with contract specifications. The delivery deadline was originally November 2016, but delays meant delivery and acceptance was not complete until 22 December 2017. In December 2017, Poland's Ministry of National Defence announced it was seeking financial penalties from Leonardo of up to 100 million zlotys (U.S. $28 million) over the delays. Additionally, the ministry had complained that the aircraft weren't fully capable of simulating certain weapon systems for training purposes. In March 2018, Poland had signed for an additional four aircraft and support package, plus options for a further four aircraft, and a support package. In December 2018, Poland signed for the additional four aircraft, as well as upgrades to the existing fleet of eight. Deliveries and upgrade work for the total of 16 aircraft is expected to run into 2022. U.S. Air Force T-X program In the United States, Alenia Aermacchi submitted the M-346 for the United States Air Force's T-X program to replace the aging Northrop T-38 Talon, rebranding the aircraft as the Leonardo DRS T-100 Integrated Training System. Alenia originally intended to be the prime contractor, anticipating moving the final assembly location from Italy to the United States if the bid succeeded. About 350 aircraft were expected to be ordered, with further purchases leading to over 1,000 aircraft being purchased overall. In January 2013, Alenia Aermacchi signed a letter of intent with General Dynamics C4 Systems, who intended to serve as the prime contractor for the T-X bid; however, General Dynamics announced their withdrawal in March 2015. On January 1, 2016, Alenia Aermacchi was absorbed into Leonardo S.p.A. In February 2016, it was announced that Raytheon, who shall serve as the prime contractor, had teamed up with Leonardo to offer an advanced variant of the M-346 for the T-X program called the T-100. On 25 January 2017, Raytheon announced that it had withdrawn as prime contractor and American partner in the T-X competition. One of the sticking points had been price per unit: at the time the M-346 had a flyaway cost of $25 million, but Raytheon wanted Leonardo to reduce that by 30%. On 8 February 2017, Leonardo confirmed that it would remain in the T-X competition alone, with Leonardo DRS, its American subsidiary, serving as prime contractor. The competition was ultimately won by the Boeing T-7 Red Hawk. Variants M-346 Designation for the basic type T-346A Italian military designation from 2012 for the M-346. M-346LCA