Poland To Buy 8 Jet Trainers From Alenia Aermacchi

Poland selected the Alenia Aermacchi M-346 jet trainer for its pilot training requirement, with a €280 million deal for eight aircraft scheduled to be signed in early 2014, the firm said Dec. 23.

Alenia Aermacchi beat competition from the BAE Systems Hawk and the KAI T-50 to clinch the deal, which covers a ground-based training system including flight simulators. The deal also includes training, technical and logistical support. The Polish ministry of defense has also taken an option for a further four aircraft.

The win marks another victory for the M-346 over the T-50 after the Italian aircraft beat out the South Korean-built trainer in competitions in Singapore and Israel. Italy has also ordered the M-346, bringing total orders to 48. The two aircraft are expected to compete again in the US T-X trainer competition.

December has proved to be a positive month for Alenia Aermacchi parent company Finmeccanica. On Dec. 19, its helicopter unit AgustaWestland was awarded a €1.15 billion contract by Norway to supply 16 AW101 search-and-rescue helicopters, with deliveries due to start in 2017.

The deal includes a multi-panel AESA radar built by Finmeccanica unit Selex ES. [via]