Israel’s New Jet Trainer Could Cost More Than $60 Million per plane, over 20 Years

While Lockheed Martin is bashed over the escalating cost of its F-35, the life cycle costs of other fighter planes have often been overlooked, as customers and primes alike focus on the initial procurement cost rather than ‘cost of ownership’ of such planes. The procurement of 30 M346 jet trainers by the Israel’s Ministry of Defense (IMOD) was regarded as an example of well managed and relatively transparent acquisition program, since most of its elements are run by publicly traded companies in Italy, the US and Israel.

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