Leonardo, a global high-technology company and CAE, a provider of training and operational support solutions, have created a joint venture support the operations of the International Flight Training School (IFTS) in Italy.

The joint venture called Leonardo CAE Advanced Jet Training Srlto will provide training support services, including full maintenance and operation of the M-346 aircraft and its ground-based training system, as well as operation of IFTS base facilities.

The IFTS, a unique partnership between the Italian Air Force (ItAF) and Leonardo, has been created to deliver a comprehensive lead-in to fighter training to the Italian Air Force and foreign customers. The IFTS advanced training program, based on the Phase IV of the Italian Air Force syllabus, can rely on the M-346 ground-based training system, including the advanced full-mission simulator jointly developed by Leonardo and CAE.
 
The IFTS is currently located at 61st Wing -Galatina (Apulia Region -South Italy) Italian Air Force Base and will relocate, starting from 2022, to DecimomannuItalian Air Force Base (Sardinia Region –South Italy) where a groundbreaking ceremony was held in December 2020 to formally begin construction on a modern flight training campus.

“Our commitment to deliver to the IFTS customers a best-in-class training capability is further demonstrated by the choice of CAE as our IFTS partner. The joint venture represents the ideal framework to further leverage our  successful collaboration  on  the  M-346 ground-based  training  system,  while  ensuring  us  the agility  and flexibility to meet challenging and tailored customer requirements,” said Leonardo Aircraft Division Managing Director, Marco Zoff.

“Leonardo, CAE and the Italian Air Force’s world-renowned excellence will guarantee advanced top level training for the modern air forces at reduced cost in order to satisfy a growing demand in advanced flight training.”

The industrial partnership between Leonardo and CAE in the form of the joint venture will manage and conduct the day-to-day operations of the IFTS. The IFTS will operate a fleet of 22 M-346 advanced jet trainers, an aircraft that features a range of embedded training capabilities enabling extensive live, virtual and constructive training. Training  will  be  delivered  by  a  cadre  of  active-duty  Italian Air  Force  and  highly  experienced international former military instructor pilots.

“CAE and Leonardo have a longstanding industrial relationship and we are pleased to invest  jointly  with Leonardo  and  the  Italian  Air  Force  in  this  groundbreaking  public-private  partnership to  operate  the International  Flight  Training  School,”  said Marc-Olivier  Sabourin,  Vice  President  and  General  Manager, Defence & Security International, CAE.

“The partnership between Leonardo and CAE will support the M-346 Integrated Training System, which is a pivotal element of a modern and innovative Lead-In to Fighter Training (LIFT) program for next generation pilots.” – TradeArabia News Service