade fair aimed at law enforcement officers, experts from government agencies, and representatives of the…

2025-01-30 | Michał Ihnatów | 4 minutes

CZ Introduces the New CZ P-10 C PORTED Model

CZ P-10 C PORTED – a compact pistol with tamed recoil thanks to an integrated compensator.

2025-07-02 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

Meprolight MMX3 and MMX4 – Lightweight Magnifiers with Quality Optics

The Mepro MMX3 and MMX4, a new line of compact magnifiers from the Israeli manufacturer. How do they perform in practice and…

2025-06-27 | Krzysztof Ptak | 8 minutes

Paris Air Show 2025: Bayraktar TB3 Debuts

The 55th edition of the International Paris Air and Space Show, held in the French capital, provided an opportunity for…

2025-06-19 | Radosław Niesobski | 3 minutes

Setting Up a Shooting Belt: An Example with Clawgear

To assist with shooting training and beyond, various belts and gear configurations have been developed and customized to suit individual needs. It’s…

2024-11-28 | Łukasz Kołodziejski | 14 minutes

Over 100% increase in gun permits in Poland in 2024

The Polish Police have released statistical data on firearm permits issued in 2024. An increasing number of Poles now hold…

2025-02-20 | Michał Ihnatów | 5 minutes

Firearms In Poland 2023: Number of permits continues to grow

The National Police Headquarters has released statistics regarding the number of firearm permits and firearms themselves in the hands of…

2024-02-17 | Michał Ihnatów | 5 minutes

5 Best Value ATN Rifle Scopes Under €1500

ATN is a leading manufacturer of daytime optics, smart night vision, and thermal vision technology. The innovative features and ergonomic designs…

2022-11-11 | Redakcja | 8 minutes

MILMAG Visits Grand Power

Grand Power is a Slovak manufacturer of the acknowledged good quality firearms. Take part in our guided tour with English subtitles.

2022-05-23 | Redakcja | 1 minutes

Meprolight MMX3 and MMX4 – Lightweight Magnifiers with Quality Optics

The Mepro MMX3 and MMX4, a new line of compact magnifiers from the Israeli manufacturer. How do they perform in practice and…

2025-06-27 | Krzysztof Ptak | 8 minutes

Streamlight TLR-7 HL-X – a Bayonet of Light for Your Weapon

The devil’s not so scary once you shine a light on him—and he’s certainly easier to neutralize in the spotlight. A weapon-mounted flashlight…

2025-06-09 | Anna Mielczarek | 6 minutes

EOTECH Holographic Sight – History, Technology, Practice

The holographic sight is a device known for nearly 30 years and used by professionals around the world. A favorite sight of many…

2024-09-02 | Michał Gaweł | 12 minutes

Can M-346FA replace Su-22?

Light, multi-purpose M-346FA planes could become an inexpensive solution to increase strike potential of the Polish Air Force, persuaded representatives of Leonardo company during the “M-346FA – one body, two souls” virtual seminar.

Propozycja Leonardo

M-346 Master is used for training military pilots in Poland, Italy, Israel, and Singapore. It is an advanced training plane (Lead-In Fighter Training, LIFT) for teaching procedures and skills necessary for combat operations on military planes. In the Polish Air Force, it is used to train future F-16 C/D Block 52+ pilots.

Leonardo offers M-346 FA as an inexpensive light multi-purpose combat plane with high operational efficiency, capable of carrying wide array of armament, and much cheaper to operate than typical combat aircrafts

According to Leonardo’s assurances, the Master’s strike variant, M-346 FA (Fighter Attack), can be a light combat plane. That construction is supposed to be a more economical alternative for supersonic attack aircraft. It’s supposed to prove itself in performing multiple tasks, supporting more expensive multi-purpose fighters.

Advantage For Polish Air Forces?

M-346 FA is supposed to help modernize the Polish combat aircraft fleet without seriously impacting the national defense budget. While the Master’s combat variant isn’t a full-scale supersonic attack aircraft, it is expected to prove itself in a number of tasks.

M-346 FA is developed for realization of reconnaissance tasks, digitally aided close air support (DACAS), and limited strikes against air and surface targets, supporting line combat aircrafts.

An armed M-346 FA can support other types of combat planes

In Poland, thanks to its integration with F-16 C/D and F-35 A systems, M-346 FA could take over some of their tasks, which should cut down the operational expenses. According to Leonardo’s declarations naming it a successor to Su-22, M-346 FA could also provide air support to the Polish Army. Because of its interoperability with NATO systems it could also be used to support joint allied missions.

What about the industry?

During the seminar, Leonardo’s representatives assured of the company’s intent to harness the Polish industry into the development of the Polish variant of M-346 FA, stressing its numerous shared qualities with the M-346 Bielik advanced training plane already used by the Polish Air Force. Similarity between the two planes would help unification of support and servicing processes, as well as quick transfer of pilots between training and combat versions.

Marco Lupo, CEO of Leonardo Poland, said :

Leonardo attaches great importance to its engagement in Poland. Leonard Poland was created in January 2019, based in Warsaw, and is an active participant in the Polish security and defense industry, cooperating with local businesses,” said Marco Lupo, CEO of Leonardo Poland. “This has been strengthened with Leonardo’s recognition of Poland as a home market, as is the case with the United Kingdom and the United States, where Leonardo also makes important defense investments. Leonardo perfectly understands the stipulations of the Polish side when it comes to the offset offers, technology transfers and know-how. Therefore, in the modernization programs for the Polish Armed Forces, we offer a number of benefits and active cooperation with Polish industry and scientific and research institutions. The M346FA fighter jet in the Polish configuration is part of this proposal

Description Of The Construction

During the seminar, Leonardo’s representatives emphasized low operational costs of M-346 FA. Digital control system Fly-By-Wire, working in Care-Free mode, prevents exceeding operational limitations derived from the design of wings and engines, which is a big help to pilots and the technicians in regard to costs of exploitation and servicing. M-346 FA parameters were optimized for subsonic flights with up to 0.9 Ma, which are the most suitable for attacking ground targets, avoiding rapid wear of the engines.

The producer also assures that the operational costs of the Polish combat version could be reduced thanks to economy of scale. The training M-346 AJT delivered to the Polish Air Forces will be accompanied by transfers of technology and cooperation with Military Aviation Works WZL-1 regarding their servicing. That support could easily cover the new planes in combat version, and the industrial collaboration could be expanded, including development of the Polish version of M-346 FA.

 

After their tests in requested configuration, M-346 FA can be delivered to their first user still in 2021

Technical support is also made easier by HUMS and S-HUMS diagnostic systems, which serve to monitor and accumulate data regarding operation and condition of the plane’s gear and structure. Ground support system allows for quick estimation of the state of the systems, shortening time needed to detect and solve problems, and performing planned and unplanned servicing tasks.

Equipment and armament of the M-346 FA plane was optimized for the modern battlefield and tasks performed within NATO operations. Leonard Griffo-M346 multiband radar with identification friend or foe (IFF) system has 29 modes of work, seven modes to support air-to-air missions, thirteen to support air-to-surface operations, six for close air engagements, and three for navigation. The radar can detect, track, and seek any types of targets, above and below the flight pitch, at any altitude. The radio location is characterised by wide scanning range and capability of tracking up to ten targets at the same time in TWS (Track-While-Scan) mode up to 90 kilometers away — 8 of which marked on the multifunction display. Targets are selected with HOTAS switches and helmet-mounted display (HMD). M-346 FA is equipped with Tactical Data Link, capable of sending and receiving information about situation in air and on ground in the plane’s zone of operation. TDL provides information regarding the combat targets, and shares the information about targets detected by the plane’s sensors with allied aircrafts and ground units.

Safety, survival, and self defense are enhanced by Defensive Aid Sub-System (DASS), which includes radar warning receiver (RWR), missile approach warners (MAWS), chaff and flare launchers, and systems that reduce radar signature of the plane, decreasing detection chance.

Critical systems and construction elements are doubled: two engines, two sets of independent accessory drive systems, quadrupled electronic flight control system Fly-By-Wire (FBW), two separate hydraulic and electric systems, two batteries ensuring 30 minutes of flight in emergency situations. Additionally, for the flight safety, the plane is equipped with an autonomous extinguisher in engine compartments and auxiliary power units. The vehicle is also fitted with a Pilot Activated Recovery System (PARS) capable of leveling the plane automatically.

The plane is capable of being refueled mid-flight, which combined with capability of carrying external fuel tanks extends operational range and flight time, up to seven hours.

Armament And Combat Potential

M-346FA has seven external hardpoints for various types of weapons and gear, including guided (laser or GPS) and unguided bombs, guided air-to-surface and air-to-air missiles, gun pods, reconnaissance and navigation pods, and ECM systems.

M-346 FA armament can be freely configured in various combinations, including integration with guided medium range air-to-air AMRAAM missiles, active radar guidance system, Inertial Navigation System (INS), and the best available modern missiles, both American and European, such as ASRAAM, Meteor, and Spear—programmable networked long range missiles. Meteor missiles are capable of operating beyond visual range (BVR) with high speed and maneuverability.

For a close range engagement, M-346 FA pilots can use ASRAAM missiles, which have an advantage of being capable of attacking threats within 360º, basically in any position compared to M-346 FA.

M-346 FA is equipped with seven external hardpoints for various types of weapons and equipment / Photos and pictures: Leonardo

Operational capabilities of M-346 FA are wide, allowing it to function effectively in network-centric environment, hybrid warfare, or full-scale conflict, during close air support missions (CAS, DCAS), forward air control (FAC-A), combat search and rescue (CSAR), battlefield interdiction, (BAI), tactical air support of marine operations (TASMO), airspace defense, intercepting low velocity aircrafts, and reconnaissance (RECCE).

/ Based on materials from Leonardo

X