Leonardo has won a $338 million (300 million euros) contract to supply 13 Alenia Aermacchi M-345 HET (High Efficiency Trainer) aircraft to the Italian Air Force.
The contract includes ground-based training systems and a five year logistics support package, the company said in a statement Wednesday.
The new order follows an initial contract for 5 aircraft bringing the number of M-345 turbofan-powered military trainers ordered by Italy to 18.
The Italian Air Force has identified a requirement for around 45 M-345 aircraft (designated the T-345A) to progressively replace its fleet of 137 MB-339s, that have been in service since 1982, and to become the new platform of Italy’s National Aerobatic Team (Pattuglia Acrobatica Nazionale (PAN).