Italian Air Force Ushers in New Era of Pilot Training with T-345A Jet, Replacing Legacy MB-339

The Italian Air Force has officially entered a new chapter in its pilot training program with the induction of the Leonardo T-345A trainer jet, replacing the iconic MB-339A after nearly 45 years of service. This transition was marked with a significant ceremony at Galatina Air Base in Lecce, home to the 61st Wing, which has long been the heart of the nation’s military pilot instruction. The event celebrated both the past and the future, as the service bid farewell to the trusted MB-339 and welcomed the technologically advanced M-345 aircraft—known in Italian military service as the T-345A.

The introduction of the T-345A signals a major modernization of the Italian Air Force’s training system. Developed and built by Leonardo at its Venegono Superiore facility, the M-345 is now the standard aircraft for Phase II and Phase III of the Italian pilot training pipeline. A striking flypast highlighted the transition: a formation featuring both the aging T-339A and the new T-345A symbolically illustrated the handover. In a poignant display, a lone MB-339A separated from three T-345s and climbed away, marking the end of an era.

The M-345 brings with it a suite of modern technologies designed to prepare pilots for the challenges of 4th to 6th-generation fighter jets. With a 15,000-hour airframe life, the aircraft features a digital cockpit equipped with multifunction displays, a head-up display, advanced HOTAS controls, and Martin-Baker ejection seats. Its Williams FJ44-4M-34 turbofan engine delivers a top cruise speed of 787 km/h at 20,000 feet. Its service ceiling reaches 12,190 meters, with a range extending up to 1,550 kilometers. The T-345A is not just a trainer—it can carry out light combat roles too, thanks to its four underwing pylons capable of handling missiles, bombs, rocket pods, and gun pods, with a total payload capacity of over 1,000 kg.

Training on the T-345A is designed to be more immersive and cost-effective. It supports embedded tactical training and simulation features through systems like the Embedded Tactical Training System (ETTS) and Ground-Based Training System (GBTS). These allow pilots to fly real-time missions enhanced with virtual threats and synthetic operational scenarios, seamlessly blending live and simulated combat training. Maintenance efficiency has also been enhanced with a simplified two-level support system and predictive maintenance tools like the Health and Usage Monitoring System (HUMS), reducing operational downtime.

The new aircraft is also a part of Leonardo’s broader training ecosystem, working alongside the M-346 Master, which is used in Phase IV for lead-in fighter training. While the T-345A takes over basic and intermediate flight training duties, the M-346 continues to groom pilots for advanced multirole combat missions. This combination provides a full-spectrum training pathway, preparing new pilots for the latest combat aircraft in Italy’s growing defense inventory.

The ceremony in Lecce featured six T-345As currently based at Galatina, displayed alongside legacy aircraft like the MB-339 in commemorative liveries, as well as the MB-326, T-346, SF-260, and SIAI 208M. The 214th Squadron is now tasked with operating the T-345A during Phase II training, while the T-339CD remains in service for Phase III until the full transition is completed. The first batch of five instructors trained on the T-345A has now joined four previously certified by Leonardo, and the inaugural group of six student pilots—four Italians and two from international partners—is set to begin training in July 2025.

The M-345 itself has an evolutionary design heritage. It descends from the SIAI-Marchetti S.211, which first flew in 1981. After the acquisition of SIAI-Marchetti by Aermacchi in 1997, the aircraft was redesigned as the M-311 and then further enhanced into the M-345 by 2012, incorporating modern avionics, a new engine, and a reinforced airframe. The production version had its maiden flight in 2018, and since then, Leonardo has been promoting it to several nations as a versatile and cost-effective trainer with combat capabilities.

Replacing the MB-339 was a necessary move as the demands of modern air combat training outpaced the aging aircraft’s systems. First introduced in 1979 and flown in conflicts like the Falklands War and the Eritrean–Ethiopian War, the MB-339 served Italy well as a trainer, a light attacker, and even as the jet of choice for Italy’s Frecce Tricolori aerobatic team. Yet, after over 400,000 flight hours and decades of upgrades, it was time for a new generation of trainers to take flight.

With the T-345A now fully operational, the Italian Air Force has taken a decisive step into the future—one that promises better training efficiency, enhanced pilot readiness, and seamless integration with the most advanced air combat systems of the modern era.