A delivery ceremony for the Italian Air Force’s eighteenth M-346 took place today at Leonardo’s Aircraft Division site located at Venegono Superiore (Varese) The Italian Air Force base also utilises LVC (Live Virtual and Constructive Simulation) technology Thanks to LVC it is possible to link simulators to live sorties allowing a pilot flying a full-motion training device on the ground to act as the wingman or as a target for an aircraft already in the air.  The M-346 ordered by the Italian Air Force, Republic of Singapore Air Force, Israeli Air Force and Polish Air Force is the basis of the T-100 Integrated Training System the solution offered by Leonardo DRS in the T-X competition for the U.S Air Force’s integrated training system programme the ability to develop high angles of attack and extreme manoeuvrability allow the M-346 to offer flight conditions comparable to those of new-generation combat aircraft This maximises training effectiveness and reduces the need to fly sorties on the far more expensive and complex variants of frontline types Its Embedded Tactical Training Simulation (ETTS) allows the M-346 to emulate sensors as well as allowing pilots to interact in real time with a virtual tactical scenario further enhancing flexibility and cost reduction vocal control inputs and in-flight refuelling probe the M-346 can carry out a complete tactical training syllabus.  VENEGONO, Italy — Executives of aerospace company Leonardo told an Alabama delegation touring an aircraft facility in Italy that preparations for a manufacturing operation in Tuskegee are on track to provide the T-100 next-generation jet trainer for the U.S to the Venegono Superiore factory for a detailed look at how the company manufactures an advanced trainer aircraft similar to the T-100 that is already in service in three countries On Wednesday, executives of Leonardo and its partners provided the Alabama group with an update on the T-100 project, which calls for the construction of a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility with 750 workers at Moton Field, the historic home of the Tuskegee Airmen head of industrial engineering for the Leonardo Aircraft Division outlined a series of project milestones leading up to the beginning of initial production in Tuskegee in 2022 if the Air Force selects the T-100 to replace its fleet of aging T-38 trainers The Air Force decision is expected in March 2018 “We have a strong plan to transition production over to the U.S.,” Sibona told the Alabama group construction at the Moton Field site would begin in July 2018 with final completion of the production campus coming in 2021 Hiring for the Alabama manufacturing facility would commence near the start of 2020 with low-rate production of T-100 aircraft beginning there two years later Full-scale production is expected to begin in 2023 Leonardo’s Venegono Superiore 300,000-square-meter manufacturing complex specializes in the production of military training aircraft which will serve as the basis for the T-100 and the facility hosts a ground-based integrated flight training system laboratory “This is really the place for training aircraft in Italy and I think the most important site for training aircraft in the world,” Francesco Bernardi head of business development and strategy for the Leonardo Aircraft Division Alabama officials learned how Leonardo workers produce individual aircraft components such as wings and the forward fuselage The Alabama group also saw training aircraft in the final stages of completion at the facility raced down the facility’s runway and lifted off for a test flight that drew cheers from members of the Alabama delegation Tuskegee Mayor Tony Haygood said observing the work flow in Leonardo’s manufacturing facility brought into sharper focus what Macon County officials need to do to better prepare Moton Fields’ infrastructure for the T-100 plant and into the kind of jobs that will be needed on the manufacturing line “We got a chance to really see and understand what is happening here,” Haygood said “We saw first-hand how the assembly takes place and what types of training may be necessary so we got a full understanding of how this is done and what the process looks like from beginning to end.” “Alabama has a rich history with the aviation industry and continues to be a global leader. ” The project would bring production of the Air Force’s trainer jet to the site where the celebrated Tuskegee Airmen received their training known as the “Red Tails,” flew fighter planes from bases in Italy during World War II secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce said the T-100 project represents a special opportunity for the company and its partners and for the regions around the airfield where the pioneering Tuskegee Airmen received their training “It’s really an opportunity to rekindle history in an area of our state that is known for breaking new ground and for breaking the color barrier while setting high standards for performance,” Secretary Canfield said “That’s what we want to do – we want to set new high standard for performance chief of staff to Alabama Governor Kay Ivey said he was pleased to represent the governor and participate along with community leaders from Macon county in this economic develop trip to visit with leadership of Leonardo “Alabama has a rich history with the aviation industry and continues to be a global leader the governor is very supportive of the potential partnership with Leonardo and has pledged the state’s full support if they are selected,” Pelham said “Creating new business investment such as Leonardo’s and creating 21st century jobs for Alabamians continues to be the governor’s highest priority,” he added Leonardo’s Sibona presented Pelham with a model of a T-100 aircraft is leading the project to build the T-100 in Alabama The M-346 base model has been selected as the jet training aircraft by the air forces of Israel Other partners on the project are Honeywell Aerospace which will provide the twin F124 turbofan engines for the T-100; and CAE which will provide a sophisticated integrated training system for the aircraft includes laboratories and a center for structural tests It also specializes in the production of nacelles the aerodynamic coverings of aircraft engines Workers at the production site have built more than 7,000 aircraft including about 2,000 trainers that have been sold to over 40 countries The Alabama Department of Commerce has been pursuing the company’s jet training aircraft project since 2010 Manufacturing Enterprise Innovation Alabama — Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama (HMMA) marked the 20th anniversary of its production launch in Montgomery on Friday with a day of celebration for its team members featuring family activities like carnival rides musical entertainment and a closing fireworks display Follow Alabama’s rapid
economic evolution—right from your inbox 800.248.0033 334.242.0400 contact@madeinalabama.com Why Alabama? Sectors Resources Contact Public Records Local Project Notification LinkedInXFacebookYouTubeLanguages: © Copyright 2025 All Rights reserved. See our Privacy Policy Thanks to an highly skilled workforce and to one of the most up-to-date the program is on time and budget to deliver the aircraft to the Israeli Air Force that will fly soon the most advanced jet trainer available on the market Israel ordered a total of 30 M-346 as advanced trainers to replace the TA-4 Skyhawks currently in service The M-346 is the ideal platform for a latest-generation integrated training system Its flexibility means that it can also be configured as an affordable advanced defence aircraft for operational roles Thanks to its innovative technical characteristics the aircraft also stands out because of its high degree of safety and low acquisition and operating costs The M-346 was been designed using the latest “design-to-cost” and “design- to-maintain” concepts with an avionics system modelled on those used in current (F-16 F-18) and new- generation fighter aircraft JSESSIONID - C9CA02508A3190E07E2C2374370ED3D8.lcsgepalsv049 BIGipServerPool-nuovo-sito-prod - 1443500298.20480.0000 f5avraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa_session_ - GINBOONIFHMCAFKJANNMFGPAMDJBOHBFLEHJOKANGFNNMHGBACEFAGGHIDOLHPNOEIBDCOGIOMDONKGLDAMAGDDCJMCDFJLDJGMHAMFGBCDOJJAOHPKIGAAOEPKLOHFM