Austria will receive the upgraded M-346F Block 20 jets under a contract signed by Leonardo with the Italian Directorate of Aeronautical Armaments and Airworthiness.
Leonardo has confirmed it signed a contract with the Italian Directorate of Aeronautical Armaments and Airworthiness for Austria’s M-346 order. While Austria had previously announced it would acquire the light fighter variant, Leonardo stated the country will now receive the upgraded M-346F Block 20 configuration. The M-346F is the new designation for the M-346FA following the Block 20 upgrade.
The Austrian Contract
Leonardo confirmed that Austria’s contract covers 12 M-346 aircraft in the light fighter configuration under the new M-346F Block 20 standard. The deal also includes a full suite of simulation systems, an initial stock of spare parts, ground equipment, and six years of logistics and maintenance support following delivery of the first aircraft.
Stefano Bortoli, Managing Director of Leonardo’s Aeronautics Division, commented: “We are extremely proud to launch Austria’s M-346 programme and recognize the value created when national institutions and industry work together to meet the evolving needs of partner nations, as demonstrated in past collaborations.”
This contract follows a Government-to-Government agreement between Austria and Italy signed in May 2025, preceded by a Letter of Intent in December 2024. Leonardo noted that this is not the first defense collaboration between the two countries, as Austria previously acquired 36 AW169M LUH helicopters through a similar arrangement.
Stefano Bortoli, Managing Director of Leonardo’s Aeronautics Division, said: “We are pleased to continue supplying advanced aeronautical solutions. This programme highlights the international competitiveness of the M-346, offering operational versatility, digitization, efficient management of new defence assets, interoperability, and effective personnel training.”
The Austrian Ministry of Defense stated that the unit price of the M-346 is €80 million, with the full package—including armament, simulator, training, and maintenance—totaling around €1.5 billion. Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner explained the aircraft will serve both operational and training roles.
Tanner and Economy Minister Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer emphasized that the purchase advances Austria’s security policy while generating domestic industrial value. An associated industrial agreement with Italy is expected to create approximately €400 million in orders for Austrian industry.
Austrian Procurement
In September 2024, Austrian Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner indicated that Austria was exploring a joint purchase of M-346 jet trainers with Italy. The aircraft was sought for dual roles: training as well as air surveillance and defense, complementing Austria’s Eurofighter fleet.
Following the agreement signed in May 2025, Austria confirmed it would acquire the Leonardo M-346FA, the light fighter variant of the M-346 Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT). The FA variant provides a combat-capable platform while maintaining the full dual-role functionality of the AJT.
Leonardo has signed a contract with the Italian Directorate of Aeronautical Armaments and Airworthiness confirming that Austria will receive the upgraded M-346F Block 20 variant. Previously, documents only referenced the M-346FA light fighter variant; the Block 20 designation reflects the latest upgrade to the aircraft.
The Austrian Contract
The contract covers 12 aircraft in the light fighter configuration under the M-346F Block 20 standard. It also includes a full suite of simulation systems, an initial stock of spare parts, ground equipment, and six years of logistics and maintenance support following delivery of the first aircraft.
Stefano Bortoli, Managing Director of Leonardo’s Aeronautics Division, said: “We are extremely proud to launch Austria’s M-346 programme and recognize the value created by cooperation between national institutions and industry in meeting partner nations’ evolving requirements.”
Government-to-Government Agreement
This contract stems from a Government-to-Government agreement with Italy signed in May 2025 and a Letter of Intent in December 2024. Leonardo noted that Austria and Italy have a history of defense collaboration, including the purchase of 36 AW169M LUH helicopters.
Bortoli added: “This programme demonstrates the M-346 system’s international competitiveness, providing operational versatility, digitization, efficient management of new defence assets, interoperability, and effective training for personnel.”
The Austrian Ministry of Defense stated that the unit price of the aircraft is €80 million, with the full package—including armament, simulator, training, and maintenance—totaling approximately €1.5 billion. Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner noted that the M-346 will serve as both an operational and a training aircraft.
Tanner and Economy Minister Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer emphasized that the purchase strengthens security policy, enhances operational readiness, and generates industrial value in Austria. A parallel industrial agreement with Italy is expected to create around €400 million in domestic orders.
Austrian Procurement History
In September 2024, Tanner indicated Austria was considering a joint purchase of M-346 trainers with Italy for dual roles: training and air surveillance/defense, complementing the Eurofighter fleet. Following the May 2025 agreement, Austria confirmed it would acquire the M-346FA light fighter variant, which maintains the full dual-role capability of the Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT).
Package Details
According to the Italian Ministry of Defense, Austria’s package includes:
- 12 M-346FAs, with options for 12 more in two batches of six;
- Full Mission Simulator (FMS), Unit Level Training Device (ULTD), Computer-Based Training (CBT), and Simulation-Based Training (SBT);
- Live Virtual Constructive (LVC) capability;
- Eight Role Equipment kits for the FA configuration;
- 12 Helmet Mounted Devices (HMD) and 12 IFF Interrogators;
- Link 16 and IRIS-T missile integration;
- Eight Nexter NC621 20mm gun pods and 16 LAU-32 7-round rocket launchers;
- Eight Elbit SPEAR AECM pods for self-protection, electronic attack, and reconnaissance using DRFM and solid-state phased array transmitters.
The integration of IRIS-T missiles and the Elbit SPEAR AECM pods enhances the M-346’s operational flexibility, allowing it to perform both training and light combat missions.
M-346 Block 20
At the 2024 Farnborough International Air Show, Leonardo announced a major capability enhancement package for the M-346, marking the fleet’s milestone of over 100,000 flight hours and ten years in service.
The upgrade applies to both the M-346 AJT (Advanced Jet Trainer) and the M-346 LFFA (Light Fighter Family of Aircraft) variants, supporting a wide range of applications while leaving room for future developments. Leonardo confirmed that the new standard designations are M-346 T Block 20 for the trainer and M-346 F Block 20 for the fighter variant.
The Block 20 cockpit features a complete overhaul, including two Large Area Displays (one per seat) replacing the previous six Multi-Functional Displays, a low-profile Head-Up Display (HUD), a new digital video and data recorder, and an augmented reality Helmet Mounted Display (HMD).
The aircraft also benefits from upgraded navigation, weapon management, flight management systems, and an IFF transponder. The M-346F fighter variant adds critical capabilities, including an AESA radar with fire-control functionality, integration of new air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons, and a built-in missile datalink.
Key external upgrades include two wingtip missile rails (bringing total hardpoints to seven), new antennas, and a Defensive Aid Sub System (DASS). The M-346F is designed for multiple roles, including homeland defense/air policing, slow-mover interception, close air support (CAS), counter-insurgency (COIN), forward air controller – airborne (FAC-A), combat search and rescue (CSAR), interdiction, battlefield air interdiction (BAI), tactical air support for maritime operations (TASMO), and tactical reconnaissance, and can carry over 2,000 kg of weapons.
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