Jan. 4 – Alenia Aermacchi, a Finmeccanica company, has signed a contrace with the Israeli Elbit Systems Ltd. for the logistics support (CLS) of the 30 M-346 advanced trainers ordered by the Israeli Ministry of Defense in July 2012. The contract has a value of about $140 million, and the logistic support activities, which include the supply, repair and overhaul of spare parts for the Israeli M-346, will be provided in partnership with Elbit Systems. The 30 M-346 aircraft ordered by the Israeli Defense Ministry will replace the A-4 Skyhawks, at present still in service with the air force of the country, and the delivery of the first M-346 is scheduled for mid-2014. The M-346 is the ideal platform for an integrated and modern training system and, thanks to its flexibility, it can also be used in operational roles as low cost advanced defense aircraft. The first contract for an M-346 came at the end of 2009, when the Italian Air Force ordered six aircrafts and the land training system, and the first two specimens were finally delivered at the beginning of 2012. At the end of September 2010, the first international contract with the Government of Singapore was signed to supply 12 M-346 and the related land training systems (GBTS), while in June 2011 the contract for ST Aerospace logistical support was finalized.
