Italy Signs for Six M-346 Jet Trainers
ROME - The Italian Ministry of Defense signed a long-awaited contract Nov. 10 for a first-tranche order of six M-346 advanced jet trainer aircraft from Alenia Aermacchi.
Under the 220 million euro ($329 million) contract, which makes Italy the launch customer for the M-346, the Italian Air Force will receive the aircraft as well as flight simulators, Italy's Finmeccanica announced. Alenia Aermacchi is a subsidiary of Alenia Aeronautica, which is a unit of Finmeccanica.
Italy has planned to order a total of 15 M-346 Master aircraft.
The contract also includes logistics support, training and "the construction of part of the logistic-infrastructural platform to be used for training and ground operations," Finmeccanica said. "This will consist of multimedia training rooms and a new flight line for the M-346 Master to be built at the Lecce Flying School, along with a hangar and maintenance services for the aircraft."
The first two aircraft are scheduled for delivery by the end of 2010 and will initially be based at the Air Force's flight-testing center at its Pratica di Mare Air Base. The remaining four aircraft will be delivered by the end of 2011.
The contract has been in the works since May 2007, when the Italian government first announced it would acquire the aircraft.
Funding for the acquisition was provided by Italy's Industry Ministry, which took longer than anticipated to free up the funds.
The deal comes just days before the Dubai Air Show, increasing the possibility that the United Arab Emirates - which has selected the M-346 for a 48-aircraft requirement - will sign a contract at the show. The United Arab Emirates had indicated that it did not want to be the launch customer for a jet trainer.
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