Singapore Air Force to receive last M-346 trainers

Singapore’s new-generation advanced jet trainer fleet will be complete within weeks, with Alenia Aermacchi poised to deliver its last of 12 M-346 aircraft.
Ten aircraft have already been delivered, along with associated ground-based training equipment and an initial package of logistics support. The remainder will follow in March.
Operations with Singapore’s first M-346s began at Cazaux air base in France in February 2013, with its first student pilot having entered training the following month.
Singapore ordered its M-346 fleet in 2010 as replacements for aged Douglas A-4 Skyhawk trainers. Alenia Aermacchi is teamed with Boeing and ST Aerospace to deliver the programme.
Alenia Aermacchi has also sold the twin-engined type to Israel and Italy, and been formally selected by Poland.

Assembly begins of first Israeli M-346 Lavi

Alenia Aermacchi has begun assembling the first M-346 advanced jet trainer destined for Israel at its Venegono factory.
The first three major fuselage components of the trainer - to be known as Lavi in Israeli service - have been joined together.
Delivery of the Honeywell F124-GA-200-powered type to the Israeli air force is scheduled for mid-2014.
The service has 30 M-346 Lavis on order to replace its fleet of aged Douglas TA-4 Skyhawks.

flightglobal

44 Israel's Skyhawks For Sale

The SIBAT department of the Israeli Ministry of Defense is calling defense entities, militaries and countries from around the world and inviting them to acquire the fleet of Skyhawk aircraft which have been in IDF service since the 1960s.
The Skyhawk was the first fighter aircraft that the United States agreed to sell to Israel, and the Israeli Air Force began using the aircraft in 1967.
Today, the aircraft are used for combat training and instruction in the framework of the IAF’s flight course, and the sale comes as part of the preparation for when the IAF receives the new Italian M-346 trainer aircraft.



nosint

israeldefense

Israel using TA-4 to bomb targets in Gaza

In one photo released by AP, an Israeli TA-4 is seen releasing a bomb over northern Gaza Strip on Thursday.

alert5

sfgate