Alenia Aermacchi has teamed with EADS to offer the M-346 Master for the nine-nation Advanced European Jet Pilot Training (AEJPT) program. The team is one of seven that responded to an AEJPT request for information issued by the European Defence Agency.

A formal request for proposals for the 100-aircraft requirement is anticipated by late 2011, with the winner to be under contract by 2014 and initial operational capability planned for 2017. But there are doubts the program, launched more than a decade ago, will see fruition because of budget pressures on the partner nations.

EADS had earlier considered offering its Mako combat trainer concept, but shelved the design after failing to find a launch customer. Under their memorandum of understanding, Alenia Aermacchi would supply the aircraft while EADS would provide the ground-based training systems. Support would be split between the two companies.

The companies say they “intend to involve other European firms from the AEJPT member countries in the training service and base operating activities.” Roles for other, unidentified companies were included in the RFI response, they say.

Alenia Aermacchi has conducted the first flight tests of a helmet-mounted display (HMD) in the M-346. Complementing the head-up display, the lightweight HMD is integrated with the aircraft’s embedded tactical training simulation system. The display includes a micro-camera that captures the pilot’s field-of-view and visor symbology for post-flight debriefing.

The company says the display makes the M-346 more representative of HMD-equipped operational aircraft, including the Eurofighter Typhoon and Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.