Leonardo has signed a contract to supply six M-346 T Block 20 advanced jet trainers to ITPS Canada. The aircraft will support pilot training for NATO from the end of the decade.
ITPS Canada, or International Test Pilots School, is a Canadian organization focused on the training of test pilots and flight test engineers. The agreement adds to Leonardo’s recent export activity for the M-346 family, which has been positioned for advanced lead-in fighter training and modern pilot instruction.
The M-346 T Block 20 is a modernized version of Leonardo’s twin-engine, two-seat training jet. The aircraft family is designed for advanced training missions and, in its base configuration, has a maximum low-altitude speed of 1,090 km/h, a ceiling of 45,000 feet, and a sustained load factor of 8 g.
The order follows wider international demand for advanced trainers able to reproduce the demands of fourth- and fifth-generation fighter aircraft. Leonardo’s shares rose slightly after the announcement.