ROME – The Armament Inspectorate of the Polish Ministry of Defence has signed a contract worth more than 115 million euros with Leonardo for the purchase of four new aircraft. The M-346 Advanced Jet Trainers will be added to Poland’s existing fleet of eight aircraft by 2020.

 Leonardo's latest multi-million-euro contract follows a series of high-profile deals with countries throughout the world, totalling 72 aircraft spread across Italy, Poland, Singapore and Israel. Tied into the purchase is the opportunity to add a further four aircraft and support package to the current deal.

 The new M-346 jets will bolster the Polish Air Force, integrating cutting-edge technology to offer the most advanced trainer aircraft available today, hence providing optimum preparation for pilots.

 Leonardo’s Chief Executive Officer, Alessandro Profumo, has stressed the significant role that training will play in Leonardo’s strategy, in keeping with the Company’s 2018-2022 Industrial Plan, “as it allows us to develop a deep understanding of our customers’ needs and to collaborate with them in the long term”.

 Training effectiveness has become a focus of Leonardo’s jets as the M-346 aircraft boast wide flight envelopes, a high thrust to weight ratio and extreme manoeuvrability. This falls alongside the aircraft’s impressive cost efficiency as the need to fly far more expensive sorties is dramatically cut and the Embedded Tactical Training Simulation centres around real time interaction in virtual tactical scenarios.

 Mr Profumo has praised the company’s ties with Poland, where they now position 3000 highly-skilled workers at Świdnik’s PZL helicopter site. He emphasised the magnitude of the contract which “reinforces Leonardo’s close partnership with Poland, a country where our technologies and skills are deeply rooted and which recognises the unique capabilities of our integrated training system based on the M-346 aircraft”.

 Leonardo’s aircraft delivery will further enhance Polish security as the purchase fortifies existing defence systems including the ground segment for the COSMO-SkyMed earth observation satellites, early warning radar and coastal surveillance systems, all of which have also been provided by Leonardo.

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