[Photo] Israel’s new advanced trainer aircraft rolled out

The first M-346 advanced trainer in the colors of the Israeli Air & Space Force was rolled out at Alenia Aermacchi’s plant in Venegono Superiore, Italy.

The first of 30 M-346 advanced jet trainer aircraft selected by the Israeli Air Force to replace the TA-4 Skyhawk currently operated by the IAF was presented to the authorities on Mar. 20.

The first M-346 is expected to be delivered to the IAF in summer 2014.

The “Master” has also been recently ordered by Poland, the fourth customer of the advanced trainer that is already in service with the Italian and Republic of Singapore Air Force. A total of 56 M-346 have been ordered so far.

Image credit: Alenia Aermacchi

 

Enhanced by Zemanta
About David Cenciotti
David Cenciotti is a journalist based in Rome, Italy. He is the Founder and Editor of “The Aviationist”, one of the world’s most famous and read military aviation blogs. Since 1996, he has written for major worldwide magazines, including Air Forces Monthly, Combat Aircraft, and many others, covering aviation, defense, war, industry, intelligence, crime and cyberwar. He has reported from the U.S., Europe, Australia and Syria, and flown several combat planes with different air forces. He is a former 2nd Lt. of the Italian Air Force, a private pilot and a graduate in Computer Engineering. He has written five books and contributed to many more ones.