Italian Air Force Doubles M-346 Fleet to 18

The contract covers logistic support and "an additional development phase" in training related to digital training aids, simulators and infrastructure at the Italian Air Force's Lecce base in southern Italy where the M-346s are based.

A total of 68 aircraft have now been ordered by Italy, Israel, Singapore and Poland.

"It has won all the most important international bids and we are offering it as the platform on which the new American Top Guns' trainer aircraft could be based," said Finmeccanica CEO Mauro Moretti, referring to the US TX jet trainer bid.

Finmeccanica has said that the delay in the latest M-346 order from Italy was a reason behind a dip in its aeronautics orders last year.

Email: tkington@defensenews.com

Twitter: @tomkington

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