Canada begins talks with Italy on buying advanced trainer jets

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 16 Jun, 2026 09:47 AM

Canada and Italy have entered talks for Canada’s purchase of M-346 advanced jet trainer aircraft.

The announcement was made after a meeting between Prime Minister Mark Carney and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at the G7 summit in Évian-les-Bains.

The jets are designed and produced by Leonardo, one of Italy’s largest aerospace companies.

It’s unclear how many jets Canada is looking to purchase.

The leaders say the agreement will enable the Royal Canadian Air Force to train in “state-of-the-art" equipment and build sovereign training capability.

Earlier this year, the International Test Pilots School of Canada ordered six Italian-made M-346 fighter jets for a new NATO training centre in North Bay.

Picture Courtesy: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Surrey Police Service say a nine-year-old has died after collision with large vehicle

Police in Surrey, B.C. say that the nine-year-old child involved in a vehicle collision Friday afternoon has died.

Surrey Police Service say a nine-year-old has died after collision with large vehicle

Air Transat to start halting flights Monday after pilots issue 72-hour strike notice

Air Transat pilots set the stage for a strike as early as Wednesday morning, issuing a 72-hour notice to the struggling company on the cusp of the busy holiday travel season.

Air Transat to start halting flights Monday after pilots issue 72-hour strike notice

Parts of northern Alberta slated to see upwards of 30 cm of snow by Tuesday

Many parts of north and southeastern Alberta are expected to get a blast of wintry weather Monday. Environment Canada says much of the Peace Region north of Edmonton, including Grande Prairie in the west and areas near Athabasca in the east, could see between 15 and 30 centimetres of snow.

Parts of northern Alberta slated to see upwards of 30 cm of snow by Tuesday

Trump says 'We'll see' on whether to restart trade talks with Canada

U.S. President Donald Trump answered "we'll see" when he was asked Sunday whether he'd resume the trade talks he halted with Canada earlier this year.

Trump says 'We'll see' on whether to restart trade talks with Canada

B.C. First Nation meets with Alberta minister to oppose changing tanker ban

Leaders of a First Nation on British Columbia's northern coast say they met Friday with Alberta's minister of Indigenous relations to express opposition to any changes to Canada's tanker ban to service a potential new pipeline.

B.C. First Nation meets with Alberta minister to oppose changing tanker ban

Bank of Canada expected to hold key rate, move to sidelines after an uncertain 2025

Economists widely expect the Bank of Canada will hold its benchmark interest rate steady this week and move to the sidelines to cap off a year dominated by trade and economic uncertainty.