The Aeronautica Militare is the air force of Italy. It has held a prominent role in modern Italian military history. It was founded as an independent service arm on the 28 March 1923, by King Vittorio Emanuele III as the Regia Aeronautica (which equates to "Royal Air Force"). After World War II, when Italy was made a republic by referendum, the Regia Aeronautica was given its current name. Its Aerobatic display team is the Frecce Tricolori.

History

Italy is one of the nations that can boast some of the oldest traditions in the field of aviation. As far back as 1884, in fact, the Regio Esercito was authorised to equip itself with its own air component, the Servizio Aeronautico, based in Rome. In 1911, during the Italo-Turkish war, Italy employed aircraft, for the first time ever in the world, for reconnaissance and bombing missions. As a result of Benito Mussolini, who wanted Italy to become a world power, the Regia Aeronautica was born on 23 March 1923. During the thirties, the Regia Aeronautica was involved in its first military operations, initially in Ethiopia in 1935, and later in Spain between 1936 and 1939. After a period of neutrality, Italy entered World War II on 10 June 1940 alongside Germany, in which the Regia Aeronautica could deploy more than 3.000 aircraft, of which less than 60% were serviceable. The Regia Aeronautica fought from the icy steppes of Russia to the sand of the North African desert losing men and machines. After the armistice of 8 September 1943, Italy divided itself into two, and the same fate befell the Regia Aeronautica. The end of the hostilities, on 8 May 1945, opened the gates to the rebirth of military aviation in Italy.

A referendum resulted in the proclamation of Italy as a Republic on 18 June 1946, and in parallel the Regia Aeronautica was transformed into the Aeronautica Militare Italiana - the title that it holds today. The Paris Peace Treaty of 1947 placed severe restrictions on the Italian armed forces, but membership of NATO in 1949 opened the way for modernisation of the AMI. The American military aid through the Mutual Defence Assistance Programme saw the arrival of P-51 Mustang and P-47 Thunderbolt piston-engined fighters. Later in 1952 the best aircraft of the period, F-84G, F-86E(M) and F-84F fighters and C-119 transports came to Italy. Not content to see foreign-designed aircraft serving the AMI, the reborn Italian aviation industry began to develop and produce aircraft of its own like the Fiat G91, Aermacchi MB-326, Piaggio Aero P166 and the line of Agusta-Bell helicopters. The sound-barrier was broken by the AMI, with the introduction of the Lockheed F-104G Starfighter, constructed under licence by Fiat. The 1970s witnessed the acquisition of the Aeritalia G222 and Lockheed C-130, which renewed the transport fleet, and the Lockheed-Aeritalia F-104S, a fighter-variant of the Starfighter developed specifically to meet the requirements of the Italian defence system.

Italian Eurofighter.

Further crises were going to require the intervention of the Italian forces in Somalia, Mozambique, and in the Balkans. The conflict in the former Yugoslavia, only a few minutes flying time from the Italian borders, saw a need to improve the future air defence.

As a stopgap and as replacement for leased Tornado ADV interceptors, the AMI has leased 30 F-16A Block 15 ADF and four F-16B Block 10 Fighting Falcons, with an option for some more. The coming years also will see the introduction of 121 EF2000 Eurofighter Typhoons, replacing the leased F-16 Fighting Falcons. Furthermore updates are foreseen on the Tornado IDS/IDT and the AMX-fleet.

The transport capacity will be improved with the delivery of 22 C-130Js (for 2°Gr). Also a completely-new developed G222, called C-27J Spartan, will enter service replacing the G222's.

In the year 2003, the Italian Air Force expanded its combat capabilities to land warfare and Special Forces use by the creation of the 17º Stormo Incursori ("17th Special Operations Wing"), also known as RIAM, Reparto Incursori Aeronautica Militare (Air Force Raiders Group), a unit that's primarily engaged towards missions such as raid on land-based aeronautical compounds, Forward Air Control, Combat Controlling, and Combat Search and Rescue.

Aircraft inventory

Aermacchi SF-260AM

Aermacchi MB-339

RQ1 Predator

Agusta Sikorsky HH-3F

Alenia AMX Special Color

Brada Nardi NH-500E

Piaggio P-180 Avanti

The AM operates 585 aircraft, including 219 (386 2007) combat jets and 114 helicopters.(bold only combact aircraft) ! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Aircraft ! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Origin ! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Type ! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Versions ! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|In service^[1] ! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Notes |----- | Aermacchi MB-339 || || trainer

|----- | Aermacchi SF-260 || || trainer || SF 260EA || 28 || All SF260AM phased out^[2] |----- | AMX International AMX Ghibli || || attack || AMX || one-seat 110, two-seat 26|| Total: 136 || will undergo the Mid Life Update ACOL by 2009, two-seat 26 |----- | Lockheed F-16 Fighting Falcon^[3] || || fighter

|----- | Panavia Tornado || || fighter-strike

|----- | Eurofighter Typhoon || || fighter-strike || || 75 by now || Total: 75 (now) || 121 planned by 2014 |----- | General Atomics RQ-1 Predator || || reconnaissance UAV || RQ-1A || 5 || jointly operated with the Navy, originally 6, one was lost |----- | MD Helicopters MD 500 Defender || || utility helicopter || NH 500E || 50 || built by BredaNardi |----- | Agusta-Bell AB212 Twin Huey || || rescue helicopter || AB212AM || 34 || built by Agusta |----- | Sikorsky HH-3F Sea King || || Combat SAR

|----- | Breguet Atlantique || || maritime patrol || Br 1150 || 10/12 || jointly operated with the Navy, 18 were purchased in early seventies |----- | Boeing 767 || || aerial refueling || KC-767A || || 4 on order^[5] |----- | Alenia G.222 || || tactical transport || G222|| 46 || |----- | Alenia C-27J Spartan || || tactical transport || C-27J || 12 ||^[6] |----- | Lockheed C-130 Hercules || || tactical transport || C-130J

|----- | SIAI Marchetti S 208 || || liaison || S 208M || 27 || |----- | Piaggio P166 || || utility transport || P-166DL-3 || 31 || |----- | Piaggio P180 Avanti || || utility transport || P.180 M

|----- | Dassault Falcon 50 || || VIP transport || || 4 || |----- | Dassault Falcon 900 || || VIP transport || 900EX

|----- | Airbus A319 || || VIP transport || A319-100 ACJ || 3 || |} TOTAL OF FIGHTER AIRCRAFT: 386

Future aircraft

• Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II (131)
• Aermacchi M-346 (15)
• General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper (4)

Retired aircraft

• Lockheed F-104 Starfighter
• Fiat Aeritalia F-104S Starfighter
• Panavia Tornado ADV - 24 leased from RAF
• Aeritalia G.222
• Lockheed C-130H Hercules
• Boeing 707 T/T ^[7]

Bases

Rank Structure

Ufficiali generali - General officers
Generale
General
Generale di Squadra Aerea		Generale di Divisione Aerea		Generale di Brigata Aerea
Lieutenant General		Major General		Brigadier General
Ufficiali superiori - Senior officers
Colonnello		Tenente Colonnello		Maggiore
Colonel		Lieutenant Colonel		Major
Ufficiali inferiori - Junior officers
Capitano		Tenente		Sottotenente
Captain		1st Lieutenant		2nd Lieutenant
Sottufficiali - Warrant Officers
Primo maresciallo luogotenente
1st Lieutenant Marshall
Primo Maresciallo	Maresciallo di Prima Classe	Maresciallo di Seconda Classe	Maresciallo di Terza Classe	Sergente Maggiore	Sergente
1st Marshall	1st Class Marshall	2nd Class Marshall	3rd Class Marshall	Sergeant Major	Sergeant
Truppa - Troops
					No insignia
Primo Aviere Capo	Primo Aviere Scelto	Aviere Capo	Primo Aviere	Aviere Scelto	Aviere
First Chief Airman	First Senior Airman	Chief Airman	First Airman	Senior Airman	Airman

Aeronautica Militare Italiana organisation and units

Stato Maggiore - Headquarters Air Force

Prima Regione Aerea - First Air Region (North Italy)

1ª Brigata Aerea - 1^st Air Brigade (after Vezio Mezzetti) - Padova

16° Stormo - 16^th Wing

17° Stormo - 17^th Wing - Padova

57° Gruppo Intercettori - 57^th Interceptor Group

72° Gruppo Intercettori - 72^th Interceptor Group

80° Gruppo Intercettori - 80^th Interceptor Group

2° Reparto Manutenzione Missili - 2^nd Missile Maintenance Unit

401° Reparto STO (Supporti Tecnici Operativi) - 401^th TOS Unit (Technical Operative Support)

501° Reparto SLO (Servizi Logistici Operativi) - 501^th LOS Unit (Logistic Operative Services)

601ª Squadriglia Collegamenti - 601^st Joint Squadron

Scuola Missili Nike - Nike Missile School

2° Stormo - 2^nd Wing (after Mario D'Agostini)

313° Gruppo Addestramento Acrobatico (Pattuglia Acrobatica Nazionale) - 313^rd Group - Flight Demonstration Group - Frecce Tricolori

402° Gruppo STO - 402^nd TOS Group (Technical Operative Support)

502° Gruppo SLO - 502^nd LOS Group (Logistic Operative Services)

602ª Squadriglia Collegamenti - 602^nd Joint Squadron

3° Stormo - 3^rd Wing (after Carlo Emanuele Buscaglia)

28° Gruppo - 28^th Group

132° Gruppo - 132^th Group

403° Gruppo STO - 403^rd TOS Group (Technical Operative Support)

503° Gruppo SLO - 503^rd LOS Group (Logistic Operative Services)

603ª Squadriglia Collegamenti e Soccorso - 603^rd Joint and Rescue Squadron

5° Stormo - 5^th Wing (after Giuseppe Cenni)

23° Gruppo Caccia - 23^th Fighter Group

405° Gruppo STO - 405^th TOS Group (Technical Operative Support)

505° Gruppo SLO - 505^th LOS Group (Logistic Operative Services)

605ª Squadriglia Collegamenti - 605^th Joint Squadron

6° Stormo - 6^th Wing (after Alfredo Fusco)

102° Gruppo - 102^th Group

154° Gruppo - 154^th Group

406° Gruppo STO - 406^th TOS Group (Technical Operative Support)

506° Gruppo SLO - 506^th LOS Group (Logistic Operative Services)

606ª Squadriglia Collegamenti - 606^th Joint Squadron

Dismissed -

8° Stormo - 8^th Wing (after Gino Prido)

101° Gruppo - 101^th Group

408° Gruppo STO - 408^th TOS Group (Technical Operative Support)

508° Gruppo SLO - 508^th LOS Group (Logistic Operative Services)

608ª Squadriglia Collegamenti - 608^th Joint Squadron

50° Stormo - 50^th Wing (after Giorgio Graffer)

155° Gruppo - 155^th Group

450° Gruppo STO - 450^th TOS Group (Technical Operative Support)

550° Gruppo SLO - 550^th LOS Group (Logistic Operative Services)

650ª Squadriglia Collegamenti - 650^th Joint Squadron

51° Stormo - 51^th Wing (after Ferruccio Serafini)

22° Gruppo - 22^th Group

103° Gruppo - 103^th Group

451° Gruppo STO - 451^st TOS Group (Technical Operative Support)

551° Gruppo SLO - 551^st LOS Group (Logistic Operative Services)

651ª Squadriglia Collegamenti e Soccorso - 651^st Joint and Rescue Squadron

53° Stormo - 53^th Wing (after Guglielmo Chiarini)

21° Gruppo - 21^th Group

453° Gruppo STO - 453^rd TOS Group (Technical Operative Support)

553° Gruppo SLO - 553^rd LOS Group (Logistic Operative Services)

653ª Squadriglia Collegamenti e Soccorso - 653^rd Joint and Rescue Squadron

1° Reparto Manutenzione Velivoli - 1st Aircraft Maintenance Unit

Seconda Regione Aerea - Second Air Region (Central Italy)

4° Stormo - 41^st Wing (after Amedeo D'Aosta)

9° Gruppo - 9^th Group

20° Gruppo - 20^th Group

404° Gruppo STO - 404^th TOS Group (Technical Operative Support)

504° Gruppo SLO - 504^th LOS Group (Logistic Operative Services)

604ª Squadriglia Collegamenti - 604^th Joint Squadron

9° Stormo - 9^th Wing (after Francesco Baracca)

10° Gruppo - 10^th Group

409° Gruppo STO - 409^th TOS Group (Technical Operative Support)

509° Gruppo SLO - 509^th LOS Group (Logistic Operative Services)

609ª Squadriglia Collegamenti - 609^th Joint Squadron

14° Stormo - 14^th Wing (after Sergio Sartoff)

8° Gruppo - 8^th Group

71° Gruppo - 71^th Group

Centro Manutenzione Velivoli - Aircraft Maintenance Centre

15° Stormo - 15^th Wing (after Stefano Cagna)

82° Centro SAR - 82^nd Group (Search and Rescue)

83° Centro SAR - 83^rd Group (Search and Rescue)

84° Centro SAR - 84^th Group (Search and Rescue)

85° Gruppo SAR - 85^th Group (Search and Rescue)

615ª Squadriglia Collegamenti - 615^th Joint Squadron

30° Stormo - 30^th Wing (after Valerio Scarabellotto)

86° Gruppo - 86^th Group

430° Gruppo STO - 430^rd TOS Group (Technical Operative Support)

530° Gruppo SLO - 530^th LOS Group (Logistic Operative Services)

31° Stormo - 31^th Wing (after Carmelo Raiti)

93° Gruppo - 93^th Group

306° Gruppo - 306 ^th Group

431° Gruppo STO - 431^st TOS Group (Technical Operative Support)

531° Gruppo SLO - 531^st LOS Group (Logistic Operative Services)

46ª Brigata Aerea - 46^th Air Brigade (after Silvio Angelucci)

2° Gruppo - 2^nd Group

50° Gruppo - 50^th Group

98° Gruppo - 98^th Group

446° Gruppo STO - 446^th TOS Group (Technical Operative Support)

546° Gruppo SLO - 546^th LOS Group (Logistic Operative Services)

70° Stormo - 70^th Wing

207° Gruppo - 207^th Group

50° Gruppo - 50^th Group

98° Gruppo - 98^th Group

470° Gruppo STO - 470^th TOS Group (Technical Operative Support)

570° Gruppo SLO - 570^th LOS Group (Logistic Operative Services)

670ª Squadriglia Collegamenti - 670^th Joint Squadron

72° Stormo - 72^nd Wing

208° Gruppo - 208^th Group

472° Gruppo STO - 472^nd TOS Group (Technical Operative Support)

572° Gruppo SLO - 572^nd LOS Group (Logistic Operative Services)

672ª Squadriglia Collegamenti e Soccorso - 672^th Joint Squadron

303° Gruppo Autonomo - 303^th Independent Group

Centro di Volo a Vela - Glider Flight Centre

Reparto Sperimentale Tiro Aereo - Air Targeting Experimental Unit

Terza Regione Aerea - Third Air Region (Southern Italy)

32° Stormo - 32^nd Wing (after Armando Boetto)

13° Gruppo - 13^th Group

201° Gruppo - 201^th Group

204° Gruppo - 204^th Group

432° Gruppo STO - 432^nd TOS Group (Technical Operative Support)

532° Gruppo SLO - 532^nd LOS Unit (Logistic Operative Services)

632ª Squadriglia Collegamenti e Soccorso - 632^nd Joint and Rescue Squadron

36° Stormo - 36^th Wing (after Riccardo Helmut Seidl)

12° Gruppo - 12^th Group

156° Gruppo - 156^th Group

204° Gruppo - 204^th Group

436° Gruppo STO - 436^th TOS Group (Technical Operative Support)

536° Gruppo SLO - 536^th LOS Group (Logistic Operative Services)

636ª Squadriglia Collegamenti - 636^th Joint Squadron

37° Stormo (Cesare Toschi)

18° Gruppo - 18^th Group

437° Gruppo STO - 437^th TOS Group (Technical Operative Support)

537° Gruppo SLO - 537^th LOS Group (Logistic Operative Services)

637ª Squadriglia Collegamenti - 637^th Joint Squadron

41° Stormo - 41^st Wing (after Athos Ammannato)

88° Gruppo - 88^th Group

441° Gruppo STO - 441^th TOS Group (Technical Operative Support)

541° Gruppo SLO - 541^th LOS Group (Logistic Operative Services)

641ª Squadriglia Collegamenti - 641^st Joint Squadron

11° Reparto Manutenzione Velivoli - 11^st Aircraft Maintenance Unit

Dismissed -

60ª Brigata Aerea - 60^th Air Brigade

61° Stormo - 61^st Wing

212° Gruppo - 212^nd Group

213° Gruppo - 213^rd Group

Gruppo Allievi - Students Group

461° Gruppo STO - 461^st TOS Group (Technical Operative Support)

561° Gruppo SLO - 561^st LOS Group (Logistic Operative Services)

661ª Squadriglia Collegamenti - 661^st Joint Squadron

10° Reparto Manutenzione Velivoli - 10^th Aircraft Maintenance Unit

Comando Generale delle Scuole - School High Command

Scuola di Guerra Aerea - Firenze - Air Warfare School - Florence

Accademia Aeronautica - Pozzuoli - Air Academy - Pozzuoli

Scuola Militare - Firenze - Air Military School - Florence

Scuola di Applicazione - Firenze - Application School - Florence

Scuola di Volo Basico Iniziale Aviogetti - Lecce-Galatina - Initial Basic Jet Flight School - Lecce-Galatina

Scuola Volo Basico Avanzato Aviogetti - Foggia-Amendola - Advanced Basic Jet Flight School - Foggia-Amendola

Scuola Volo Basico e Avanzato an Elica - Latina - Basic and Advanced Prop School - Latina

Scuola di Volo Elicotteri - Frosinone - Helicopter Flight School - Frosinone

Scuola Addestramento Reclute AM - Macerata - Recruit Training School - Macerata

Scuola Addesrtamento Reclute AM - Taranto - Recruit Training School - Taranto

Scuola Addestramento Reclute Vigilanza AM - Viterbo - Vigilance Recruit Training School - Viterbo

Scuola Centrale Istruttori di Volo - Grottaglie - Flight Instructor Central School - Grottaglie

Scuola Metodo Didattico - Guidonia - Didactic Method School - Guidonia

Scuola Sottufficiali - Caserta - Warrant Officers School - Caserta

Centro Tecnico Addestrativo Difesa Aerea - Borgo Piave - Training Air Defense Technical Centre - Borgo Piave

Centro Tecn. Addestr. TLC ed assistenza al volo - Pratica di Mare - Training TLC and Flight Assistance Technical Centre - Pratica di Mare

Scuola di Sanità AM - Roma - Medical School - Rome

Scuola Lingue Estere AM - Loreto - Foreign Languages School - Loreto (AN)

Ispettorato Logistico - Logistic Inspectorate

Ispettorato Telecomunicazioni ed Assistenza al Volo - TLC and Flight Assistance Inspectorate

Comando Scuola di Guerra Aerea - Air Warfare Command

Divisione Aerea Studi, Ricerche e Sperimentazioni - Study, Research and Experimentations Air Division

Reparto Sperimentale di Volo - Experimental Flight Unit

Chiefs of the Air force

Photos

<gallery> Image:Aermacchi MB339 CD.JPG| Aermacchi MB-339CD Image:Aermacchi MB-339 PAN.jpg| Aermacchi MB-339PAN Image:Aermacchi MB-339 PAN (1).jpg| Aermacchi MB-339PAN Image:Aermacchi MB-339 PAN (2).jpg| Aermacchi MB-339PAN Image:Alenia Aermacchi Embraer AMX.JPG| Alenia Aermacchi Embraer AMX Image:Dassault Borguet Br1150.JPG| Breguet BR1150 Atlantic Image:Eurofighter Typhoon F2.JPG| Eurofighter Typhoon Image:Eurofighter Typhoon F2 (1).JPG| Eurofighter Typhoon Image:General Atomics RQ-1A Predator.JPG| General Atomics RQ-1A Predator Image:Lockheed F-16 ADV-A Block 15.JPG| Lockheed F-16A Image:Nardi Huges NH-500E.JPG| Huges NH-500E Image:Panavia Tornado ECR.JPG| Panavia Tornado ECR Image:Piaggio P-166 DL3.JPG| Piaggio P-166 DL3 Image:Piaggio P-180 Avanti.JPG| Piaggio P-180 Avanti Image:F-84LT.jpg| Republic F-84 Image:F-86LT.jpg| North American F-86 Sabre Image:F-86LT (1).jpg| North American F-86 Sabre Image:F-86LT (2).jpg| North American F-86 Sabre Image:FIAT G-91 PAN.jpg| FIAT G-91PAN Image:FIAT G-91 PAN (1).jpg| FIAT G-91PAN Image:FIAT G-91 PAN (2).jpg| FIAT G-91PAN Image:FIAT G-91R.jpg| FIAT G-91R Image:FIAT G-91R (1).jpg| FIAT G-91R Image:FIAT G-91R (2).jpg| FIAT G-91R Image:Lockheed F-104 ASA-M Starfighter.jpg| Lockheed F-104 ASA-M Starfighter Image:Lockheed F-104 ASA-M Starfighter (1).jpg| Lockheed F-104 ASA-M Starfighter Image:Lockheed F-104 ASA-M Starfighter (2).jpg| Lockheed F-104 ASA-M Starfighter Image:Lockheed F-104 ASA-M Starfighter (3).jpg| Lockheed F-104 ASA-M Starfighter Image:Lockheed T33A.JPG| Lockheed T33A </gallery>

See also

• Military of Italy
• Italian Army
• Marina Militare
• Carabinieri
• Guardia di Finanza
• NATO
• List of air forces
• List of F-104 Starfighter operators

External links

• Aeronautica Militare web page
• ala tricolore

References

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