Leonardo and Romanian aerospace firm announce partnership to bid on trainer replacement program as NATO ally prepares to operate advanced U.S. stealth fighters.
Leonardo and Romanian aerospace manufacturer Avioane Craiova announced a strategic partnership to offer advanced jet trainers to the Romanian air force, positioning themselves to capitalize on the NATO ally’s upcoming transition to U.S.-built F-35A stealth fighters.
The Italian aerospace company unveiled the collaboration at the Paris Air Show on June 18, targeting Romania’s need to replace its aging fleet of domestically-produced IAR-99 jet trainers with Leonardo’s M-345 and M-346 aircraft.
The partnership comes as Romania prepares to become a future operator of Lockheed Martin’s F-35A Lightning II, having detailed plans last year to acquire 32 of the advanced fighters with options on an additional 18 aircraft. The Romanian air force currently operates a fleet of Lockheed F-16 Fighting Falcons.
Leonardo emphasized that its training aircraft would represent a “proven solution for the task” of supporting the F-35’s introduction into Romanian service. The company noted that roughly 100 M-346 trainers are already in service with seven air forces and at the International Flight Training School at Decimomannu air base in Sardinia, with an enhanced Block 20 version currently under development.
“This approach would facilitate the establishment of local maintenance, sub-assembly, logistic and support capabilities, contributing to the long-term sustainability of the Romanian air force’s fleet,” Leonardo stated.
The partnership would bring additional benefits to Romania’s defense industry, “opening new opportunities for technological cooperation, skills development, and high-value employment,” according to Leonardo.
Aviation analytics company Cirium records the Romanian air force as operating 20 IAR-99s, with those aircraft aged between 23 and 37 years. The fleet includes both training variants and examples of the C-model light-attack version.
Romania has already begun modernizing some of its existing trainers, with Avioane Craiova rolling out the first of 10 aircraft upgraded to the IAR-99SM standard in December 2023. The modernization uses avionics equipment from Israeli company Elbit Systems and is intended to keep the aircraft operational for at least another decade.
The technological and industrial cooperation agreement between Leonardo and Avioane Craiova extends beyond trainer aircraft to cover modernization of Romania’s C-27J tactical transport fleet. Romania has operated seven C-27J aircraft since 2010.
Leonardo said the partnership aims to localize “activities related to the C-27J avionics upgrade programme, maintenance and logistics, repairs and personnel training.”
“This important modernisation programme, which encompasses new state-of-the-art systems integration, as well as training activities, would guarantee a significant industrial return, also paving the path for future industrial programmes, aimed at progressively building a reliable C-27J regional industrial hub in Avioane Craiova,” the company stated.
Leonardo’s M-345 trainer is already in operational use with launch customer Italy, supporting pilot training activities at the Lecce-Galatina air base.
Key Takeaways
- Leonardo partners with Avioane Craiova to bid on Romanian air force trainer replacement program.
- Romania plans to acquire up to 50 F-35A stealth fighters, driving need for compatible training aircraft.
- Partnership targets replacement of 20 aging IAR-99 trainers with modern M-345 and M-346 systems.
- Agreement includes C-27J transport aircraft modernization and aims to establish regional maintenance hub.
- Initiative supports Romania’s broader air force modernization as key NATO eastern flank ally.
