Everything about The Aeronautica Militare totally explained
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.
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
The AM operates 585 aircraft, including 219 (300 2007) combat jets and 114 helicopters.
! ignore="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Aircraft
! ignore="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Origin
! ignore="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Type
! ignore="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Versions
! ignore="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|In service
! ignore="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Notes
|
-
|
Aermacchi MB-339 || || 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 || || trainer || SF 260EA || 28 || All SF260AM phased out
|
-
|
AMX International AMX Ghibli || || 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 || || fighter
trainer || F-16AM-15
F-16BM-10 || 30
4 || leased from USAF
|
-
|
Panavia Tornado || || 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 || || fighter-strike || || 46 by now || (121 planned bu 2010)
|
-
|
General Atomics RQ-1 Predator || || reconnaissance UAV || RQ-1A || 4 || jointly operated with the Navy, originally 5, 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
VIP transport || HH-3F
SH-3DTS || 30
2 || built by Agusta, Mid Life Update on 24 helicopter currently carry out
|
-
|
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
|
-
|
Alenia C-27J Spartan || || tactical transport || C-27J || 3 || another 9 under delivery
|
-
|
Lockheed C-130 Hercules || || tactical transport || C-130J
C-130J-30 || 12
10 ||
|
-
|
SIAI Marchetti S 208 || || liaison || S 208M || 27 ||
|
-
|
Piaggio P166 || || utility transport || P-166DL-3 || 31 ||
|
-
|
Piaggio P180 Avanti || || utility transport || || 9 ||
|
-
|
Dassault Falcon 50 || || VIP transport || || 4 ||
|
-
|
Dassault Falcon 900 || || VIP transport || 900EX
900EX Easy || 3
2 ||
|
-
|
Airbus A319 || || VIP transport || A319-100 ACJ || 3 ||
|}
Future aircraft
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
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
» : 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
» : 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
» : 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
Photos
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
Further Information
Get more info on 'Aeronautica Militare'.
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