During the Singapore Airshow 2026, Leonardo announced the signing of a Letter of Intent (LOI) with PT ESystem Solutions Indonesia and the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Indonesia to cooperate on the supply and support of Leonardo M-346 F “Block 20” aircraft for the Indonesian Air Force.
The LOI follows the selection of the M-346 by Indonesia’s Ministry of Defence to meet advanced training and light combat capability requirements. The program is expected to make a significant contribution to the country’s air fleet modernization plan, leveraging the M-346’s technology and performance to replace ageing aircraft such as the Hawk, among others.
The agreement also предусматриes the localization in Indonesia of support, maintenance and overhaul activities, as well as training capabilities and human capital development. With the signing of the LOI, the parties now move to the next phase of negotiations, aiming to conclude a formal procurement contract in the near term.
Block 20 configuration and capabilities
The M-346 F “Block 20” light fighter version will feature a cockpit equipped with a Large Area Display (LAD), an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, Link 16 data link, electronic countermeasures systems, and integration of new weapons systems. At the same time, the platform retains its role as a complete and integrated advanced flight training system, including a Ground Based Training System (GBTS) and a Live, Virtual and Constructive (LVC) training architecture that combines simulations with real flights.
In addition to training, the M-346 F provides additional light combat capabilities for air-to-air and air-to-surface missions, supported by advanced mission systems, modern sensors, and in-flight refueling capability.
Global track record
The M-346 is the core element of a constantly evolving next-generation training system that has already accumulated more than 150,000 flight hours, with around 160 aircraft sold to date.
Currently, around 20 countries use the M-346 for pilot training or have selected the light fighter version as a multirole platform, including air forces in Asia.
The model has also been selected by the Italian Air Force as the future aircraft of the national aerobatic team Frecce Tricolori.
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Source and images: Leonardo. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
