Earlier this afternoon, two Leonardo T-345A aircraft from Lecce Galatina Air Base conducted a navigational training exercise that included a first time visit to Malta International Airport, highlighting the type’s active role in routine cross-country training missions across the central Mediterranean. The Aermacchi/Leonardo T-345A (company designation M-345) is a modern jet trainer developed by Leonardo S.p.A. as part of Italy’s effort to modernise its military pilot training pipeline.
Introduced into Italian Air Force service in June 2025, the aircraft replaces the long-serving MB-339 (T-339A) and is designed to cover the intermediate phases of training (Phase II and III), bridging the gap between basic instruction and advanced training on the T-346A. The T-345A is integrated into a wider training system that combines live flying with simulators and networked training environments, enabling realistic and cost-effective preparation of pilots before they transition to front-line fighters.
Within the Italian Air Force, the T-345A is currently operated by the 61° Stormo based at Galatina Air Base, one of Europe’s principal military flight training centres. At this base, the aircraft has been assigned to training squadrons including the 214th Squadron for Phase II training and the 213th Squadron for Phase III, progressively taking over duties from the MB-339. The introduction of the T-345A reinforces the role of the 61st Wing as a hub for both Italian and international pilot training, working alongside the more advanced T-346A fleet to provide a complete, modern training syllabus from initial jet instruction through to lead-in fighter training.