Alenia Aermacchi and Boeing have signed a teaming agreement under which the companies will co-operate in efforts to sell the Italian manufacturer’s M-311 basic and M-346 advanced jet trainers on the international market.
Announcing the pact on Monday, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems’ Support Systems division said the agreement will cover “marketing, sales, training and product support activities.” It added: “Combining Boeing’s sustainment and training systems capabilities with Alenia Aermacchi will improve mission effectiveness [and] help reduce total cost of ownership.”
Alenia Aermacchi is producing 15 M-346 trainers for the Italian air force, and the type is in the last stage of a competition to provide an AJT for the United Arab Emirates, facing competition from the Korea Aerospace Industries/Lockheed Martin T-50. The Finmeccanica company’s M-311 is also vying to win the UAE’s related basic trainer contest, battling the Pilatus PC-21.
It is unclear whether the new teaming agreement will have any impact on Boeing’s standing relationship with BAE Systems on the Hawk advanced trainer, which will currently expire during 2010. The companies are currently under contract to produce the last of 221 T-45 Goshawks for the US Navy next year, although the service has shown some interest in ordering a further batch of the type.
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Source: Flight Daily News
