There may have been no M-346 at ILA, Leonardo was still marketing the new Block 20 version of advanced jet trainer/light attack aircraft launched in 2024
The new variant has been designed to confront the costs of flying fifth generation aircraft, the availability of new, more advanced cockpits, with an eye to the next generation of “Combat Air”. In doing so the M346 is receiving an update of the entire trainer system, with the inclusion of enhanced digitalisation and artificial intelligence.
To date there are three customers of the Block 20 known so far. The International Test Pilots School Canada is set to receive six M-346T advanced jet trainers (with options for six more) for use at its International Tactical Training Centre in North Bay, Ontario, the order being announced in May 2026, Austria ordered 12 M-346F light fighters in December 2025 to serve both training and national airspace defence roles. Indonesia selected the M-346F for light combat and pilot training in late 2025 and signed a letter of intent at Singapore Air Show in February 2026 with Leonardo to acquire 18 (later increased to 36) M346Fs. The Italian twin engine jet beat off competition from the TAI Hurjet and Korean Aerospace Industries FA-50.
Modernisation is sweeping across the Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU) right now with much of it through defence aerospace company PT E-Systems, which has been tasked to acquire new generation trainer aircraft in its role as an authorised Indonesian defence contractor. PT-E Systems Solutions will support maintenance, logistics and tactical flying, as part of the TNI-AU’s new Air Warfare Centre that is being created.
According to a senior PT E-Systems management source ‘the company will also integrate its own Indonesian designed Self Protection Jammer, integrate and qualify the Diehl IRIS-T short range air-to-air missile, integrate an indigenous data-link for targeting and cueing distribution, as well as an indigenous light MK-V Delta cruise missile.’
The source continued, ‘PT E-Systems Solutions will also participate in flight testing and in the qualification of Leonardo’s new ITAR-free Airborne Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) Grifo E600, using the company’s own flight test bed.’
This will make the M-346Fs more capable than the 23 surviving TNI-AU F-16C/D Block 52s equipped with the older APG-68 (V) radar, acquired between 2012-18.
The M-346 procurement plans are certainly an ambitious programme, that will see the Block 20 being used in a more capable operational role than in Canada and Austria. A contract is set to be signed by Leonardo and PT E-Systems Solutions on behalf of the Indonesian Ministry of Defence in Jakarta during early July, for the supply of 12 M-346Fs for delivery by early 2028 to replace the surviving BAE Systems Hawk Mk 109/209s delivered in the 1990s. A second tranche of 24 will be contracted in February 2027.
Image courtesy Leonardo
