Austria has finalized a 1.5-billion-euro ($1.7 billion) contract to acquire 12 M-346FA light combat aircraft from Italian manufacturer Leonardo.
The aircraft will be delivered to Linz-Hörsching Air Base starting in 2028 and will be used for both operational tasks and pilot training.
Each jet is priced at roughly 80 million euros ($92.8 million), with the overall package including weapons, simulators, training, and long-term support services.
Vienna said the M-346FA purchase advances its “two-fleet strategy,” under which Eurofighter Typhoons will continue performing airspace surveillance while the lighter M-346FA fleet handles training, lower-intensity missions, and support functions for high-performance aircraft.
The acquisition also enables Austria to conduct full pilot training domestically, reducing dependency on foreign programs in Italy and Germany.
Officials also emphasized the agreement’s industrial return, with parallel deals expected to bring around 400 million euros ($464.5 million) in orders to Austrian companies.
These projects span aerospace components, supplier industries, digital technology, and work in materials, simulation, and sensor technologies.
The M-346FA builds on Leonardo’s M-346 Master trainer platform, incorporating enhanced systems to support combat operations.
The aircraft is 11 meters (36 feet) long with a 10-meter (33-foot) wingspan and can carry machine guns, automatic cannons, unguided bombs, and a range of guided missiles.
Powered by two Honeywell F124-GA-200 turbofan engines, the jet can reach speeds of up to 575 knots (1,066 km/662 mph) with a range of 1,200 nautical miles (2,222 km/1,381 miles) and a service ceiling of 13,716 meters (45,000 feet).
