Finmeccanica's Alenia Aermacchi delivered two advanced jet trainer M-346 produced for the Israeli Air Force (IAF) to the Hatzerim Israeli Air Force Base.
The trainers are to replace the TA-4s currently operated by the IAF.
In July 2012, Alenia Aermacchi was awarded a contract from the Israeli Ministry of Defense (IMOD) to supply 30 M-346 advanced jet trainer aircraft and to include ground based training systems in collaboration with other Israeli and International companies.
In addition to the two aircrafts delivered, other 6 M-346s for the IAF are completing final assembly whereas 5 others are in the process of structural part assembly at Alenia Aermacchi’s site of Venegono (near Milan). All 30 aircraft are expected to be delivered by the end of 2016.