Austria finalizes purchase of 12 Italian M-346FA
aircraft for advanced training and light-attack roles.
·
1 Dec, 2025 - 5:57
Austria has confirmed a twelve-aircraft order for Leonardo’s
M-346FA, a package worth about €1.5 billion that includes weapons, simulators,
and long-term training support. The move positions Vienna to rebuild its
domestic jet pilot pipeline and strengthen light air support capabilities after
nearly a decade without home-based training.
Austria’s
Ministry of Defense announced on November 29, 2025, that it has finalized a
deal with Italy’s Leonardo for twelve M-346FA Fighter Attack aircraft, a
purchase officials described as a core part of the country’s long-term airpower
roadmap. The agreement covers armament, full-motion simulators, maintenance
support, and new training infrastructure, and places the aircraft at Linz
Hörsching Air Base starting in 2028. Austrian defense planners noted that the
acquisition restores jet pilot training on national territory for the first
time in years, a shift driven by both operational needs and rising regional
security demands.
The M-346FA
is a twin-engine light fighter and advanced jet trainer developed by Leonardo,
combining high-performance pilot instruction capabilities with secondary roles
in air policing and tactical support. Equipped with radar, precision munitions,
and embedded simulation systems, it offers cost-effective training and light
combat versatility for modern air forces. (Picture source: Wikimedia)
This
acquisition fulfills a long-delayed strategic objective: the implementation of
Austria’s two-fleet doctrine. For years, the Austrian Air Force has relied
solely on its Eurofighter Typhoons for high-end airspace surveillance. However,
with the retirement of the Saab 105Ö in 2020, the second, lighter component of
the fleet vanished, leaving a critical gap in training and readiness. The
M-346FA now fills that void, offering a multi-role platform optimized for
advanced pilot instruction, air policing, and lower-intensity missions.
The M-346FA
is a fighter-attack variant of Leonardo’s M-346 Master, a twin-engine advanced
jet trainer developed to bridge the gap between basic pilot training and
front-line combat aircraft. Unlike the baseline trainer, the FA configuration
adds a Grifo-346 multi-mode radar, enhanced avionics, self-defense systems, and
seven external hardpoints, enabling it to carry a range of air-to-air and
air-to-ground munitions. While capable of combat, the aircraft’s primary
strength lies in its versatility as a cost-effective trainer with embedded
tactical simulation and light attack capabilities, tailored for countries that
require dual-use functionality.
Despite its
"FA" designation, Austria does not intend to use the aircraft in a
front-line combat role. Instead, the M-346FA will serve as a versatile training
and support jet, capable of simulating combat scenarios while remaining
cost-effective for daily operations. This approach will allow the Eurofighter
fleet to focus exclusively on high-intensity air defense, while the M-346FA
takes over flight instruction, domestic air patrols, and non-combat operational
tasks. In the words of General Rudolf Striedinger, Chief of Defense, “We are
not building a second combat air fleet, but restoring our full-spectrum pilot
training and readiness framework.”
With this new
capability, Austria will no longer be dependent on foreign training programs in
Germany or Italy. Since 2020, Austrian fast-jet pilots have had to complete
their flight phases abroad, resulting in higher logistical costs and limited
availability. The re-establishment of a national jet training pipeline is a major
gain in operational sovereignty and cost control. MoD officials confirmed that
the package includes high-fidelity simulation and a full ground-based training
system, enabling Austria to train the next generation of combat pilots entirely
in-country for the first time since the Cold War.
The M-346FA,
derived from the successful M-346 Master trainer, features advanced avionics,
radar, and an embedded tactical training suite. While export customers such as
Nigeria and Turkmenistan operate the FA variant as a light combat aircraft,
Austria’s use case focuses on peacetime airspace security, pilot conversion,
and mission rehearsal. Its ability to replicate threat scenarios and train
pilots in live-virtual-constructive environments makes it a powerful force multiplier,
even without engaging in combat.
Strategically,
the decision to buy from Leonardo reflects Austria’s continued
defense-industrial ties within the European Union. The purchase also positions
Austria alongside other nations exploring mixed-fleet models that combine
high-performance aircraft with lighter, more economical systems. As defense
budgets tighten and training demands grow, Austria’s two-tier approach may
become a model for smaller NATO and Partnership for Peace countries seeking to
balance efficiency with readiness.
At €80
million per unit, the M-346FA acquisition is Austria’s most significant air
force investment in over a decade. Deliveries are expected to begin in 2027,
with full operational capability slated for 2028. Once online, the fleet will
not only train Austria’s future fast-jet pilots, but also support domestic
sovereignty missions, border monitoring, and regional cooperation exercises,
all while preserving the Eurofighter fleet for higher-threat contingencies.
In restoring
this capability gap, Austria reasserts its autonomy in air operations and
training. It is a critical step in the evolving security architecture of
Central Europe.
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