Article Posted on : - Jun 08, 2016

The rolling out ceremony of the first M-346 jet trainer for Poland. A Leonardo-Finmeccanica photo

VARESE, ITALY (BNS): Italian aircraft maker Leonardo-Finmeccanica has rolled out the first of eight Aermacchi M-346 advanced jet trainers (AJTs) meant for Poland.

The roll-out ceremony took place at Leonardo-Finmeccanica's facility in Venegono-Superiore near Varese on June 6 in the presence of high-ranking officials.

Poland had ordered the eight Aermacchi M-346 AJTs in 2014.

The first aircraft will now undergo a flight test programme to certify bespoke systems chosen by the Polish Air Force such as the brake parachute. It will then be delivered to the customer by the end of the year along with a second aircraft.

Deliveries of all the aircraft will be completed by November 2017, the company said.

The M-346 has been ordered by the Air Forces of Italy (18), Singapore (12), Israel (30) and Poland (8) for a total of 68 orders.