Honeywell announced on Nov. 15 that its International Turbine Engine Company (ITEC) has been selected to deliver more than 100 F124-GA-200 high-performance turbofan engines for United Arab Emirates’ fleet of Alenia Aermacchi M-346 Master advanced jet trainers.

The F124/F125 family of engines, with highest thrust-to-weight ratio in its class, provides modern, reliable and safe propulsion for more than 400 of the world’s most advanced fixed-wing training, light combat and unmanned aircraft.

“The F124/F125 engine family, proven with more than 540,000 flight hours, delivers increased pilot safety and reduced workload,” said Garrett Mikita, President of Defense & Space, Honeywell Aerospace. “United Arab Emirates and Alenia Aermacchi’s selection of the F124 demonstrates the value the engine brings to training programs, delivering reliability that lowers operating costs and improves fleet readiness.”

The F124 turbofan engine features an outstanding power-to-weight ratio. The engine provides 6,280 pounds of thrust while weighing just 1,150 pounds.

“The F124-GA-200 Honeywell ITEC engine includes several features designed to ease maintenance, such as an integrated engine monitoring system that monitors engine health and tracks life usage and on-condition maintenance,” Mikita said.

The F124 engine includes all controls and sensors required for fully automatic operation and unrestricted throttle movement throughout the flight envelope. Pilot workload is significantly reduced through features such as automatic start and ignition sequencing, continuous temperature and speed limiting, auto relight after flameout, and transient fuel scheduling to avoid engine surge.

The Aermacchi M-346 aircraft is a twin-engine, transonic, advanced trainer, capable of flight qualities and performance matching those of the latest generation of front-line fighters. The combination of the M-346′s superior performance, high reliability, and low life-cycle cost make the F124 an ideal power plant to meet the fleet’s training requirements worldwide.

In addition to powering the Aermacchi M-346, the F124/F125 engine family is in service on the Indigenous Defense Fighter (IDF) and the Czech Air Force on the Aero Vodochody L-159 Advanced Light Combat Aircraft. An aftermarket version of the F124, the F125 IN, is being considered for the Jaguar re-engine program by the Indian Air Force.