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Canada begins negotiations with Italy for Leonardo M-346 advanced jet trainer under Future Fighter Lead-In Training

The Royal Canadian Air Force has begun talks with Italy for a potential acquisition of Leonardo M-346 advanced jet trainers to support the Future Fighter Lead-In Training programme. The move follows the RCAF’s retirement of its BAE Systems CT-155 Hawks in 2024 and targets replacement of its next-generation training pipeline.

Discovered 2026-06-17T06:33:39.981230-07:00 | 2026-06-17T06:33:39.981230-07:00

Briefing

What Hype is tracking

  • Canada is working to replace the RCAF’s advanced jet training capability after retiring the CT-155 Hawks in 2024, with negotiations focused on the Leonardo M-346 to feed the Future Fighter Lead-In Training programme.
  • The decision shapes near-term training capacity and aircraft availability for the fighter pipeline, making the procurement timeline and acquisition terms strategically important.
  • The talks with Italy also signal continued reliance on European defense aviation suppliers for mission-critical training aircraft—an industrial relationship that can affect future sustainment and modification pathways.

Reported By

AeroTime opex360.com Aero-News defence-industry.eu zona-militar.com avbrief.com
Sources Tracked
10
First Seen
2026-06-17T06:33:39.981230-07:00
Latest Update
2026-06-21T01:38:25.827038-07:00
Coverage
Defense

Sources

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