Leonardo, PT ESystem Solutions and Indonesia Sign M-346 Fighter Trainer Contract

Leonardo and PT ESystem Solutions Indonesia have signed a contract to supply the Indonesian Ministry of Defence with 12 M-346 F Block 20 multirole light fighter aircraft. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2030.

The agreement follows a letter of intent announced in February and forms part of Indonesia’s wider programme to modernise the Indonesian Air Force. In addition to the aircraft, the contract covers the localisation of support, maintenance, overhaul and training capabilities, as well as measures to develop local expertise and human capital.

According to Leonardo, the M-346 F Block 20 will provide Indonesia with both multirole combat capabilities and an advanced training platform for future fighter pilots. The aircraft can be used for air-to-air and air-to-surface missions while also supporting the transition to high-performance combat aircraft.

Indonesia will become the 23rd user of the M-346 system and the first Asian customer for the new Block 20 configuration. The standard has already attracted customers in Europe and North America.

Leonardo said its cooperation with PT ESystem Solutions was intended to create long-term benefits for Indonesia’s aerospace and defence industry through localised maintenance, training and industrial support.

“The introduction of the M-346 F in Indonesia provides clear evidence not only of the aircraft system’s inherent quality, but also of the country’s continued and growing trust in our capabilities across domains,” said Leonardo CEO and General Manager Lorenzo Mariani.

He added that the company intended to expand its contribution to Indonesia’s long-term aerospace and defence development plans in both established and new sectors.

The M-346 F Block 20 will feature a cockpit equipped with a large-area display, an active electronically scanned array radar, Link 16 data connectivity, electronic countermeasures and new weapons systems. It will also be capable of aerial refuelling.

The aircraft is part of an integrated training system that includes a ground-based training system combining simulators, virtual scenarios and real aircraft operations under a Live, Virtual and Constructive concept. This allows pilots to train for complex missions in a networked environment while reducing the cost and risk associated with operating front-line fighters.

More than 170 M-346 aircraft have been ordered worldwide, with the fleet having accumulated over 170,000 flight hours. The system is used by several air forces to train pilots for modern combat aircraft and to prepare them for future-generation air combat systems.

The M-346 is also operated as a light multirole fighter. In Italy, the aircraft has been selected as the future platform for the Frecce Tricolori national aerobatic team.