Canada Negotiates Purchase of M-346 Master Trainer Aircraft from Leonardo (opex360.com)

• Canada opens negotiations with Italy for M-346 Master trainer acquisition.
• Aircraft to be assembled in Canada to boost domestic defense industry.
• RCAF retired CT-155 Hawk in 2024; M-346 will provide sovereign training for fifth-gen fighters.

"Canada has opened negotiations with Italy to acquire M-346 Master advanced jet trainers from Leonardo, as announced by Prime Minister Mark Carney on June 16, 2026, during the G7 summit in Évian. The exact quantity remains unconfirmed; estimates suggest 20-24 aircraft. The trainers are expected to be assembled in Canada to support domestic defense industry. The Royal Canadian Air Force retired its CT-155 Hawk in March 2024 and currently relies on training in the US and Italy. The M-346 will enable sovereign training capacity, with the 419 Squadron in Cold Lake to be reactivated around 2030."