Canada has taken an important step in the modernization of its military aviation by opening negotiations with Italy for the acquisition of the advanced trainer M-346.
The announcement was made after a meeting between Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni during the G7 summit in France, reinforcing bilateral cooperation in the defense sector.
According to the Canadian government, the possible purchase will allow the Royal Canadian Air Force to use more modern technologies in the training of its pilots and strengthen its national training capacity. The initiative is part of a broader effort to update the preparation of crews who will eventually operate next-generation combat aircraft.
The need for a new trainer emerged after the retirement of the CT-155 Hawk in March 2024. After more than two decades of service, the jets were deemed unsuitable to prepare pilots destined to operate the future CF-35A fighter. Since then, Canadian military personnel have been relying on training programs in the United States and Italy while awaiting the definition of a new platform.
Although details of the purchase have not yet been disclosed, Canada is expected to choose the M-346 Block 20 variant. The model could be integrated into existing initiatives in the country, including programs focused on training pilots from NATO and partner nations. The acquisition also fits the objectives of the Future Aircrew Training program, created to adapt Canadian training to the challenges of increasingly complex air operations.
Today, Prime Minister Carney met with the Prime Minister of Italy, Giorgia Meloni, on the margins of the G7 Leaders’ Summit in Évian.
Read a summary of their meeting: https://t.co/Ed1kXTbBBF pic.twitter.com/6yWcRiH0KT
— Prime Minister of Canada (@CanadianPM) June 16, 2026
Source: The Aviationist | Photos: Leonardo/Handout | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
