Masters for Qatar?
On 26 January 2022, photos emerged on social media of two Aermacchi M346 Master advanced jet trainers (AJT) with the national flag of Qatar on the tailfin. Also visible are the markings of the International Flight Training School (IFTS).
One of the M346s on the photos was part of a line-up alongside Qatar Emiri Air Force (QEAF) Rafale and F-15QA fighters, ahead of what looks like a military parade, likely in Doha (Qatar).
According to information, the Italian Ministry of Defence (MoD) and Qatar signed an agreement in November 2020 to train EQAF pilots at the IFTS in Galatine (Lecce) air base (Italy). In that same month it is now reported that a contract for the sale of six M-346 Master AJTs was signed, but this has never been confirmed.
Scramble Magazine assesses that the Qatari markings were only applied for this special occasion and that the two aircraft are in fact owned by the Aeronautica Militare (AMI, Italian Air Force) and operated by the IFTS at Galatina.
With the IFTS, the T-346A Master is used for Phase 4 training. This part will be moved from Galatina air base to Decimomannu air base (Sardinia) in 2022. In December 2020, Scramble Magazine reported on the new IFTS campus at Decimomannu where next to AMI pilots also third-party customers can be accommodated.
Phase 2 and 3 training will be conducted at Galatina where the pilots fly the Aermacchi T-339A and FT-339C (MB339A and MB339CD). The Leonardo T-345A will gradually replace the ageing MB339 fleets with 61° Stormo (Wing) at Galatina. The first two aircraft were delivered in December 2020.
Photo via Qatar government