International Test Pilot School has placed an order for M-346T advanced jet trainers from Leonardo after conducting an airborne evaluation of the aircraft at Ottawa International Airport in October 2025.
The agreement includes six Block 20 lead-in fighter trainer aircraft, options for six additional jets, and a final flight assessment. Deliveries to ITPS’s International Tactical Training Centre in North Bay, Ontario, are expected to begin in 2029 as part of efforts to expand NATO and allied fighter pilot training capacity.
The M-346 Block 20 configuration incorporates an advanced integrated training system featuring ground-based simulators and live, virtual, and constructive training elements that combine simulated and real-flight operations.
The aircraft is approximately 11.5 meters (38 feet) long with a wingspan of around 10 meters (33 feet). It is powered by twin Honeywell F124-GA-200 turbofan engines, enabling speeds of up to 1,090 kilometers (677 miles) per hour and operational ceilings reaching 13,715 meters (45,000 feet).
With its strong thrust-to-weight ratio and high-angle maneuverability, the M-346 is designed to prepare pilots for frontline fighters such as the F-35 Lightning II and Eurofighter Typhoon.
In July 2025, Textron and Leonardo also proposed the Beechcraft M-346N, derived from the M-346 platform, for the US Navy’s Undergraduate Jet Training System program. Beyond pilot training, the M-346 platform can also serve as a light attack aircraft, with nations including Austria, Indonesia, and Nigeria expressing interest in or acquiring the M-346FA combat variant.
