Israel chooses M346?

M-346

According to media reports, Israeli troops have opted for the Italian air-combat trainer aircraft M-346. Koreans, offering T-50, promise to severe restrictions.


Israel seeks successor to the obsolete American A-4 Skyhawk. The contract for the 25-30 new aircraft combat training-to be worth a billion dollars. The Israeli Defense Ministry announced the tender in a few weeks. In the first weeks of this year. the delegations headed by Udi Shanim, Director General of the ministry, visited South Korea. and Italy, to agree the details of tenders.

According to the daily Haaretz , the Israeli air force on Monday 16 January Alenia Aermacchi aircraft indicated M-346, as best meets their requirements. Probably even includes pre-trade agreement. This information sparked outrage in South Korea., Who recently proposed the conclusion of contracts for the purchase of Israeli arms and military equipment worth up to $ 5 billion. Italians offer the only conclusion worth a billion dollars. They would cover the satellite systems and unmanned with Yisrael Aerospace Industries (IAI). According to unofficial information, the game also includes barter M346 aircraft in two planes distant reconnaissance and command - AWACS.

T-50

Representatives of the KAI, the producer of T-50, claim that only their company offers Israel industrial cooperation at the level of one billion dollars. The Israeli radars EL/M-2032 ordered to be equipped with just the FA-50 aircraft (military version of the T-50, South Korea. bought the 20 FA-50. Koreans have announced a break so far concluded contracts and talks on the next purchase, but do not exclude also improve its offer. The average annual imports of military equipment from Israel to South Korea. recently was about 280 million USD.