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| [[Panavia Tornado]] || {{EUR}} || strike<hr>anti-radar || IDS 1st MLU<hr>IDS 2nd MLU<hr>IDS full MLU<hr>IT-ECR full MLU || 18<hr> 15 <hr> 40 <hr>15 || 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
| [[Panavia Tornado]] || {{EUR}} || strike<hr>anti-radar || IDS 1st MLU<hr>IDS 2nd MLU<hr>IDS full MLU<hr>IT-ECR full MLU || 18<hr> 15 <hr> 40 <hr>15 || 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]] || {{EUR}} || fighter-strike || || 46 by now || (121 planned bu 2010)
| [[Eurofighter Typhoon]] || {{EUR}} || fighter-strike || || 46 by now || (121 planned by 2010)
|-----
|-----
| [[General Atomics RQ-1 Predator]] || {{USA}} || reconnaissance UAV || RQ-1A || 4 || jointly operated with the Navy, originally 5, one was lost
| [[General Atomics RQ-1 Predator]] || {{USA}} || reconnaissance UAV || RQ-1A || 4 || jointly operated with the Navy, originally 5, one was lost

Revision as of 02:41, 28 May 2008

Aeronautica Militare
Coat of arms of the Italian Air Force
Founded28th March 1923
CountryItaly
Motto(s)Virtute Siderum Tenus
Commanders
Chief of StaffGeneral 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 28th 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.

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 RIAM, Reparto Incursori Aeronautica Militare (Air Force Raiders Group), 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 (300 2007) combat jets and 114 helicopters. Template:Standard table ! 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 ||  Italy || trainer


light attack


aerobatic display || MB 339A


MB 339CD-1


MB 339CD-2


MB 339PAN || 72


15


15


20 || originally 106


variants with hud glass cockpit and more fighter capability


used by Frecce Tricolori

|----- | Aermacchi SF-260 ||  Italy || trainer || SF 260EA || 28 || All SF260AM phased out[2] |-----

| AMX International AMX Ghibli ||  Italy || attack


trainer || AMX


AMX-T || 70


12 || 52 (40 + 12) will undergo the Mid Life Update ACOL by 2009, the others will be retired

|-----

| Lockheed F-16 Fighting Falcon ||  United States || fighter


trainer || F-16AM-15


F-16BM-10 || 30


4 || leased from USAF

|-----

| Panavia Tornado ||  Europe || strike


anti-radar || IDS 1st MLU


IDS 2nd MLU


IDS full MLU


IT-ECR full MLU || 18


15


40


15 || 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 ||  Europe || fighter-strike || || 46 by now || (121 planned by 2010) |----- | General Atomics RQ-1 Predator ||  United States || reconnaissance UAV || RQ-1A || 4 || jointly operated with the Navy, originally 5, 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 order[3] |----- | Alenia C-27J Spartan ||  Italy || tactical transport || C-27J || 3 || another 9 under delivery[4] |-----

| Lockheed C-130 Hercules ||  United States || tactical transport || C-130J


C-130J-30 || 12


10 ||

|----- | SIAI Marchetti S 208 ||  Italy || liaison || S 208M || 27 || |----- | Piaggio P166 ||  Italy || utility transport || P-166DL-3 || 31 || |----- | Piaggio P180 Avanti ||  Italy || utility transport || || 9 || |----- | Dassault Falcon 50 ||  France || VIP transport || || 4 || |-----

| Dassault Falcon 900 ||  France || VIP transport || 900EX


900EX Easy || 3


2 ||

|----- | Airbus A319 ||  Europe || VIP transport || A319-100 ACJ || 3 || |}

Future aircraft

Retired aircraft

Bases

  • Milano-Linate
  • Brescia-Ghedi
  • Piacenza-San Damiano
  • Treviso-Istrana
  • Udine-Rivolto
  • Cervia-San Girgio
  • Rimini-Miramare
  • Pisa-San Giusto
  • Grosseto
  • Roma-Guidonia
  • Roma-Ciampino
  • Roma-Pratica di Mare
  • Latina
  • Frosinone
  • Grazzanise
  • Foggia-Amendola
  • Gioia del Colle
  • Brindisi-Casale
  • Lecce-Galatina
  • Catania-Sigonella
  • Trapani-Birgi
  • Decimomannu
  • Perdasdefogu
  • Malta
  • Novara-Cameri
  • Treviso
  • Napoli-Capodichino
  • Vicenza
  • Caselle-airport of Sandro Pertini

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 - 1st Air Brigade (after Vezio Mezzetti) - Padova
16° Stormo - 16th Wing
17° Stormo - 17th Wing - Padova
57° Gruppo Intercettori - 57th Interceptor Group
72° Gruppo Intercettori - 72th Interceptor Group
80° Gruppo Intercettori - 80th Interceptor Group
2° Reparto Manutenzione Missili - 2nd Missile Maintenance Unit
401° Reparto STO (Supporti Tecnici Operativi) - 401th TOS Unit (Technical Operative Support)
501° Reparto SLO (Servizi Logistici Operativi) - 501th LOS Unit (Logistic Operative Services)
601ª Squadriglia Collegamenti - 601st Joint Squadron
Scuola Missili Nike - Nike Missile School
2° Stormo - 2nd Wing (after Mario D'Agostini)
313° Gruppo Addestramento Acrobatico (Pattuglia Acrobatica Nazionale) - 313rd Group - Flight Demonstration Group - Frecce Tricolori
402° Gruppo STO - 402nd TOS Group (Technical Operative Support)
502° Gruppo SLO - 502nd LOS Group (Logistic Operative Services)
602ª Squadriglia Collegamenti - 602nd Joint Squadron
3° Stormo - 3rd Wing (after Carlo Emanuele Buscaglia)
28° Gruppo - 28th Group
132° Gruppo - 132th Group
403° Gruppo STO - 403rd TOS Group (Technical Operative Support)
503° Gruppo SLO - 503rd LOS Group (Logistic Operative Services)
603ª Squadriglia Collegamenti e Soccorso - 603rd Joint and Rescue Squadron
5° Stormo - 5th Wing (after Giuseppe Cenni)
23° Gruppo Caccia - 23th Fighter Group
405° Gruppo STO - 405th TOS Group (Technical Operative Support)
505° Gruppo SLO - 505th LOS Group (Logistic Operative Services)
605ª Squadriglia Collegamenti - 605th Joint Squadron
6° Stormo - 6th Wing (after Alfredo Fusco)
102° Gruppo - 102th Group
154° Gruppo - 154th Group
406° Gruppo STO - 406th TOS Group (Technical Operative Support)
506° Gruppo SLO - 506th LOS Group (Logistic Operative Services)
606ª Squadriglia Collegamenti - 606th Joint Squadron
Dismissed - 8° Stormo - 8th Wing (after Gino Prido)
101° Gruppo - 101th Group
408° Gruppo STO - 408th TOS Group (Technical Operative Support)
508° Gruppo SLO - 508th LOS Group (Logistic Operative Services)
608ª Squadriglia Collegamenti - 608th Joint Squadron
File:50°Stormo-Patch.png 50° Stormo - 50th Wing (after Giorgio Graffer)
155° Gruppo - 155th Group
450° Gruppo STO - 450th TOS Group (Technical Operative Support)
550° Gruppo SLO - 550th LOS Group (Logistic Operative Services)
650ª Squadriglia Collegamenti - 650th Joint Squadron
51° Stormo - 51th Wing (after Ferruccio Serafini)
22° Gruppo - 22th Group
103° Gruppo - 103th Group
451° Gruppo STO - 451st TOS Group (Technical Operative Support)
551° Gruppo SLO - 551st LOS Group (Logistic Operative Services)
651ª Squadriglia Collegamenti e Soccorso - 651st Joint and Rescue Squadron
File:53°Stormo-Patch.png 53° Stormo - 53th Wing (after Guglielmo Chiarini)
21° Gruppo - 21th Group
453° Gruppo STO - 453rd TOS Group (Technical Operative Support)
553° Gruppo SLO - 553rd LOS Group (Logistic Operative Services)
653ª Squadriglia Collegamenti e Soccorso - 653rd Joint and Rescue Squadron
1° Reparto Manutenzione Velivoli - 1st Aircraft Maintenance Unit
Seconda Regione Aerea - Second Air Region (Central Italy)
4° Stormo - 41st Wing (after Amedeo D'Aosta)
9° Gruppo - 9th Group
20° Gruppo - 20th Group
404° Gruppo STO - 404th TOS Group (Technical Operative Support)
504° Gruppo SLO - 504th LOS Group (Logistic Operative Services)
604ª Squadriglia Collegamenti - 604th Joint Squadron
9° Stormo - 9th Wing (after Francesco Baracca)
10° Gruppo - 10th Group
409° Gruppo STO - 409th TOS Group (Technical Operative Support)
509° Gruppo SLO - 509th LOS Group (Logistic Operative Services)
609ª Squadriglia Collegamenti - 609th Joint Squadron
14° Stormo - 14th Wing (after Sergio Sartoff)
8° Gruppo - 8th Group
71° Gruppo - 71th Group
Centro Manutenzione Velivoli - Aircraft Maintenance Centre
File:15°Stormo-Patch.png 15° Stormo - 15th Wing (after Stefano Cagna)
82° Centro SAR - 82nd Group (Search and Rescue)
83° Centro SAR - 83rd Group (Search and Rescue)
84° Centro SAR - 84th Group (Search and Rescue)
85° Gruppo SAR - 85th Group (Search and Rescue)
615ª Squadriglia Collegamenti - 615th Joint Squadron
30° Stormo - 30th Wing (after Valerio Scarabellotto)
86° Gruppo - 86th Group
430° Gruppo STO - 430rd TOS Group (Technical Operative Support)
530° Gruppo SLO - 530th LOS Group (Logistic Operative Services)
31° Stormo - 31th Wing (after Carmelo Raiti)
93° Gruppo - 93th Group
306° Gruppo - 306 th Group
431° Gruppo STO - 431st TOS Group (Technical Operative Support)
531° Gruppo SLO - 531st LOS Group (Logistic Operative Services)
46ª Brigata Aerea - 46th Air Brigade (after Silvio Angelucci)
2° Gruppo - 2nd Group
50° Gruppo - 50th Group
98° Gruppo - 98th Group
446° Gruppo STO - 446th TOS Group (Technical Operative Support)
546° Gruppo SLO - 546th LOS Group (Logistic Operative Services)
70° Stormo - 70th Wing
207° Gruppo - 207th Group
50° Gruppo - 50th Group
98° Gruppo - 98th Group
470° Gruppo STO - 470th TOS Group (Technical Operative Support)
570° Gruppo SLO - 570th LOS Group (Logistic Operative Services)
670ª Squadriglia Collegamenti - 670th Joint Squadron
72° Stormo - 72nd Wing
208° Gruppo - 208th Group
472° Gruppo STO - 472nd TOS Group (Technical Operative Support)
572° Gruppo SLO - 572nd LOS Group (Logistic Operative Services)
672ª Squadriglia Collegamenti e Soccorso - 672th Joint Squadron
303° Gruppo Autonomo - 303th 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 - 32nd Wing (after Armando Boetto)
13° Gruppo - 13th Group
201° Gruppo - 201th Group
204° Gruppo - 204th Group
432° Gruppo STO - 432nd TOS Group (Technical Operative Support)
532° Gruppo SLO - 532nd LOS Unit (Logistic Operative Services)
632ª Squadriglia Collegamenti e Soccorso - 632nd Joint and Rescue Squadron
36° Stormo - 36th Wing (after Riccardo Helmut Seidl)
12° Gruppo - 12th Group
156° Gruppo - 156th Group
204° Gruppo - 204th Group
436° Gruppo STO - 436th TOS Group (Technical Operative Support)
536° Gruppo SLO - 536th LOS Group (Logistic Operative Services)
636ª Squadriglia Collegamenti - 636th Joint Squadron
37° Stormo (Cesare Toschi)
18° Gruppo - 18th Group
437° Gruppo STO - 437th TOS Group (Technical Operative Support)
537° Gruppo SLO - 537th LOS Group (Logistic Operative Services)
637ª Squadriglia Collegamenti - 637th Joint Squadron
41° Stormo - 41st Wing (after Athos Ammannato)
88° Gruppo - 88th Group
441° Gruppo STO - 441th TOS Group (Technical Operative Support)
541° Gruppo SLO - 541th LOS Group (Logistic Operative Services)
641ª Squadriglia Collegamenti - 641st Joint Squadron
11° Reparto Manutenzione Velivoli - 11st Aircraft Maintenance Unit
Dismissed - 60ª Brigata Aerea - 60th Air Brigade
61° Stormo - 61st Wing
212° Gruppo - 212nd Group
213° Gruppo - 213rd Group
Gruppo Allievi - Students Group
461° Gruppo STO - 461st TOS Group (Technical Operative Support)
561° Gruppo SLO - 561st LOS Group (Logistic Operative Services)
661ª Squadriglia Collegamenti - 661st Joint Squadron
10° Reparto Manutenzione Velivoli - 10th 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 a 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

See also

References