Article Posted on : - Jul 04, 2012

The M-346. An IAF photo.

JERUSALEM (BNS): The Israeli ministerial procurement committee has approved a deal to purchase 30 Aermacchi M-346 Master planes for the air force pilot training school at a cost of more than NIS 4 billion.

The deal will lead to the replacement of the IAF's aging Skyhawk trainers, which for 40 years have been the mainstay of the air force's advanced jet training programme.

According to the Israeli minister's cabinet, the Italian M-346 will be named the official new instructional airplane of the IAF by 2015.

The M-346 is a combination of the F-15, F-16 and Eurofighter.

"It's a crossbreed of the F-15, F-16 and the Eurofighter. In contrast to the South Korean airplane candidate, the Italian airplane has two engines opposed to one, which holds a very significant safety advantage. In the long run, it'll assist us with the F-35 and prepare us for the future," the IAF quoted Colonel K, head of the Instructional Department, as saying.