DefenseAustria signs €1.5bn deal for 12 Leonardo M-346FA aircraft, deliveries from 2028
Austria has concluded a €1.5 billion agreement to procure 12 Leonardo M-346FA aircraft, with initial deliveries scheduled for 2028 from the Linz-Hörsching Air Base.
The contract follows an agreement with Italy signed in May and a prior Letter of Intent in December, aiming to reestablish air force capabilities lost after the Saab 105 fleet retirement.
The procurement package covers armament, full-mission simulators, computer-based training systems, and maintenance, with a unit cost of €80 million per aircraft.
The M-346FA will serve dual roles, supporting both operational missions and pilot instruction. “The M-346FA will be used both as an operational aircraft and as a training platform,” said Klaudia Tanner, Minister of Defense.
Austria has secured an option for an additional 12 aircraft to supplement the initial order. The package also includes integrated training solutions to facilitate the reinstatement of the country’s pilot training capability.
The M-346FA features seven hardpoints and onboard self-defense systems, supporting missions such as air policing and tactical reconnaissance.
“The procurement represents progress in both security policy and the economy,” stated Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer, Minister of the Economy.
The phase-out of the Saab 105 in 2020 halted domestic pilot training, a gap the new fleet is intended to address as Austria seeks to modernize its air force infrastructure.
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