Leonardo signs contract on Austria’s M-346 aircraft order
The first of the 12 M-346 aircraft are expected to be delivered to the Austrian Air Force by 2028, according to the company.
The ALE-50 towed decoy acts as a preferential target for enemy missiles. (Photo: Raytheon)
US Naval Air Systems Command has awarded Raytheon a $22.77 million contract for full-rate production of Lot 15 CD-108B/ALE-50(V) control dispenser and decoy countermeasures in integrated multi-platform launch controllers (IMPLCs).
A total of 37 IMPLCs will be produced for installation on USN F/A-18E/F Super Hornet aircraft.
Work is expected to be completed in July 2024.
The ALE-50 programme is a joint development venture by a USAF, USN and Raytheon integrated product team. The ALE-50 towed decoy acts as a preferential target that lures enemy missiles away by providing a much larger radar cross-section than the aircraft.
The first of the 12 M-346 aircraft are expected to be delivered to the Austrian Air Force by 2028, according to the company.
Qatar and Indonesia followed the US’s high spending on new uncrewed aerial vehicle contracts across 2025, while MALE and micro drones and loitering munitions were particularly popular subcategories this year.
With all 31 aircraft set to be delivered by 2030, the helicopters will gradually replace the ageing Sea Lynx fleet which are due to be retired in 2026.
How RTX is equipping the military airspace – for today’s fleet and tomorrow’s fight.
German, French and Spanish leadership set an end-of-year deadline to decide the fate of the Future Combat Air System programme which has struggled with a political stalemate for the latter half of 2025.
The order for the extra helicopters comes from an agreement penned in December 2023, with the German Army receiving the bulk of the platforms.