Leonardo får stor bestilling fra det italienske forsvaret - AIN

M-345

Leonardo Gains Italian Orders To Boost Balance Sheet

Boosted by new practical support from the Italian government worth more than €500 million ($532 million), Leonardo reports “all conditions are in place for our next stage—growth,” according to CEO Mauro Moretti. The Italian Ministry of Defence has contracted for the company’s M-345 basic jet trainer, and for development of a new exploration and escort helicopter to replace the AW129 Mangusta. The revamped company also announced the reorganization of its substantial UK activities into a single entity named Leonardo MW Ltd.  The Italian air force will receive five M-345s toward a total requirement of 45 aircraft that will replace the MB-339 training fleet that was delivered from 1982 and now numbers 137. Pilots will graduate from the single-engine M-345 onto the M-346, Leonardo’s advanced twinjet trainer, 18 of which are on order or in service already. The prototype M-345 made its first flight from Leonardo’s Venegono airfield at Varese on December 30, marking the start of a test campaign that should be completed this year. The company describes the M-345 as a “High Efficiency Trainer” (HET) that offers a significant reduction in acquisition and life-cycle costs compared to those of powerful turboprop trainers, an obvious reference to the rival and very successful Pilatus PC-21.  Read More