The Canadian and Italian Prime Ministers launched the negotiations to procure the M-346 advanced jet trainer for the Royal Canadian Air Force.
Canada’s Prime Minister, Mark Carney, and Italy’s Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, launched the negotiations for Canada’s purchase of the M-346 advanced jet trainer. The two officials met on June 16, 2026, on the sidelines of the 2026 G7 Leaders’ Summit in Évian, France.
The official press release by the Canadian government frames the acquisition among the increasingly close ties between the two countries in defense and security. “Leveraging Italian expertise in aerospace and defense, this agreement will enable the Royal Canadian Air Force to train in state-of-the-art equipment and build sovereign training capability,” says the statement.
The new development comes less than a month after the International Test Pilots School Canada (ITPS Canada) has ordered the M-346T Block 20 as its new jet trainer. The RCAF, as part of the modernization of its training pipeline, has been working on a Future Fighter Lead-in Training (FFLIT) program to replace the fleet of CT-155 Hawk jet trainers.
The Hawks were retired in March 2024 after 24 years of service as they were “no longer meeting the needs of in-air training for fifth-generation fighters like the RCAF’s future CF-35A,” said the Ministry of Defense. Since a replacement was not yet selected, Canadian pilots continued their training at the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training (ENJJPT) program at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas and the Italian Air Force’s International Flight Training School (IFTS) at Decimomannu Air Base, Italy.
Details about the future acquisition of the M-346 by the RCAF are not yet available. Canada originally acquired 22 CT-155 trainers, although it is unclear if they will be replaced on a one-to-one basis.
The new FFLIT will see the RCAF and CAE working together to develop and refine the program, which will prepare and train pilots for the transition to the CF-35A. Notably, CAE also partnered with Leonardo and the Italian Air Force for the IFTS, which similarly employs the M-346 trainer.
While not specified, it is likely the RCAF will acquire the new Block 20 variant of the M-346. This could also lead to synergies with ITPS Canada’s fleet of M-346s, which are meant to support the expansion of NATO and Allied tactical fighter pilot training at the company’s International Tactical Training Centre (ITTC) in North Bay, Ontario.
Future Aircrew Training
The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) is undertaking a major transformation of its training system through the Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) program. The effort is designed to prepare pilots and mission specialists for increasingly complex operational environments while supporting the introduction of new aircraft fleets and capabilities.
The FAcT program saw a 25-year contract awarded to SkyAlyne in 2024 to equip the service with state-of-the-art platforms for aircrew training. The program will consolidate several legacy training systems into a single, integrated pipeline for pilots, Air Combat Systems Officers (ACSOs), and Airborne Electronic Sensor Operators (AES Ops).
The goal is to combine live flying, advanced simulators, classroom instruction, maintenance support, and new training infrastructure across multiple Canadian bases. A total of 71 aircraft across five fleets are being introduced, including the CT-102B Astra II, CT-157 Siskin II, CT-153 Juno, CT-145E Expeditor II, and CT-142Q Citadel.
Beyond new aircraft, the RCAF is also modernizing how training is delivered. The Training Modernization Strategy promotes a more integrated and technology-enabled approach, emphasizing data-driven instruction, expanded use of simulation, and a “just-in-time” training model that delivers knowledge when it is needed rather than teaching skills “just in case” they are required later, explained the MoD.
This strategy also envisions the use of artificial intelligence and advanced learning tools to personalize training, improve efficiency, and reduce the burden on instructors. Once fully implemented, the new training ecosystem is expected to provide a more flexible, scalable, and operationally relevant pipeline, ensuring that future RCAF aircrew are better prepared for modern aerospace and combat missions.
M-346 Block 20
Leonardo announced at the 2024 Farnborough International Air Show the launch of a comprehensive capability enhancement package for the M-346. This major upgrade comes as the M-346 fleet surpassed 100,000 flight hours as well as ten years of service.
Both M-346 AJT (Advanced Jet Trainer) training and M-346 LFFA (Light Fighter Family of Aircraft) fighter variants will benefit from these enhancements for a wide spectrum of applications, while implying significant margin for further developments in the future. Leonardo said that ‘M-346 T Block 20’ and ‘M-346 F Block 20’ are the designations for the new standard of both aircraft.
The Block 20 standard cockpit will be completely renewed, featuring two Large Area Displays (LAD), one per each seat, replacing the existing six Multi-Functional Displays (MFD), plus a low-profile Head-Up Display (HUD). These will be combined with a new digital video and data recorder and a new augmented reality Helmet Mounted Display (HMD).
The M-346 Block 20 will also benefit from new navigation, weapon management, flight management system, IFF (Identification of Friend or Foe) transponder. Specifically for the M-346 F variant, further critical capability enhancements include an AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) radar featuring fire control radar capability, integration of new weapons for both air-to-air and air-to-ground roles in addition to a built-in missile datalink.
