Aircraft
Israel Chooses Italian M346 For Jet Training Duties
Israel will become the third customer for the Alenia Aermacchi M346 advanced jet trainer. (Photo: Alenia Aermacchi)
Israel will become the third customer for the Alenia Aermacchi M346 advanced jet trainer. (Photo: Alenia Aermacchi)

The Israeli Air Force (IAF) has selected the Alenia Aermacchi M346 as its new advanced jet trainer, in preference to the Korean Aircraft Industries (KAI) T-50. A joint venture between IAI and Elbit will acquire some 30 aircraft and provide training courses to the IAF under contract. The Israeli defense ministry said that the deal is worth about $1 billion, and that the Italian government has agreed to purchase equipment from the Israeli defense industry worth a similar amount, in offset.