Leonardo M-346F Block 20 For Indonesia
LEONARDO announced the signing of a Letter of Intent (LOI) with Indonesia’s PT ESystem Solutions and Ministry of Defence (MoD) at the Singapore Airshow 2026. The deal is aimed at cooperating for the supply and support of the Leonardo M-346F “Block 20” aircraft to meet Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU) operational requirements.
The LOI follows the selection of the M-346 by the MoD to respond to Indonesia’s training and combat capability needs. The programme will provide a major contribution to the MoD pursuing an aircraft fleet modernisation plan leveraging on the M-346 advanced technology and performance to replace ageing types, such as the BAE Hawk, among others.
Additionally, the agreement includes the localisation of a range of support, maintenance, overhaul, training capabilities as well as human capital development. The parties will now move into the next stage of discussions, intended to achieve a procurement contract signing soon.
The new M-346F “Block 20” light fighter configuration standard will be equipped with cockpits featuring a Large Area Display (LAD), active electronically scanned radar, a Link 16 data-link, electronic countermeasures, and new weapons systems. Leonardo’s platform simultaneously offers a complete, integrated advanced flight training system – including a GBTS (Ground Based Training System), combined simulated elements and scenarios with real flights according to a Live, Virtual and Constructive (LVC) logic – with additional light combat capabilities for air-to-air and air-to-surface missions, enabled by advanced mission systems, equipment and sensors, also including aerial refuelling capability.
The M-346 is the core element of a cutting-edge and continuously evolving advanced flight-training system that has already demonstrated its effectiveness: a success story that has logged over 150,000 hours in flight with nearly 160 aircraft sold to date, enabling several air forces worldwide, including Asia to train pilots for flying high-performance, latest generation fighters and to prepare transition towards the next-generation ‘combat air systems’.
The pilots of 20 countries already train their pilots on the M-3446, including those leveraging Italy’s I International Flight Training School as well as those who have chosen the fighter variant of the M346 as a light multirole fighter. Thanks to its high-performance capabilities and manoeuvrability, the M-346 has also been chosen by the Italian Air Force as the future aircraft for the “Frecce Tricolori”, Italy’s national aerobatic team.