(ANSA) - BELGRADE, DEC 17 - Leonardo has signed a contract with Austria's Directorate of Air Armaments and Airworthiness to supply 12 M-346 multirole aircraft to the Austrian Air Force. The aircraft are required to defend national airspace and territory, as well as for military pilot training. The contract calls for the supply of light fighter-configured aircraft to the new M-346 F Block 20 standard, complete with a cockpit with Large Area Display (LAD), active electronically scanned array radar, Link 16 data link, defence systems with electronic countermeasures, and new weapons systems. The supply also includes a complete suite of simulation systems, initial supplies of spare parts and ground equipment, and six years of logistics/maintenance support beginning with the delivery of the first aircraft in 2028. (ANSA).