Alenia Aermacchi Signs MoU with ENAER to Cooperate in Trainer Aircraft

Released on Thursday, March 27, 2008

Alenia Aermacchi, a Finmeccanica company and leader in the military trainer aircraft market, and ENAER, Empresa Nacional de Aeronáutica de Chile, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that sets out the terms of the partnership for programmes relating to the M-346 (advanced newgeneration trainer aircraft) and M-311 (basic-advanced trainer aircraft).

Under the terms of the MoU, the companies will jointly manufacture and sell M-346 and M-311 aircraft in Latin America to effectively meet the diverse needs of the region's Air Forces for basic, advanced and Lead-in-Fighter training and in the operational role of Close Air Support.

This agreement with ENAER represents another success in Alenia Aermacchi's strategy to promote the M-346 and M-311 on foreign markets through specific agreements with experienced international players. The agreement also involves the exchange of cutting-edge technologies and the development of joint research activities that will increase ENAER's technological know-how and help the company to expand.

The agreement will be formalised at the next FIDAE International Air Show 2008 (31 March to 6 April, Santiago, Chile), where Alenia Aermacchi and ENAER will jointly present and promote the M-346 and M-311 trainer aircraft to delegations from the Latin American Air Forces.

Alenia Aermacchi, a Finmeccanica company, is currently the only aeronautics company to design and manufacture the full range of military trainer aircraft, including the SF-260 for the primary and screening phase, the new advanced M-311 Turbofan, the MB-339 Turbojet (which is used, among others, by the Frecce Tricolori aerobatic team of the Italian Air Force) and the advanced trainer and Lead-In-Fighter M-346.