The agreement allows for the possible purchase of an additional 12 aircraft in two future batches of six. Austria had initially expressed its intent in December 2024 by signing a Letter of Intent with Leonardo, marking the start of the replacement process for its Saab-105OE jet trainers, which were retired in December 2020.
The M-346 FA had long been the frontrunner for Austria’s armed forces, which sought an affordable, versatile light jet aircraft. It is set to fulfil four main roles: pilot training with real weapons exposure, JTAC training to reduce domestic training costs, close air support for ground and special forces, and reconnaissance missions using advanced targeting pods and AESA radar.
The new aircraft will also support Austria’s Eurofighter Typhoon fleet, particularly in intercepting slow-moving aerial targets such as light aircraft, helicopters, and drones. Austrian officials emphasised the increasing threat posed by unmanned aerial vehicles, with the Typhoon fleet of 15 jets potentially inadequate for mass incursions.
Given the need for extended air patrol durations, the M-346 FA will be equipped with in-flight refuelling capability. Each aircraft will be fitted with a probe compatible with KC-390 tanker-transport aircraft, which Austria has recently ordered.
Austria becomes the first country to order the M-346 FA in its upcoming Block 20 configuration, a variant still under development. Block 20 will feature a next-generation cockpit with large-area touchscreen displays (LAD), low-profile head-up displays (LPHUD), and advanced helmet-mounted displays (HMD), alongside an AESA radar offering greater target tracking range than the current Grifo-346 radar.
According to the schedule, the Block 20 prototype is expected to be completed by mid-2027. Production-standard aircraft are anticipated to be ready by late 2028.
