Italy orders more M-345s
Leonardo will supply a further 13 M-345 High Efficiency Trainer aircraft to the Italian Air Force under a contract announced on 13 June.
The order, valued at €300 million, will bring the number of M-345s on order for Italy to 18 aircraft. The contract includes ground-based training systems and a five-year logistics support package.
The new trainer aircraft will operate alongside the air force’s existing T-346A fleet, which is used for advanced pilot training.
The Italian Air Force has a requirement for around 45 M-345 aircraft, designated the T-345A in its service. The aircraft will progressively replace its fleet of 137 MB-339s that have been in service since 1982, and become the new platform of Italy’s National Aerobatic Team.
The first M-345 is expected to be delivered in 2020.
More from Training
-
![Inzpire and RAF to run major tactical interoperability exercise]()
Inzpire and RAF to run major tactical interoperability exercise
This year's Exercise Cobra Warrior was the largest exercise in UK airspace for two years and saw the participation of 80 aircraft from international allies.
-
![British Army faces critical digitisation and modernisation challenges]()
British Army faces critical digitisation and modernisation challenges
The UK Integrated Review outlined how the UK plans to compensate for the loss of numbers with more advanced technologies, novel training solutions and the acceleration of digitisation across all forces. A year on, it is still unclear how the British Army will reach the desired sophistication and readiness levels.
-
![Poland to the fore in major FMS programmes for simulation and training]()
Poland to the fore in major FMS programmes for simulation and training
Polish procurement of new Abrams MBTs feeds into FMS-funded training requirements — and other European allies are benefiting from US largesse.
