important for supplying fuel to the Ethiopian Army. Variants MB-339X Three prototypes. MB-339A Original production variant for Italy. 107 were delivered in three batches 1979–1995 (including MB-339PANs and MB-339RMs). In addition, four delivered to Ghana and five to UAE. MB-339PAN Variant for Frecce Tricolori aerobatic team, adding smoke generator but removing tip tanks; 21 newly built or converted from MB-339A. MB-339RM Radio and radar calibration variant for Italian Air Force. Three built in 1981 but later converted to MB-339A standard. MB-339AM MB-339A version built for Malaysia. 13 built, with deliveries from 1983. MB-339AN MB-339A version built for Nigeria. Twelve built from June 1984. MB-339AP MB-339A version built for Peru. Sixteen built and delivered from November 1981. MB-339K Veltro II Single-seat dedicated attack version, first flew 30 May 1980. One built. MB-339B Trainer with more powerful (4,400 lbf (19.57 kN)) Viper 680-43 engine. One example built. MB-339C Revised trainer version with new, digital avionics. MB-339CB New Zealand trainer and weapons training version of MB-339C, powered by Viper 680-43 engine and equipped with laser rangefinder, radar detection, AIM-9L Sidewinder and AGM-65 Maverick capability. Eighteen built and delivered from March 1991. – 17 survivors – 9 airworthy with Draken International, the remainder on museum display in New Zealand MB-339CD MB-339C for Italy, with modernised flight controls and avionics, but retaining original 4,000 lbf (17.79 kW) Viper 632-43 of MB-339A. 30 built. MB-339FD ("Full Digital") Export version of the MB-339CD MB-339CE MB-339C version built for Eritrea powered by Viper 680-43. Six built. MB-339CM MB-339C version being built for Malaysia. MB-339 T-Bird II (Lockheed T-Bird II) Version for U.S. JPATS competition, with 4,000 lbf Viper 680-582. Operators Eritrean Air Force operates 5 MB-339CE. Italian Air Force operates 72 MB-339A MLU, 30 MB-339CD, 21 MB-339PAN and 3 MB-339RM. Royal Malaysian Air Force operates 7 MB-339CM United Arab Emirates Air Force operates 10 MB-339NAT (inc. 4 ex-Italian). Draken International operates 9 MB-339CB purchased from Royal New Zealand Air Force Former operators Argentine Naval Aviation 10 originally delivered, withdrawn in the 1990s Ghana Air Force operated 4 MB-339A Peruvian Air Force operated 14 MB-339AP, now stored. Royal New Zealand Air Force received 18 MB-339CB used by No. 14 Squadron RNZAF between 1991 and 2002. Nine (9) aircraft are operational in the United States at a private defense contractor Draken International Nigerian Air Force operated 12 MB-339AN, now stored. Specifications (MB-339A) See also References Citations Bibliography Braybrook, Roy. "Aermacchi