During the Military Flight Training 2025 conference—hosted by Defence IQ and concluded on April 2—Leonardo officially unveiled the new cockpit configuration for the M-346 Block 20.

The upgraded cockpit features a Large Area Display (LAD)—a 20x8 inch touchscreen system compatible with night vision goggles (NVG)—which replaces the current layout of 3 separate multifunction displays. This new digital setup is a key component of the Block 20 configuration, developed in 2 versions: one dedicated to training only (M-346T Block 20) and one capable of both training and light combat operations (M-346F Block 20).

Additional upgrades in the Block 20 standard include a next-generation Helmet Mounted Display (HMD)—still under definition—designed for flexibility across both T and F variants, and a low-profile Head-Up Display (HUD) that integrates seamlessly with the LAD-dominated cockpit architecture. As the M-346 is a twin-seat aircraft, both front and rear cockpits will feature identical layouts, with 2 LADs and 2 slim-profile HUDs replacing the previous 6-screen configuration.

For the combat variant only (M-346F Block 20), Leonardo plans to integrate a new AESA radar, replacing the mechanically scanned GRIFO M346 currently installed on the M-346FA. No further details on the new radar have been released.

The first flight of the M-346 Block 20 prototype is expected in 2027, with initial deliveries slated for 2028. The launch customer is likely to be Austria, which has publicly selected the M-346F Block 20 (though no contract has been signed yet), with a planned order for 12 aircraft in the combat configuration.

Meanwhile, the 5 M-346s recently ordered by the Italian Air Force for the International Flight Training School (IFTS)—as part of a broader 20-aircraft procurement (5 for IFTS and 15 for the Italian PAN, Pattuglia Acrobatica Nazionale/Frecce Tricolore, in a dedicated version)—will be built to the current Block 10 standard, ensuring full compatibility with the existing IFTS fleet. All subsequent orders beyond this batch will adopt the Block 20 configuration.

(Image: Previous cockpit layout with 3 displays. Credit: Leonardo)

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