ITALY MINISTRY OF DEFENSE ORDERS JET TRAINERS, ATTACK HELICOPTER DEVELOPMENT FROM LEONARDO
ROME - The Italian Ministry of Defense inked contracts with local defense prime Leonardo on January 13 worth over €500 million ($530 million). The contracts involved the procurement of new M-345 jet trainers and another concerning a still-in-development attack helicopter ultimately expected to replace the Italian Army's AW129 Mangusta fleet.
The contract for the M-345 involves a first batch purchase of five of the basic/advanced lightweight trainers. This order is expected to eventually grow to involve 45 units. An upgrade of the Aermacchi S.211 trainer, the M-345 is seen as the eventual successor to Alenia Aermacchi MB-339A. Delivery of the first batch of new M-345s is expected in 2019.
Regarding the attack helicopter, Leonardo received a contract for the study, development, industrialization, production and testing of a prototype of a "new exploration and escort helicopter" (NEES). The contract also covers three initial production versions of the helicopter.
The Italian Army has a requirement for 48 new attack helicopters which would be used to replace the fleet of AW129s slated for retirement by 2025. Its current inventory of AW129 Mangusta's totals 48, of which 16 are used for training purposes.
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