On 12 September, the Italian Government sent the request for approval of the programme for the acquisition of 20 Leonardo T-346 aircraft to be allocated to the 313th Aerobatic Training Group of Rivolto, and to the 61st Wing, and to the related technical-logistical support.
As for the needs of the Aerobatic Team, the new aircraft would ensure its operation in view of the progressive decommissioning of the MB339 aircraft, in use for over 40 years. The Patrol is traditionally equipped with nationally produced aircraft, and in turn needs an aircraft capable of operating with high levels of maneuverability and reliability, also from a maintenance point of view.
The programme is designed according to a multi-year development plan with an assumed duration of 15 years (2024-2038). The total financial burden of the program is estimated at 1,636 million euros, of which 63 million are financed, from the appropriations deriving from the chapters of the investment sector of the Ministry of Defense’s 2024 ordinary budget within the resources available under current legislation. The completion of the programme, for the remaining total forecast value of approximately €1,573 million, will be achieved through subsequent measures, aimed at completing the planned acquisitions.
The 1st phase of the programme, to which the sums already available refer, is aimed at: the start of preliminary activities for the acquisition of aircraft; the development and integration of new technical solutions to equip new aircraft; the resolution of the obsolescence of the systems and plants that equip current aircraft and integrate them into newly acquired assets.
The program therefore refers not only to the acquisition of new aircraft, but to the modernization of similar aircraft already in use by the Air Force (on which see below).
The completion of the programme, for the remaining total forecast value of approximately 1,573 million euros, will be carried out, in compliance with an incremental and progressive logic, through subsequent financial measures, aimed at: the production of 15 aircraft in the T-346 PAN version (for the “Frecce Tricolori”); the purchase of 5 trainer aircraft, T-346, which will be added to the current fleet; the related integrated logistical support; the financing of studies for the development of new smoke bombs to be implemented on the aircraft of the National Aerobatic Team; the procurement of equipment, systems, equipment for the role; the purchase of ground support equipment and spare parts instrumental to the Maintenance of the Operational Capability of the T-346 PAN fleet; staff training; to ground systems functional to the shelter and maintenance of aircraft and training of flight personnel and maintainers in the bases of Decimomannu and Rivolto.
The report points out that the aircraft was also purchased by the Armed Forces of Singapore, Israel, Poland and Greece. The aircraft and its ground training system have allowed a significant increase in the number of countries that send their personnel to the Decimomannu flight school, for advanced training (Phase 4). The foreign drivers come from Germany, the United Kingdom, Japan, Austria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Canada, Singapore, Spain, Sweden and the Netherlands.
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