A contract signed on 22 December will see Alenia Aermacchi supply three additional M-346 advanced trainer aircraft to the Italian Air Force along with ground based training systems and logistic support. The contract, worth €120 million, was issued by the Italian National Armaments Directorate, ARMAEREO.
An agreement signed in 2009 between Alenia Aermacchi and ARMAEREO covers the supply of fifteen M-346 aircraft. The supply of a first tranche of six aircraft and related flight simulators was contracted at that time.
Designated T-346A by the Italian Air Force, the new aircraft will contribute to the technology update of advanced pilot training processes for the Italian Air Force as it prepares for the F-35's entry into service. The aircraft will serve to train new generations of air tactical pilots, both Italian and international, at 61° Stormo in Lecce, where the Italian Air Force flight school – opened also to pilot students coming from other countries – is based.
The M-346’s Integrated Training System (ITS), already operating in Lecce military Air Base, includes flight simulators and ground based training systems.
The M-346 has been selected by international customers including Singapore, Israel and Poland, with a total of 59 aircraft ordered to date.
↧
Italian Air Force orders three M-346 aircraft
↧