Austria is going to buy 12 Italian fighter planes

Austria’s government said on Saturday that it will replace the Saab 105 aircraft it retired at the end of 2020 with 12 Italian-made M-346 FA fighter jets.

Newspaper Krone, citing military sources, stated that a letter of intent for the aircraft manufactured by Italy’s Leonardo (LDOF.MI) was scheduled to be signed with the Italian Defense Ministry on Saturday.

The Austrian Defense Ministry confirmed the intended acquisition of the aircraft and stated that the deal is presently being discussed with the Italian government.

According to Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer, the agreement demonstrated the depth of Italy-Austria collaboration.

“My special thanks go to (Italian) Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who made a significant contribution to the conclusion of this agreement,” Nehammer stated in a statement.

Although the purchase’s exact cost is unknown, the publication said that a budget of around $1 billion ($1.04 billion) had been set aside for it.

According to the administration, the planes would be utilized for air defense, ground force support, and pilot training.

$1 is equivalent to 0.9590 euros.