ORLANDO, Fla., 1 Dec 2009. CAE won a contract to design and manufacture a M-346 full-mission flight simulator and a M-346 part-task flight trainer as part of the M-346 ground-based training system for the Italian Air Force from Alenia Aermacchi (AAEM). CAE officials made the announcement at the Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation, and Education Conference (I/ITSEC) in Orlando, Fla.
Earlier this month, AAEM and the Italian Defense Ministry signed a contract for AAEM to supply six M-346 Master advanced lead-in fighter trainer aircraft and related flight simulators, which together comprise an Integrated Training System (ITS). This contract forms part of a broader agreement to supply a total of 15 M-346 Masters and related support to the Italian Air Force, the launch customer for the M-346 aircraft.
Within this contract, CAE has subcontracted the development and supply of simulation and instructor operator station (IOS) subsystems to Selex Galileo in Ronchi dei Legionari, Italy. The M-346 full-mission simulator and part-task trainer will be delivered to Galatina Air Force Base near Lecce, Italy during the second half of 2011.
This week at I/ITSEC CAE is showcasing the M-346 ground-based training system demonstrator, which AAEM and CAE jointly developed. CAE is located in Booth #2334 at /ITSEC.
"We are excited to partner with Alenia Aermacchi on developing the M-346 ground-based training system for the Italian Air Force," says Martin Gagné, CAE's group president, Military Simulation Products, Training and Services. "The simulators are an important piece of the overall training capability for a lead-in fighter trainer aircraft, and our early involvement with AAEM on the M-346 program should position us well for other opportunities related to this impressive aircraft."
