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Aeronautica Militare
Founded	28 March 1923
Country	Italy
Size	763 aircraft,48.000 personel
Nickname	ItAF
Motto	Virtute Siderum Tenus
Colors	Sky blu
Commanders
Chief of Staff	General Daniele Tei
Insignia
Roundel

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.

Contents 1 History 2 Aircraft inventory 3 Future aircraft 4 Retired aircraft 5 Bases 6 Rank Structure 7 Aeronautica Militare Italiana organisation and units 8 Chiefs of the Air force 9 Photos 10 See also 11 External links 12 References

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.

The drive to improve and expand the aircraft industry led Italy in the programme of the Panavia Tornado and the development and introduction of the AMX, this later with Embraer of Brazil. In 1990, following the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, Italy joined the coalition forces and for the first time in 45 years Italian pilots and aircraft were tasked with military war-time operations.

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

The AM operates 585 aircraft, including 219 (386 2007) combat jets and 114 helicopters.(bold only combact aircraft)

Aircraft	Origin	Type	Versions	In service1	Notes
Aermacchi MB-339	Italy	trainer light attack aerobatic display	MB 339A MB 339CD-1 MB 339CD-2 MB 339PAN	42 50 20	Total: 50	originally 112 variants with hud glass cockpit and more fighter capability used by Frecce Tricolori
Aermacchi SF-260	Italy	trainer	SF 260EA	28	All SF260AM phased out2
AMX International AMX Ghibli	Italy	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 Falcon3	United States	fighter trainer	F-16AM-15 F-16BM-10 F-16B F-16A	26 1 3 4	Total: 34	leased from USAF; four F-16AM and one F-16BM crashed;4 basic F-16A are used for spare parts
Panavia Tornado	European Union	fighter-strike anti-radar	IDS 1st MLU IDS 2nd MLU IDS full MLU IT-ECR full MLU	50 35 10	Total: 95	Mid Life Update divided in three tranches, currently the first is concluded, by now the other planes are in the original configuration, second MLU batch to be delivered by 2011
Eurofighter Typhoon	European Union	fighter-strike		75 by now	Total: 75 (now)	121 planned by 2014
General Atomics RQ-1 Predator	United States	reconnaissance UAV	RQ-1A	5	jointly operated with the Navy, originally 6, one was lost
MD Helicopters MD 500 Defender	Italy	utility helicopter	NH 500E	50	built by BredaNardi
Agusta-Bell AB212 Twin Huey	Italy	rescue helicopter	AB212AM	34	built by Agusta
Sikorsky HH-3F Sea King	Italy	Combat SAR VIP transport	HH-3F SH-3DTS	30 2	built by Agusta, Mid Life Update on 24 helicopter currently carry out
Breguet Atlantique	France	maritime patrol	Br 1150	10/12	jointly operated with the Navy, 18 were purchased in early seventies
Boeing 767	United States	aerial refueling	KC-767A		4 on order5
Alenia G.222	Italy	tactical transport	G222	46
Alenia C-27J Spartan	Italy	tactical transport	C-27J	12	6
Lockheed C-130 Hercules	United States	tactical transport	C-130J C-130J-30	12 10	6 KC-130J tanker kit
SIAI Marchetti S 208	Italy	liaison	S 208M	27
Piaggio P166	Italy	utility transport	P-166DL-3	31
Piaggio P180 Avanti	Italy	utility transport	P.180 M P.180 RM P.180 APH	8 4 2	The Radio calibration and the Aerial cartography variants are rapidly reconfigurable to utitily transport role.
Dassault Falcon 50	France	VIP transport		4
Dassault Falcon 900	France	VIP transport	900EX 900EX Easy	3 2
Airbus A319	European Union	VIP transport	A319-100 ACJ	3

TOTAL OF FIGHTER AIRCRAFT: 386

Future aircraft

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

Retired aircraft

• Lockheed F-104 Starfighter  United States
• Fiat Aeritalia F-104S Starfighter  Italy
• Panavia Tornado ADV  European Union - 24 leased from RAF
• Aeritalia G.222  Italy
• Lockheed C-130H Hercules  United States
• Boeing 707 T/T  United States⁷

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

Name	Term start	Term end
Pier Ruggero Piccio	January 1, 1926	February 6, 1927
Armando Armani	February 10, 1927	October 13, 1928
Giuseppe Valle	February 22, 1930	November 23, 1933
Antonio Bosio	November 23, 1933	March 22, 1934
Giuseppe Valle	March 22 1934	November 10, 1939
Francesco Pricolo	November 10, 1939	November 15, 1941
Rino Corso Fougier	November 15, 1941	July 27, 1943
Renato Sandalli	July 27, 1943	June 18, 1944
Pietro Piacentini	June 19, 1944	December 13, 1944
Mario Ajmone Cat	December 13, 1944	February 5, 1951
Aldo Urbani	February 5, 1951	November 10, 1955
Ferdinando Raffaelli	November 10, 1955	February 1, 1958
Silvio Napoli	February 1, 1958	September 1, 1961
Aldo Remondino	September 1, 1961	February 28, 1968
Duilio S. Fanali	February 28, 1968	November 1, 1971
Vincenzo Lucertini	November 1, 1971	February 27, 1974
Dino Ciarlo	February 27, 1974	June 20, 1977
Alessandro Mettimano	June 20, 1977	April 1, 1980
Lamberto Bartolucci	April 2, 1980	October 12, 1983
Basilio Cottone	October 19, 1983	September 17, 1986
Franco Pisano	September 18, 1986	April 15, 1990
Stelio Nardini	April 16, 1990	March 24, 1993
Adelchi Pillinini	March 25, 1993	June 3, 1995
Mario Arpino	June 4, 1995	February 5, 1999
Andrea Fornasiero	February 5, 1999	August 5, 2001
Sandro Ferracuti	August 5, 2001	August 4, 2004
Leonardo Tricarico	August 5, 2004	September 19, 2006
Vincenzo Camporini	September 19, 2006	Incumbent

Photos

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Aermacchi MB-339CD	Aermacchi MB-339PAN	Aermacchi MB-339PAN	Aermacchi MB-339PAN
Alenia Aermacchi Embraer AMX	Breguet BR1150 Atlantic	Eurofighter Typhoon	Eurofighter Typhoon
General Atomics RQ-1A Predator	Lockheed F-16A	Huges NH-500E	Panavia Tornado ECR
Piaggio P-166 DL3	Piaggio P-180 Avanti	Republic F-84	North American F-86 Sabre
North American F-86 Sabre	North American F-86 Sabre	FIAT G-91PAN	FIAT G-91PAN
FIAT G-91PAN	FIAT G-91R	FIAT G-91R	FIAT G-91R
Lockheed F-104 ASA-M Starfighter	Lockheed F-104 ASA-M Starfighter	Lockheed F-104 ASA-M Starfighter	Lockheed F-104 ASA-M Starfighter
Lockheed T33A

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

v • d • e Military of Italy Esercito Italiano (Army)   Marina Militare (Navy)   Aeronautica Militare (Air Force)  Carabinieri (Gendarmerie)