Current Title:	Aeronautica Militare Italiana
Title in English:	Italian Air Force
Abbreviation:	AMI

Narrative Summary:
1911 Army acquires first aircraft. 27 June 1912 Aviation Battalion (Battagliore Aviatori) established in Army. 19 November 1912 Colonial Air Service (Servizio d'Aviazione Coloniale) formed. 28 November 1912 Military Aviation Service (Flotta Aerea d'Italia) established. 7 January 1915 FAI reorganised as Corpo Aeronautica Militare. 23 March 1923 Regia Aeronautica formed from merger of Army and Navy air arms, to become equal status service. September 1943 Italian Co-Belligerent Air Force formed in Southern Italy, Aviazione della RSI formed in Northern Italy. ICBAF later renamed Aeronautica Militare Italiana.

Key Dates:
23 March 1923		Italian Air Force (Regia Aeronautica) formed
September 1943		Co-Belligerent Air Force joins the Allies
18 June 1946		ICBAF renamed Aeronautica Militare Italiana
1949		First jet aircraft delivered - Vampire
1953		First helicopters received - Dragonfly

Current Status:
To be added

Future Plans:
Delivery of 121 Eurofighter Typhoons to replace F-104 & Tornado F.3 from 2003.
5 C-27J (plus 7 options) will replace the G.222 from 2005.
Replacement of Boeing 707TT with Boeing 767TT in 2004.
MB339A to undergo avionics upgrade.
15 more MB339CD to be ordered.
SF260AM to be replaced by 30 SF260E.
Multi-phase MLU for 57 Tornado IDS and ECR, with first re-delivery in 2004.
Atlantic maritime patrol aircraft to be replaced by new aircraft in 2010.

National Insignia:
Current --- Historical

Aircraft Serial Numbering System(s):

Italian military aircraft serials comprise the letters MM (for Matricola Militare) and a three- to five- digit number (often taken from the previous identity or construction number), e.g. AMX MM7184.

Unit/Base Aircraft Code System(s):
Most AMI aircraft carry tactical code numbers of the form xx-yy, eg: AMX 51-54, where the first number denotes the Stormo (Wing) and the second 2- or 3-digit number denotes the individual aircraft. The individual codes are grouped by Grupo or Squadriglia, allowing the precise unit to be identified.

Aircraft Designation System(s):
None - Manufacturers designations used

Current Aircraft Inventory:
Table of Current Service Aircraft

All-Time Aircraft Used List:
Alphabetical Order --- Chronological Order

Aircraft NOT Used:
False reports of aircraft on order or in service

Main Headquarters:
Palazzo Aeronautica Viale dell Universita 4, 1-00185 Rome.

Current Organisational Structure:
The AMI is organised into two major commands: Air Defence Command, and General Training Command. Administration of the force is via three Regional Commands:
1 Regione Aerea, at Milan (Northern Region)
2 Regione Aerea, at Rome-Centocell (Central Region)
3 Regione Aerea, at Bari-Palese (Southern Region)

Operational units are Stormo (Regiment), Gruppo (Squadron) and Squadriglia (Flight).

Current Order of Battle:
Table of Current Order of Battle

Historical Orders of Battle:
List of Historical Orders of Battle - to be added.

All-Time Flying Units List:
To be added.

Current Air Bases:
See organisation table above.

All-Time Air Bases Used List:
In addition to the main bases, there are also a number of smaller airports and airfields around the country which are sometimes used by the Air Force.
Military Air Bases Listing - to be added.

Books:

Italian Military Aviation Bibliography - to be added.

Magazines:

World Air Power Journal No.1 p.150
Air International April 1998

Websites:

Official Italian Air Force website

wikipedia: Aeronautica Militare
wikipedia: Italian Co-Belligerent Air Force
wikipedia: Frecce Tricolori

Scramble: Italian Air Arms

PlanePictures.net

Airliners.net

Air-Britain Photos: Italian Air Force