Indonesia has ordered twelve light combat aircraft from Leonardo as the country strengthens its air defense system, the Italian aircraft manufacturer and local partner PT ESystem Solutions Indonesia announced Tuesday.
The procurement order for the dozen M-346 F ‘Block 20’ aircraft, a top-selling Leonardo item, follows the signing in 2022 of an $8.1 billion contract between Indonesia and French firm Dassault for 42 Rafale fighter jets.
The M-346 “will provide both multi-role combat capabilities and an advanced training platform for Indonesian pilots,” Leonardo stated, with first deliveries expected from 2030.
No value was disclosed for the order, but an Austrian order for twelve identical aircraft in late 2025 was reported in the media to be worth 1.5 billion euros.
More than 170 M-346 aircraft have already been ordered, and Indonesia will become the 23rd nation to operate it, Leonardo said.
Indonesia has additionally signed a letter of intent to buy AW149 multi-role helicopters for its navy, intended for search and rescue missions as well as civil protection duties.
The M-346 is increasingly being used not only as an advanced jet trainer but also as a light attack aircraft, offering a lower-cost alternative to expensive warplanes.
Originally designed as a next-generation trainer, the twin-engine, tandem-seat M-346 has been developed into the M-346FA (Fighter Attack) variant, capable of carrying precision-guided munitions, air-to-air missiles, and gun pods.
The aircraft can reach speeds close to Mach 0.95 and features modern avionics and a glass cockpit. Several countries have adopted the M-346 for pilot training, including Italy, Israel, Singapore, Poland, and Qatar. Israel operates the type as the M-346 Lavi, while Poland has used it to train pilots transitioning to F-35 and F-16 fighters.
The M-346FA variant has drawn interest from various Air Forces desiring light combat capabilities without the high operating costs of expensive jets. Leonardo says the aircraft offers a balance between training effectiveness and operational flexibility, with lower maintenance requirements compared to heavier combat jets.
By Agence France-Presse
