Breaking News: Austria Acquires 12 M-346FA Light Attack Aircraft from Italy to Strengthen Air Force.

On May 5, 2025, the Italian Ministry of Defense issued the Determinazione a Contrarre (DaC) that formalized a Government-to-Government (G2G) contract for the supply of twelve Leonardo M-346FA aircraft to Austria. The contract was signed through the Direzione degli Armamenti Aeronautici e per l’Aeronavigabilità (D.A.A.A.), acting on behalf of the Austrian Ministry of Defense.
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The M-346FA, which Austria is acquiring, represents the most heavily armed version of the M-346 trainer aircraft and includes radar and electronic warfare systems suitable for both training and operational missions. (Picture source: Leonardo)

The M-346FA trainer aircraft procurement for Austria includes a complete training and support package, with options for two additional batches of six aircraft each, potentially raising the total to twenty-four units. The agreement forms part of Austria’s broader Reconstruction Plan 2032. All funding is provided by Austria, which also assumes financial responsibility for any applicable VAT. Deliveries are expected to begin in 2027.

The procurement builds on two decades of bilateral military cooperation between Italy and Austria, initiated with a Memorandum on Military Cooperation signed on October 19, 2001. In 2020, the two countries signed a Technical Arrangement on cooperation in military helicopter aviation. This was followed by a Letter of Intent (LOI) signed in Vienna on December 30, 2024, and in Rome on December 31, 2024, expressing the intent to cooperate on military trainer aircraft. The Implementing Arrangement, signed on February 21, 2025, provided the legal and administrative framework for the acquisition. It confirmed that Italy would procure the aircraft and associated equipment from Leonardo S.p.A. for Austria, including provisions for support services, training systems, and options for future expansions of the fleet and capabilities.

The acquisition package includes twelve M-346FA aircraft, one Full Mission Simulator (FMS), one Unit Level Training Device (ULTD), eight Role Equipment kits for the Fighter Attack configuration, twelve Helmet Mounted Devices (HMD), and twelve Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) interrogators. Also included are one Computer-Based Training (CBT) set for four students and one instructor, seven Mission Planning and Debriefing Systems (MPDS), one Simulation-Based Training set with four pilot workstations and one instructor station, one Live Virtual Constructive (LVC) capability package with Real-Time Monitoring Station (RTMS), one Virtual Maintenance Trainer, program management services, Link 16 and IRIS-T missile integration, EMAR21 certification, and COM/NAV SBAS integration. The armament package consists of eight Nexter 20 mm gun pods, sixteen LAU-32 rocket launchers, and eight SPEAR AECM electronic countermeasure pods. The contract also includes training for flight and technical personnel and logistical support. The procurement is exempt from European Union public procurement procedures, due to its government-to-government nature.

The M-346 aircraft originated from a joint development between Aermacchi and Yakovlev during the 1990s under the Yak/AEM-130 program. The collaboration ended in 2000, after which Aermacchi independently developed the M-346, which first flew in 2004. The aircraft was designed as an advanced lead-in fighter trainer and has been adopted by several countries. Over time, the platform has evolved into a multi-role system with light combat capabilities. The aircraft is produced by Leonardo S.p.A., formerly Alenia Aermacchi, and is currently in service with the air forces of Italy, Israel, Singapore, Poland, Qatar, Turkmenistan, and others. The M-346FA variant, which Austria is acquiring, represents the most heavily armed version and includes radar and electronic warfare systems suitable for both training and operational missions.

Designed as a twin-engine, two-seat transonic jet, the M-346 features a digital fly-by-wire flight control system with quadruple redundancy, allowing safe operation at high angles of attack. (Picture source: Leonardo)

The M-346 is a twin-engine, two-seat jet with transonic performance. It features a digital fly-by-wire flight control system with quadruple redundancy and a modern glass cockpit equipped with three multifunction displays, HUDs for both seats, and optional HMDs. The aircraft includes an Embedded Tactical Training System (ETTS) that allows simulation of radar, weapons, and threats. This system works in conjunction with the Ground-Based Training System (GBTS), which includes simulators, mission planning tools, and instructional management systems. A Pilot Activated Attitude Recovery System (PARS) is integrated for safety. The avionics architecture is modular, enabling future upgrades. Communications systems include VHF/UHF radios, IFF transponders, Mid-air Collision Avoidance System (MIDCAS), and Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS).

The M-346 has spawned multiple variants. The M-346A is the baseline advanced trainer used by the Italian Air Force. The M-346FT adds operational capabilities such as light attack and tactical support while preserving training functions. The M-346FA, ordered by Austria, adds a multimode fire-control radar (Grifo-M346), electronic warfare systems, and seven hardpoints capable of carrying a payload of up to 3,000 kg. The Block 20 upgrade incorporates new features such as two Large Area Displays (LADs), a fully integrated HMD with augmented reality, and an upgraded digital video and data recorder. These upgrades support adaptive training and artificial intelligence-assisted learning through biometric and performance-based adjustments to the training syllabus. The M-346FA is also equipped with missile datalink capabilities and can be networked via LVC architectures.

In terms of performance, the M-346 has a maximum speed of Mach 1.2 and a service ceiling of 45,000 feet. It is powered by two Honeywell F124-GA-200 turbofan engines, optimized for transonic speeds without afterburners. The aircraft is equipped for both air-to-air and air-to-ground operations, with compatible weaponry including IRIS-T and AIM-9 air-to-air missiles, laser-guided bombs, general-purpose bombs, 12.7 mm and 20 mm gun pods, and electronic warfare pods such as the SPEAR AECM. The latter provides digital radio frequency memory (DRFM)-based jamming and deception techniques across wide frequency ranges. The aircraft can be configured for reconnaissance missions with appropriate pods. The cockpit systems support weapon control and data visualization through multifunction displays and HMD interfaces.

The M-346 program is expected to remain in production and development into the next decade. Leonardo continues to invest in updates to maintain operational relevance, including AI-based training tools and cyber-resilient avionics. The aircraft’s ability to bridge advanced training and operational use makes it relevant for air forces seeking cost-efficient solutions for pilot generation and light combat missions. Austria’s acquisition of the M-346FA is intended to reestablish national jet pilot training, expand its capacity for light attack and surveillance missions, and create a scalable foundation for future airpower modernization. The aircraft will support 3,600 fleet flight hours annually and provide the infrastructure needed to transition toward a future multirole combat aircraft expected to enter service by or before 2037, replacing Austria’s Eurofighter fleet.

The M-346FA can carry a wide range of munitions, including IRIS-T and AIM-9 air-to-air missiles, free-fall and laser-guided bombs, anti-ship missiles, and precision-guided munitions. (Picture source: Leonardo)