Italy, Austria finalize G2G agreement to supply 12 M-346FA jets to Austrian Air Force

Leonardo M-346FA advanced trainer and light attack aircraft. 

The Italian Ministry of Defense confirmed at the beginning of May that it had finalized the Government-to-Government agreement with Vienna to supply the Austrian Air Force with 12 Leonardo M-346FA advanced trainer and light attack aircraft. The contract includes an option for an additional 12 aircraft and the following equipment:

- Full Mission Simulator (FMS), Unit Level Training Device (ULTD), Computer Based Training (CBT) and Simulation Based Training (SBT) for pilots;
- Live Virtual Constructive (LVC) capability;
- Eight Role Equipment kits for the FA configuration;
- 12 Helmet Mounted Devices (HMD);
- 12 Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) Interrogators;
- Link 16 and IRIS-T Integration;
- Eight Nexter NC621 20mm gun pods and 16 LAU-32 7-round rocket launchers;
- Eight Elbit SPEAR AECM pods.

This agreement had already been anticipated at the end of last year by the Austrian Ministry of Defense which had confirmed the budgeting of funds for the purchase of the Italian-built aircraft. It also confirms our 2020 analysis in which we had identified the M-346 Fighter Attack as the best solution for Austria.

Austria will use the aircraft as a trainer to replace its Saab 105 trainer jets that were decommissioned in 2020, but also envisages an air defense role for the new aircraft.

"By purchasing the jets, we are closing a significant capability gap in our air force," Austrian defense minister Klaudia Tanner said in a statement.

"This not only brings 100 percent of our pilot training back to Austria, but also significantly strengthens air defense. This increases the protection of Austria, the Austrian population and our neutrality against threats from the air," she said.

The jets will be based at Vogler Air Base in Linz-Hörsching in Austria.

The two seater M-346FA is a light fighter version of Leonardo's widely sold M-346 advanced trainer aircraft. It offers seven external hard points and can integrate air-to-air and air-to-surface munitions, targeting pods linked to helmet-mounted displays and 20mm gun pod.

Written by Matteo Sanzani

Image: Leonardo