The president of Azerbaijan has signed an agreement with Leonardo for negotiations related to the company’s M-346 advanced jet trainer. The agreement covers “the launch of formal negotiations for the definition of an industrial cooperation based on the supply of the M-346 aircraft,” the company says.
On 20 February, the website of Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev listed a number of agreements related to Italian industry, signed during a state visit to the European country. This included a brief reference to an agreement between the nation’s defence minister, Zakir Hasanov, and Leonardo chief executive Alessandro Profumo related to the M-346.
During a luncheon with Italian industry the same day, Aliyev said a memorandum of understanding had been signed, apparently a “very big deal to be implemented by Leonardo”.
Cirium fleets data shows that the Azerbaijan air force operates 12 Aero Vodochody L-39 advanced jet trainers, aged up to 31 years.
