Crane Aerospace & Electronics a segment of Crane Co. has been selected in 2018 to provide the brake control system for the Leonardo M-345 High Efficiency Trainer.

"Crane is proud to have been selected by Leonardo and Secondo Mona for the new M-345 trainer platform," said Carl Trustee, Vice President & General Manager, Landing Systems of Crane Aerospace & Electronics. "This selection underscores our Customers' confidence in Crane's experience and ability to not only provide high performance brake control systems, but also deliver the system in record time. In this case Crane went from contract award to supporting the first flight of the production standard M-345 in under twelve months."

The Brake Control System for the M-345 will leverage Crane's Mark V Brake-By-Wire technology that is implemented on numerous commercial, regional, business, and military aircraft platforms. The M-345 brake control system also maintains commonality with Leonardo's M-346 fast jet trainer in order to provide common repair and maintenance capability, while ensuring high performance antiskid braking efficiency.

The Italian Air Force has placed an initial order for five M-345 aircraft, and has a requirement for up to forty-five aircraft to replace Aermacchi MB-339s used in the basic training role and by the Frecce Tricolori aerobatic team. The first production standard M-345 flew from Venegono Superiore in December 2018 with Crane's Brake Control System. Service entry in the Italian Air Force expected in 2020.

Crane Aerospace & Electronics has been a long-term partner and supplier to Leonardo and Secondo Mona, with over 70 years of experience in providing brake control systems to the aerospace industry. Crane Aerospace & Electronics has more than 30,000 systems in operation today, including the M-346 and MB-339 aircraft.