The first two Leonardo M.346As of the Hellenic Air Force (reg. 250/251) landed yesterday at Kalamata AB.
On April 18, 2021, the Israeli company Elbit Systems announced that Greece and Israel had signed a preliminary agreement for a new flight school for the Hellenic Air Force (HAF), which includes the acquisition of 10 Leonardo M346 jet trainers. Elbit will supply the ten advanced lead-in fighter trainer (LIFT) aircraft from Leonardo, and will maintain the entire training fleet, consisting of M346 and T-6A Texan II training aircraft, for about 20 years.
According to the agreement, Elbit Systems will run the training school, which will be modeled after the Israeli Air Force’s Flight Academy. The M-346, as stated on Leonardo’s website, is the most advanced jet trainer aircraft designed for extensive training capabilities, long-term reliability, and operational activities at reduced costs. As the centerpiece of an integrated training system, the M346 represents the most modern solution for training the new generation of pilots.