Overview
- A contract signed Tuesday between Leonardo and ITPS Canada formalized the purchase of six M‑346 T Block 20 trainers with options for six more and sets deliveries to begin in 2029.
- The Block 20 standard adds modern avionics and cockpit upgrades, including large area displays, a digital video and data recorder, helmet‑mounted display capability with augmented reality, and embedded tactical training functions.
- The jets will be based at ITPS’s International Tactical Training Centre in North Bay to expand training for NATO and allied air forces and to support more than ten customer nations that use the centre.
- Key commercial and operational details remain undisclosed, including the contract value, whether a ground‑based training system is included, and whether the M‑346 will replace ITPS’s current L‑39 fleet.
- Leonardo says the M‑346 family has logged more than 160,000 flight hours and sold 160+ aircraft worldwide, and Leonardo and partners are also marketing the type to the Royal Canadian Air Force as Canada builds domestic lead‑in fighter training capacity.