Exactly…. Hawk is still useful and still competetive in the military market. Civilians will have to wait a while before Hawks will be available as private machines.
The 346 sacrifices useful range for an astonishing climb rate, and it carries little more than Hawk can. Yak-130 is a much more sensible. These two should be compared more with the Alpha Jet, as it also has two engines. Hawk outsold Alpha Jet by a very big margin.
Both Yak and 346 have larger planform and frontal areas than Hawk…. bigger targets if used for light attack roles. Both Yak and 346 have this 40 degree AoA flight capability. To me this, and twin engines, appear to be the only attributes the Hawk doesn’t have. Everything else is close. The cost of running these aircraft must be jolly close to using some of the aircraft they are supposed to be leading pilots into!
If BAe continue improving Hawk, I think it will go on for a long time. It still has scope for some improvement, in my view.

RAF is just one customer. Even so the T.1a has (or at least had) a point defence role where loitering is an attribute. Other customers certainly use Hawk’s load flexibilty. It’s incredible wing also allows it to lose a lot less energy in turns.

‘Any idea what the M-346 would cost?

Yes… this sounds interesting.

I am pleased to hear my favourite, the Hawk, has some good economical attributes, and a bit surprised the L159 is different, but I can’t see why either.

More info appreciated….

Well, if we are talking about pure trainers here, then the figures for load carrying, endurance and loiter time are next to meaningless, IMHO.

I think we’re not talking solely about ‘pure’ trainers (although, it appears that is what the M346 is supposed to be). The RAF Hawk T.1 has been primarily a trainer, but also has a point defence role and can take light attack duties. Elsewhere in the world Hawk is sold in other roles too.

I note a trend away from jet trainers toward turbo-prop (Tucano, PC9, PC21, etc). Economics, I guess. The TP aircraft do tend to be ‘pure’ trainers, and I think the only jet trainers that will continue will be those with further roles. Aircraft like Gripen are so easy to fly it’s probably pointless doing much advanced flying training in anything else. System training is what’s required.

Anyway, high lift/drag ratios make any aircraft more useful than those with low.