Italy orders nine Aermacchi M-346s
Finmeccanica has signed a $337 million contract with the Italian Ministry of Defence for another nine Aermacchi M-346 advanced training aircraft for the Italian Air Force, the company announced on 22 March.
This contract takes the number of Aermacchi M-346 aircraft ordered by Italy to 18. Delivery of the aircraft will commence in 2016 and be complete by 2018.
Finmeccanica will also provide logistics support and an additional development phase of the advanced integrated training systems based around the aircraft. The systems include infrastructure, simulators and digital training aids at the Lecce-Galatina Air Force Base.
Mauro Moretti, chief executive officer and general manager, Finmeccanica, said: ‘The Aermacchi M-346 is the most advanced trainer aircraft available on the market today, the only one in the world designed to train pilots who will go on to fly new-generation, high performance defence aircraft. It has won all the most important international bids and we have chosen it to be in the running to be the platform on which the new American Top Guns’ trainer aircraft will be based.’
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
You may also like
More from Training
-
![Cubic tailors mortar simulator for the US Army]()
Cubic tailors mortar simulator for the US Army
The company’s mortar trainer received improvements based on soldier’s feedback.
-
![Saab expands footprint in the US]()
Saab expands footprint in the US
The company will operate in two new locations in the coming years to better support US services.
-
![How terrain management capabilities can improve military training]()
How terrain management capabilities can improve military training
This type of tool provides more realistic training easing the incorporation of new scenarios that accurately represent the threats of the battlefield.
-
![I/ITSEC 2024: Australian Army approaches second phase of countermining training]()
I/ITSEC 2024: Australian Army approaches second phase of countermining training
The Engineering Corps has been conducting individual instruction using FLAIM Systems’ Sweeper and should start collective deployments in 2025.
-
![I/ITSEC 2024: Zeiss introduces Velvet 4K SIM projector for night flight simulation]()
I/ITSEC 2024: Zeiss introduces Velvet 4K SIM projector for night flight simulation
The next-generation platform is motion-compatible and can be used in OTW and NVG applications.
-
![I/ITSEC 2024: Saab introduces UAV live training capability]()
I/ITSEC 2024: Saab introduces UAV live training capability
The system can be used to prepare soldiers for both drone offensive operations and CUAS missions.
