Aermacchi scoops UAE trainer prize

Thursday, 26 February, 2009

Yesterday afternoon the UAE announced that it had selected the Alenia Aermacchi M-346 Master for the UAE Air Force and Air Defence. A total of 48 M-346s will be supplied for both advanced training and the combat air support role.

Details of the contract and the final support package are still being finalised. Part of the Finmeccanica group, Alenia Aermacchi was selected after a three year evaluation of the M-346, KAI T-50 Golden Eagle and BAE Systems Hawk 128. The M-346 will be used for the fighter lead-in training role, as well as light attack.

Alenia Aermacchi’s chief executive, Carmelo Cosentino, was delighted at the UAE’s decision: “This is a big success for Italian aviation, for Alenia Aermacchi, and for Finmeccanica. This is the first export competition that we have been in, and we have won it.”

There is potential for a final assembly line to be established in the UAE, as a possible joint venture with Mubadala. Whether that happens or not is a UAE decision. “The customer is the master,” added Cosentino.

The UAE is still evaluating several types for its basic trainer requirement. The M-346’s smaller sibling, the M-311, is being proposed by Alenia Aermacchi for that competition.