The Aermacchi MB-339 is an Italian military trainer and attack aircraft. It is a development of the company's earlier MB-326 that it was designed to replace.

The MB-339 is of conventional configuration, and shares much of the 326's airframe. It has a low, unswept wing with tip tanks and jet intakes in the roots, tricycle undercarriage, and accommodation for the student and instructor in tandem. The most significant revision was a redesign of the forward fuselage to raise the instructor's seat to allow visibility over and past the student pilot's head.

The first flight took place on August 12 1976 and deliveries to the Italian Air Force commenced in 1979. Still in production in 2004 in an enhanced version with a much-modernised cockpit. Over 200 MB-339s have been built, with roughly half of them going to the Italian Air Force.

Variants

• MB-339X - two prototypes
• MB-339A - original production variant for Italy
  • MB-339PAN - variant for Frecce Tricolori aerobatic team
  • MB-339RM - radio and radar calibration variant
  • MB-339AM - Malaysian version
  • MB-339AN - Nigerian version
  • MB-339AP - Peruvian version
• MB-339K Veltro II - single-seat dedicated attack version, first flew 1980
• MB-339B - trainer with enhanced attack capabilities
• MB-339C - more powerful engine
  • MB-339CB - New Zealand version
  • MB-339CE - Eritrean version
• MB-339CD - modernised flight controls and instrumentation
  • MB-339FD ("Full Digital") export version of the 339CD

Users

• Italian Air Force (107x MB-339A, 15x CD)
• Argentine Navy (10x MB-339A)
• Dubai Air Wing (7x MB-339A)
• Eritrean Air Force (6x MB-339CE)
• Ghana Air Force (4x MB-339A)
• Royal Malaysian Air Force (13x MB-339AM)
• Nigerian Air Force (12x MB-339AN)
• Royal New Zealand Air Force (18x MB-339CB)
• Peruvian Air Force (16x MB-339AP)

Specifications (MB-339A)

General Characteristics

• Crew: two, student and instructor
• Length: 10.97 m (36 ft 0 in)
• Wingspan: 10.85 m (35 ft 7 in)
• Height: 3.99 m (13 ft 1 in)
• Wing area: 19.3 m² (208 ft²)
• Empty: 3,075 kg (6,765 lb)
• Loaded: kg ( lb)
• Maximum takeoff: 4,400 kg (9,680 lb)
• Powerplant: 1x Rolls-Royce Viper Mk. 632, 17.8 kN (3,991 lb) thrust

Performance

• Maximum speed: 896 km/h (560 mph)
• Range: 1,760 km (1,100 miles)
• Service ceiling: 14,600 m (47,900 ft)
• Rate of climb: m/min ( ft/min)
• Wing loading: kg/m² ( lb/ft²)
• Thrust-to-weight:

Armament

• up to 1,800 kg (3,960 lb) of weapons on six hardpoints, including gunpods, bombs, and rockets.

Related content

Related development: Aermacchi MB-326

Comparable aircraft: BAE Hawk

Designation sequence: MB-338 - MB-339 - MB-340