Finmeccanica’s aeronautics sector, led by Alenia Aermacchi, is exhibiting at the Singapore Air Show, being held at the Changi Exhibition Center from 14 to 19 February 2012.

The Singapore Air Show is Asia’s largest showcase for aerospace and defense, and Alenia Aermacchi, the largest Italian aeronautics company to operate worldwide in the design, development, production and integrated support of civil and military aircraft, trainers, unmanned aircraft and aerostructures, is there to exhibit its main products and those of its subsidiaries.

Over the years, Italy has developed a solid industrial alliance with Asia, and Finmeccanica’s aeronautics division has built partnerships in the defense sector, taking part in a variety of successful programs.

Most recently, in 2010, Alenia Aermacchi was awarded its first international contract to supply 12 M-346 advanced trainers for the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF), through the consortium formed by ST Aerospace (prime contractor) and Boeing.

In June 2011, Alenia Aermacchi also finalized contracts with ST Aerospace to provide logistics support for the RSAF’s fleet of M-346s, again as part of the Fighter Wings Course (FWC) program.

For the Finmeccanica group company, Singapore and the Asia region are a fundamental part of its growth strategy, offering business opportunities in the short and medium term.

Through the Italo-French joint venture ATR (Alenia Aermacchi/EADS), the company has formed a close relationship with Singapore, and more generally South East Asia, not only by selling a large number of regional transport aircraft, but also by opening a customer support centre in Singapore and training facilities in Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur. Furthermore, it has some exciting prospects in relation to the replacement of the Singapore Navy’s patrol aircraft and the supply of ATR 42 and ATR 72 maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) to the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) and the Philippines’ Air Force.

There are also some interesting opportunities for the C-27J in Asia, and Indonesia in particular. Two Italian Air Force’s M-346 aircraft (T-346A) and a C-27J are displayed At the Singapore Air Show.

Alenia Aermacchi is exhibiting models of its own aircraft: the M-346, an advanced trainer, designed to train pilots to fly next-generation, high-performance military aircraft, and the C-27J Spartan, a tactical transport aircraft that offers high levels of operational efficiency, flexibility and excellent performance in all environmental conditions. Other exhibits include a model of the ATR 42 MP, the maritime patrol version of the ATR 42 developed by Alenia Aermacchi; the Eurofighter Typhoon, the supersonic twin-engine aircraft developed and produced in partnership by Alenia Aermacchi for Italy, BAE Systems for the UK and EADS for Germany and Spain; and a model of the Sukhoi Superjet 100 regional transport jet, which Alenia Aermacchi, as part the Superjet International joint venture with Sukhoi Holding, markets, sells and customizes in Europe, the US, Africa, Japan and Oceania, as well as providing pilot training and after-sales support worldwide.