The MT350E was a redesign of the 500 cc Armstrong MT500, which reduced weight, added an electric start, and upgraded pollution standards. The MT500 began as the Italian SWM XN Tornado, which Armstrong acquired the rights to in 1984 when SWM liquidated, and then modified for military use with assistance from CCM.
The MT350E was a revised version of the 500 cc Armstrong MT500, featuring weight reduction, an electric start, and enhanced environmental standards. The MT500 initially emerged as the Italian SWM XN Tornado, which Armstrong acquired in 1984 after SWM's bankruptcy, and subsequently modified for military use with support from CCM.