The aircraft was born from the joint program of Aermacchi and Yakolev, launched in mid ‘90s, for the production of a new advanced trainer. After having developed the program jointly, in December 1999, the changed market conditions have required the priorities of the development of two specialized versions, a Russian and a Western one, autonomously and with intellectual property rights, exclusive for each part. The M-346 was born, aircraft into which the Aermacchi has poured specific contributions and experiences gained with previous projects with which maintain, in fact, a technical continuity of configuration. The first flight of the aircraft was executed in 2004. It was developed a second prototype with several enhancement and the 3rd aircraft, a pre-series, lightened of almost 1,543 lbs compared with the first prototype. On January 24th and 25th 2008 the second prototype executed the first air-to-air refueling, the first prototype was without the probe, of ‘buddy-buddy’ type from a Tornad0o IDS (Interdiction Strike) of the 6th Wing in Ghedi (Brescia). On 10th April 2008 there was the roll-out of the first aircraft M-346 in the industrial configuration, previously known as LRIP00 and 3 by far, with the first flight expected within few weeks. The aircraft mount the final landing gear as a replacement of the provisional one, coming from the AMX, of two first prototypes. The structure has been lightened of almost 837-859 lbs thanks to the removal of the wing longeron and to the different spacing of the ordinates in the fuselage, but also with a great use of parts made of composite and titanium. Other 264 lbs have been saved with the standardization systems. Adding 352 lbs derived from the removal of several testing devices, the complex saving in the vicinity of 1,543 lbs. From the point of the aerodynamic view, the dorsal air break has been moved ahead for almost 2,62in following data achieved by flights of the prototypes. In addition, the Flight Control System has been enhanced with computer, designed by Alenia SIA and Selex Communications, and software of control laws within Alenia Aermacchi. On  November 19th 2008 the producer of the Honeywell engines announced the sign of a contract with the Aermacchi with the value of 52 billions of dollars (41,5 millions of Euros) for a first batch of engines in an indefinite numbers. The turbofans will be developed and assembled in the Avio plant in Brindisi which is responsible for the design of command transmission accessories and exhaust system besides having treated the conformation of the engine to the M-346 cell. At the end of a public competition, in 2009 it was announced by Alenia that M346 would be called ‘Master’. At the Parisian show of Le Bourget in mid June 2009 it was announced the purchase by the Italian Air Force of 6 aircraft with an option for further 9 and which the contract related to the logistic support is going to be defined. The General Directorate for Air Armaments (ARMAEREO) has announced that the aircraft has been classified as T-346. Afterwards, the Air Force of Singapore has signed a contract for 12 aircraft.