Leonardo has signed a contract with the Italian Directorate of Aeronautical Armaments and Airworthiness for the supply of 12 M-346 multirole aircraft to the Austrian Air Force (Luftstreitkräfte), responding to the defence needs of Austria’s national airspace and territory and for the training of its military pilots.

The contract includes aircraft supplied in the light fighter configuration under the new M-346 F Block 20 standard, equipped with cockpits featuring a Large Area Display (LAD), active electronically scanned radar, a Link 16 data-link, electronic countermeasures, and new weapons systems. The supply also includes a complete suite of simulation systems, an initial stock of spare parts, ground equipment and logistics / maintenance support for six years following the delivery of the first aircraft. 

 This new development follows two contracts already signed in 2022 and 2023 for the supply of 36 (18 + 18) AW-169M LUHs (Light Utility Helicopter) to the Austrian Ministry of Defence. It also follows the Austrian MoD’s decision to rely upon the IFTS (International Flight Training School) based in Decimomannu (Cagliari, in Sardinia), Italy to train its fighter pilots, a decision which allowed to fully appreciate the features and operational qualities of the M-346, the backbone of the school.  

Stefano Bortoli, Managing Director of Leonardo’s Aeronautics Division, said: “We’re extremely proud of the launch of Austria’s M-346 programme, and we are aware of the value that the synergy between national institutions and industry can generate in response to the emerging requirements of friend countries, as we have already seen in the past. And so we are pleased to continue doing our part, supplying aeronautical solutions enabled by significant technological enhancements. At the same time, this programme confirms the international competitiveness of the M-346 system. It responds to the need for operational versatility dictated by today’s scenarios requiring responsiveness and adaptability, growing digitisation, efficient management of new defence assets, complementarity and interoperability, and suitable training for personnel".   

In Austria, the M-346 F Block20 will replace the Saab 105, retired from service in 2020, in the dual role of fighter for lower-intensity operations and advanced trainer. Leonardo's platform simultaneously offers a complete, integrated advanced flight training system - including a GBTS (Ground Based Training System), combined simulated elements and scenarios with real flights according to a Live, Virtual and Constructive (LVC) logic - with additional light combat capabilities for air-to-air and air-to-surface missions enabled by advanced mission systems, equipment and sensors, also including aerial refuelling capability. 

The M-346 is the core element of a cutting-edge and continuously evolving advanced flight-training system that has already demonstrated its effectiveness: a success story that has logged over 150,000 hours in flight with nearly 160 aircraft sold to date, enabling several air forces in Europe and worldwide to train pilots for flying high-performance fighters such as the Eurofighter, F-35 and next-generation ‘combat air systems’. 

20 countries already train their pilots on the M-346 or have chosen this aircraft, in the fighter version, as a light multirole fighter. Thanks to its high-performance capabilities and manoeuvrability, the M‑346 has also been chosen by the Italian Air Force as the future aircraft for the “Frecce Tricolori”, Italy’s national aerobatic team.