With Air Forces defining their long-term strategic path for advanced pilot training, partly because of the fighter-jet evolution, Leonardo is able to offer, off-the-shelf, the most advanced technologies for pilot training, this thanks to its integrated training systems, namely M-345 Basic/Intermediate trainer and M-346 Advanced Jet Trainer. M-346 is considered to be the most advanced and proven solution available in the “Lead-In Fighter Training” (LIFT) phase, designed to prepare pilots for immediate transition to various latest generation fighter aircraft, including the Eurofighter Typhoon and the F-35 Lightning II. The M-346 training system was designed from the outset to deliver the highest possible levels of teaching effectiveness, whilst offering a truly cost effective training solution: “downloading” fast-jet flying hours to an advanced trainer from the increasingly expensive fighters at the Operational Conversion Unit or frontline squadrons, enables huge cost savings and optimization of training, developing in the students those skills and practices necessary to operate within complex operational scenarios.

The M-346 training system permits integration of in-flight aircraft (Live), ground based Full Mission Simulators (Virtual) and Computer-Generated Forces (CGF - Constructive) allowing student pilots to interact in real-time within a virtual tactical scenario: a LVC environment that replicates complex and challenging operational scenarios, further enhancing teaching effectiveness and cost-effectiveness. With more than 120,000 hours flown, the cutting-edge M-346 is at the forefront of jet training technology. Leonardo is already contracted to deliver more than 100 M-346 aircraft to international air forces, including Italy, Israel, Poland, Singapore, Qatar and Greece. Moreover, the M-346 is the backbone of the Italian Air Force and Leonardo’s International Flight Training School (IFTS), with many countries selecting the training school for their pilots: Italy, Japan, Germany, Qatar, Singapore, Canada, Austria, UK, Saudi Arabia and Sweden.