ALENIA AERMACCHI (FINMECCANICA) AND ITALIAN MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

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Le Bourget, 18 June 2009
ALENIA AERMACCHI (FINMECCANICA) AND ITALIAN MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
SIGN AGREEMENT TO SUPPLY SIX M-346s
At the 48th International Air Show at Le Bourget, Paris, the Italian Defence Ministry and Alenia
Aermacchi, a Finmeccanica company, announced that the agreement to supply six M-346 Master
aircraft and an integrated training service to the Italian Air Force is in the process of being finalised.
The agreement foresees the acquisition of a further nine aircraft, for a total of 15 M-346s Master.
The agreement confirms the close partnership between the Italian Air Force and Alenia Aermacchi,
and means that the former will be the first user of the M-346 Master, the most advanced trainer
aircraft on the market today, which is aimed at military pilots flying 4th- and 5th-generation combat
aircraft.
The agreement also includes a series of joint initiatives between Alenia Aermacchi and the Italian
Air Force to develop international training support capabilities for the Air Forces of other countries
through flight simulators, GBTS (Ground Based Training System) and integrated logistics.
The Italian Defence Ministry was an effective supporter of the M-346 during the recent tender
process held in the United Arab Emirates, which selected 48 Alenia Aermacchi trainer aircraft after
receiving several competitive bids. The contract is currently being negotiated.
This important success came following major investment begun by Alenia Aermacchi in 2000 in the
field of advanced trainers, thanks to the significant support from the Italian Ministry for Economic
Development.
The Aermacchi M-346 is the only next-generation trainer aircraft currently in production in Europe.
The aircraft can train pilots of future combat planes and can be used in all phases of advanced and
pre-operational training, thus reducing flight hours in more costly aircraft.
Currently the trainer program has achieved a comprehensive level of maturity, demonstrating its
amazing capabilities and performance and delivering speeds which reached the sound barrier at the
end of 2008. Aggressive development and test activities are underway to deliver the capabilities
required by the Italian Air Force on time.

Source
http://www.finmeccanica.it/EN/Common/files/Holding/Corporate/Sala_stampa/Comunicati_stampa/Anno_2009/Com_M346_18_06_09_ING.pdf