Alenia Aermacchi, a Finmeccanica company, has signed a contract with Israeli Ministry of Defence to supply 30 M-346 advanced trainer aircraft.
The deal is part of a larger Government-to-Government agreement between Israel and Italy that includes aircraft, engines, maintenance, logistics, simulators and training, provided also by other Israeli and international companies.
The new aircraft will replace the A-4 Skyhawks currently in service and will make up the new trainer fleet of the Israeli Air Force. Delivery of the first M-346 is expected in the middle of 2014.
Giuseppe Giordo, Alenia Aermacchi Chief Executive Officer and Responsible for the Aeronautics Sector of Finmeccanica, said, “The signature of the contract with Israel for the supply of 30 M-346 – including an advanced training system – is the result of the technological and productive excellence of the Italian industry, the highly regarded collaboration between the two countries and the synergies with the Italian Defence Ministry. This achievement is an outstanding success for Italy, both at institutional and industrial level. The women and the men of Alenia Aermacchi, our partners, the small and medium enterprises that participate in the programme must be honoured to be part of this great accomplishment”.
Following the contract signed in 2010 with the Singapore Air Force and the one with the Italian Air Force in 2009, this new international achievement makes the M-346 the worldwide best seller for new generation trainer aircraft and is testimony to the excellence of the high-technology of the Finmeccanica Aeronautics Sector Companies.

Alenia press release