Alenia Aermacchi, a Finmeccanica company controlled by Alenia Aeronautica, officially delivered the eight MB-339CM to the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) in a ceremony held yesterday at the Langkawi International Show, in Malaysia.

The ceremony was chaired by the Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and was attended by Ing. Carmelo Cosentino, Chief Executive Officer of Alenia Aermacchi, by Italy’s National Armaments Director Gen. Aldo Cinelli, by the Italian Ambassador to Malaysia, Aldo Busacca, by Finmeccanica representatives and by all the staff involved.

The MB-339CM advanced trainers were ordered in late 2006. The contract, with an overall value of approximately 88 million Euro, includes eight aircraft as well as the provision of spare parts, ground equipment and services over a two-year period. It also covered the training of Malaysian pilots, which was undertaken at Alenia Aermacchi in the first quarter of this year. The aircraft were delivered in several batches, with the last two MB-339CM leaving Venegono on 28 November and reaching RMAF base Kuantan four days and over 12,000 km later.

Because of their «excellent characteristics that offer effective and complete training», said General Datuk Seri Rodzali Daud, chief of the RMAF, the Alenia Aermacchi MB-339CM will serve as Lead-In Fighter Trainers to prepare Royal Malaysian Air Force pilots to fly new generation fighter aircraft in service with the RMAF.

The Royal Malaysian Air Force selection confirms the excellent characteristics of the MB-339 that, in the new CM variant, is equipped with an advanced avionic system including Embedded Training Simulation, a digital map and new and modern safety devices. This MB-339 version offers a complete and effective training and answers the most sophisticated training needs.

The RMAF operated the MB-339 in the previous A variant for over 20 years and will now replace them with the new MB-339CM. These aircraft thus represent an ideal continuity in the training of Malaysian pilots and are further proof of the confidence placed in Alenia Aermacchi, which was been again called to provide Malaysia with high-quality aircraft offering the highest levels of effectiveness.

Source: Alenia