Austria plans to purchase 12 Italian-made M-346 FA fighter jets to replace the Saab 105 planes decommissioned at the end of 2020, with the jets set to be used for pilot training, ground force support, and air defence, the government said on Saturday.
Citing military sources, newspaper Krone said a letter of intent was due to be signed on Saturday with the Italian Defence Ministry for the planes made by Italy’s Leonardo LDOF.MI.
The contract is currently being negotiated with the Italian government, the Austrian Defence Ministry said, confirming the planned purchase of the aircraft.
“My special thanks go to (Italian) Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who made a significant contribution to the conclusion of this agreement,” Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer said in a statement.
According to the newspaper, the total cost of the purchase has yet to be determined, but about 1 billion euros ($1.04 billion) has been budgeted for it.
