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

B.C. court gives parliament 10-month deadline to make Indian Act comply with Charter

The court ruled that provisions of the act that denied status to people with a "family history of enfranchisement," where their parents or grandparents gave up their status and the benefits it entails, infringed upon the plaintiffs' Charter rights.

B.C. court gives parliament 10-month deadline to make Indian Act comply with Charter

Federal union launches campaign denouncing cuts at CRA call centres

Marc Brière, national president of the Union of Taxation Employees, said the loss of about 3,300 call centre employees in the last year has resulted in delays, long wait times and dropped calls.

Federal union launches campaign denouncing cuts at CRA call centres

'Colonial decision-making': First Nations denounce B.C. park closure as too short

The B.C. government says it's the third and final such closure of the park this year.

'Colonial decision-making': First Nations denounce B.C. park closure as too short

Rising concerns over U.S. move to broaden products subject to metal tariffs

The addition of 407 categories, ranging from bulldozers to furniture, came into effect earlier this week to add pressure and costs to those hoping to sell into the U.S. market.

Rising concerns over U.S. move to broaden products subject to metal tariffs

Most Air Canada domestic, international flights expected to take off Thursday

An online dashboard tracking Air Canada's service resumption said Thursday morning that 98 per cent of domestic flights were expected to operate over the next 24 hours, along with 99 per cent of U.S. flights.