Egypt is negotiating with Leonardo for the supply of24 M-346 Master light combat trainer aircraft for a price of €500 million.

The type of M-346 that Egypt wants to acquire is not mentioned. The newest version is the M-346FA, which isa dual role aircraft (trainer and light fighter).

Earlier versions of the M-346FA are the M-346LCA(Light Combat Aircraft) and the M-346FT (FighterTrainer), which has combat capabilities, but not tothe degree and level of the M-346FA. The M-346FA was presented for the first time in June 2017, during the Paris Air Show 2017.

The story of the M-346 begins in 1991, as a jointdevelopment project with the Russian Yakovlev forthe Yak-130. However, in 2000 Alenia Aermacchi decided to withdraw from the joint programme and develop the M-346on its own.