Austria has concluded a landmark 1.5-billion-euro ($1.7 billion) deal with Italy to procure 12 M-346FA fighter-attack aircraft from Leonardo, cementing its move toward a more flexible and modernized air force. The aircraft will be delivered starting 2028 to Linz-Hörsching Air Base, where they will support mission operations and provide comprehensive pilot training. The total package, priced at approximately 80 million euros per aircraft, includes armament, training systems, simulators, and long-term sustainment services.
Defense officials highlighted that the M-346FA fleet will reinforce Austria’s two-tier airpower model, combining Eurofighter Typhoons for high-threat air defense with a lighter, cost-efficient platform for training, routine missions, and support roles. Importantly, the acquisition enables Austria to return all fighter pilot training to domestic facilities, reducing reliance on foreign instruction programs previously hosted in Italy and Germany.
The government also underscored the industrial benefits tied to the program. Agreements associated with the purchase will deliver around 400 million euros ($464.5 million) in economic activity to Austrian companies. These opportunities span aerospace manufacturing, digital engineering, materials development, simulation technology, and sensor-system integration, offering broad support to national industry.
Leonardo’s M-346FA, an upgraded combat-capable variant of the M-346 trainer, brings enhanced avionics, targeting sensors, and weapons flexibility. The aircraft measures 11 meters in length with a 10-meter wingspan, and it can be armed with machine guns, cannons, unguided bombs, and a range of air-to-surface and air-to-air missiles. Powered by twin Honeywell F124-GA-200 engines, the jet reaches 575 knots, flies up to 1,200 nautical miles, and operates at altitudes of 45,000 feet, offering Austria a versatile and reliable multirole platform.
