While Lockheed Martin is bashed over the escalating cost of its F-35, the life cycle costs of other fighter planes have often been overlooked, as customers and primes alike focus on the initial procurement cost rather than ‘cost of ownership’ of such planes. The procurement of 30 M346 jet trainers by the Israel’s Ministry of Defense (IMOD) was regarded as an example of well managed and relatively transparent acquisition program, since most of its elements are run by publicly traded companies in Italy, the US and Israel.
In July 2012 the IMOD has reached an agreement on a multi-year maintenance and support framework supporting the Israel air force (IAF) next generation jet trainers.
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