Italian aerospace manufacturer Alenia Aermacchi has delivered the first two M-346 advanced trainer aircraft to the Israel Air Force (IAF). The two aircraft were received at the Hatzerim Air Force Base as part of a new fleet that will gradually replace the TA-4s currently operated by the IAF.
In July 2012, Alenia Aermacchi was awarded a $1 billion contract from Israel's Ministry of Defence to supply 30 such M-346 advanced jet trainer aircraft including ground based training systems that are being manufactured in collaboration with other Israeli and international companies.
Alenia Aermacchi said, “This is an important milestone for Alenia Aermacchi which, in less than two years, has signed the contract, performed the roll-out of the first aircraft last March and delivered the first two M-346s, on time with the program - a result which marks the excellent team job achieved in strict collaboration with Alenia Aermacchi’s industrial counterparts, TOR and Honeywell."
Back at Alenia Aermacchi’s at Venegono near Milan, six more M-346s for the IAF are completing final assembly and five others are in the process of structural part assembly. All 30 aircraft are expected to be delivered by the end of 2016.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on July 10, 2014
© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2014
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on July 10, 2014
© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2014