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List of active Italian military aircraft

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The following is a list of military aircraft currently used by the four branches of the Italian Armed Forces: Italian Army, Italian Navy, Italian Air Force, Guardia di Finanza, Italian Coast Guard, and Carabinieri.

Coat of arms of the Italian Air Force

Air Force

[edit]

Current inventory

[edit]
Picture Aircraft Origin Type Variant In service Notes
Combat aircraft
F-35 Lightning II USA
Italy		 Multirole stealth fighter F-35A 42
[1]		 2012:[2][3]
  • 60 F-35A
  • 15 F-35B

2024:[4]

  • 15 F-35A
  • 5 F-35B
Multirole stealth fighter, STOVL F-35B 5
[5]
Eurofighter UK
Germany
Italy
Spain		 Multirole F-2000A 79
[1]
Conversion trainer TF-2000A 14
[1]
Multirole Tranche 4 0
(+ 24 on order)
[1]		 24 ordered in 2024, replacing the Eurofighter Tranche 1.[6]
Tornado UK
Germany
Italy		 Multirole IDS 19
[1]		 Being replaced by the F-35.
Electronic warfare ECR 12
[1]
Conversion trainer IDS 4
[1]
AEW&C
G550 CAEW USA
Israel		 Airborne early warning and control E-550A 2
[1]		 Ordered in 2012, in service since 2016.[7]
3 additional planned to be ordered.
Electronic warfare
C-27J Spartan Italy Electronic warfare EC-27 Jedi 3
[1]
EA-37B Compass Call USA Electronic Attack EA-37B 0
(+ 2 on order)
[1]		 2 ordered in July 2025, and 1 in option.[8]
G550 JAMMS AISREW – 1
(+ 2 on order)
[1]		 Ordered in 2021.[9][10]
Reconnaissance
Super King Air USA SIGINT / COMINT / ISR 350 Spydr 1
[1]		 [11]
Maritime patrol
ATR 72 Italy ASW /
patrol		 P-72AS 4
[1]		 Mission crews are provided by the Italian Navy.
Tanker
Boeing KC-767 USA Aerial refueling – 4
[1]		 Entered service in 2011.[12]
Airbus A330 Europe Aerial refuelling /
transport aircraft		 A330 MRTT 0
(+ 6 on order)
[13]		 A330 MRTT the successor of the KC-767, selected in May 2026.[14]
Lockheed Martin KC-130 USA Aerial refueling KC-130J 4
[1]		 6 acquired, 1 lost in November 2009.[15]
4 remain in service as of 2026.[1]
Transport
Lockheed Martin C-130 Super Hercules USA Tactical airlift C-130J-30 9
[1]
Alenia C-27J Spartan Italy Transport – 7
[1]
Airbus A319 France
Germany
United Kingdom		 VIP transport A319CJ 3
[16]		 Operated by the 31st Wing.[17]
Dassault Falcon 900 France VIP transport Falcon 900 2
[18]		 Operated by the 31st Wing.[19]
Falcon 900EX 1
[18]
Gulfstream G650 USA VIP transport G550ER 2
(+ 3 on order)
[20]		 Operated by the 31st Wing.[20]
Replaced the Falcon 50 and to replace the Falcon 900 / 900EX.
Piaggio P-180 Avanti Italy VIP transport P-180A 4
[1]		 [21]
P-180 EVO+ 5
Helicopters
AW101 Italy
UK		 Utility /
CSAR		 – 12
[1]
AW139 Italy Utility /
SAR		 AW139M 30
[1]
VIP transport VH-139A 2
[22]		 Operated by the 31st Wing.[23]
MD 500 USA
Italy		 Helicopter trainer NH-500M 37
[1]		 Licensed built by Breda Nardi.
Trainer aircraft
M-346 Master Italy Lead-in fighter training T-346A 27
[1]		 Among the 27:
  • 23 purchased by the Italian Air Force
    (6 in 2009, 3 in 2013, 9 in 2016, 5 in 2024)
  • 4 received by the IFTS in 2019.[24] (Leonardo / Italian Air Force)
Alenia M-345 HET Italy Basic trainer /
advanced trainer		 T-345A 9
(+ 9 on order)
[1]		 Orders:

A total of 45 is planned.[27]

Aermacchi MB-339 Italy Basic trainer /
advanced trainer		 – 25
[1]		 Being replaced by the M-345.
SF.260 Italy Ab initio trainer – 29
[1]
Piaggio P-180 Avanti Italy Multi-engine trainer VC-180C
(P-180 EVO+)		 10
[1]		 [28]
Gulfstream G550 USA Multi-engine trainer G550 2
[1]		 Not yet modified to a specialised variant, used for training.[29]
AW139 Italy Helicopter trainer AW139/M 2
[1]
Miscellaneous aircraft
Aermacchi MB-339 Italy Aerobatics show aircraft MB-339 PAN 10
[30]		 21 acquired of this variant.[30][31]
M-346 Master Italy Aerobatics show aircraft T-346 PAN 0
(+ 15 on order)
[32]		 Replacement of the MB-339 PAN with the Frecce Tricolori.[33][32][34]
Piaggio P-180 Avanti Italy Radio / radar measures P-180 EVO+ 4
[35]		 [35][21]
UAV
MQ-9 Reaper USA ISTAR MQ-9A Predator B 4
(+ 2 on order)[36]		 6 in service initially, 1 lost in an accident in 2019 and 1 lost in Kuwait because of the 2026 Iran war.[37]
4 more MQ-9 are planned.[citation needed]
LBA Systems Bayraktar TB3 Turkey
Italy		 Airstrike,
ISTAR		 Astore Levante 0
(+6 on order)
[38]		 6 ordered in October 2026.
Coat of Arms of the Italian Navy

Italian Naval Aviation

[edit]

Current inventory

[edit]

Picture Aircraft Origin Type Variant In service Notes
Combat aircraft
F-35 Lightning II USA Multirole stealth fighter,
STOVL		 F-35B 10
[39]
AV-8B Harrier II UK
USA		 V/STOL AV-8B+ 11
[39]		 [43]
Being replaced by the F-35B.
Transport
Piaggio P-180 Avanti Italy Transport P-180 Maritme 3
[39]		 [44][45]
Helicopters
AW101 Italy
UK		 SAR SH-101A 10
[39]		 [46][47]
VERTREP MH-101A 8
[39]		 [48]
ASW /
ASuW		 EH-101A 4 [49]
NHIndustries NH90 France
Germany
Italy
Netherlands		 ASW /
ASuW		 SH-90A
(NFH)		 45
[39]		 [50][51]
Delivered between 2011 and October 2023.[52]
1 lost in July 2023.[39]
Transport MH-90A
(TTH)		 10
[39]
AB-212 USA
Italy		 ASW SH-212A 22
[39]		 [53]
Licensed built by Agusta.
Utility MH-212B
Trainer aircraft
AV-8B Harrier II UK
USA		 Conversion trainer TAV-8B 1
[39]
UAV
Camcopter S-100 Austria ISR, helicopter UAV – 2
[54][55]
ScanEagle USA ISR, fixed-wing UAV – 10
[56]

Coat of arms of the Italian Army

Italian Army Aviation

[edit]

Current inventory

[edit]
Picture Aircraft Origin Type Variant In service Notes
Transport
Piaggio P-180 Avanti Italy Transport P-180A Avanti 3
[1]		 [57]
Dornier 228 Germany Transport,
STOL		 Do 228-212 3
[1]		 [58]
Helicopters
A129 Mangusta Italy Attack helicopter A129C 5 [59]
37 out of 60 produced remain in service.[1][60]
A129D 32
AW249 Fenice Italy Attack helicopter AW249 IOC 2
(7 on order)
[1]		 [61]
The 48 ordered include:[1][62]
  • 7 AW249 IOC
  • 12 AW249 FOC (that were planned in IOC)
  • 29 AW249 FOC
AW249 FOC 0
(+ 41 on order)
[1]
Boeing CH-47 Chinook USA
Italy		 Heavy transport helicopter CH-47C 5
[1]		 Of the 40 acquired, 5 remain in service.[1]
ICH-47F 16
[1][63]		 Licence made by Leonardo.[63][64][65]
NHIndustries NH90 France
Germany
Italy
Netherlands		 Utility /
transport		 UH-90A
(TTH)		 59
[1]		 [66][67]
60 ordered and delivered, 1 of which was lost in an accident.[68][69]
AW169 Italy Utility /
MEDEVAC /
CASEVAC		 AW169MA
(UH-169D)		 5
(+ 20 on order)
[1]		 [70]
Programme LUH, successor of the A109, AB-206, AB-205, AB-212, and AB-412.[71]
Orders:
AB-205 USA
Italy		 Utility AB-205 34
[1]		 [74][75][76]
Licensed built by Agusta, to be replaced by the UH-169D.
AB-212 25
[1]
AB-412
AB-206 USA
Italy		 Utility – 29
[1]		 [77]
Licensed built by Agusta, to be replaced by UH-169D.
Trainer aircraft
AgustaWestland AW169 Italy Helicopter trainer UH-169B
(based on AW169 ABC)		 2
[78]		 2 acquired in December 2019 for training, received in July 2020.[78]
UAV
RQ-7 Shadow USA ISTAR – 16 4 TUAS systems ordered in 2010 with 4 drones each.[79]
Coat of arms o the Guardia di Finanza

Guardia di Finanza

[edit]

Current inventory

[edit]
Picture Aircraft Origin Type Variant In service Notes
Maritime patrol
ATR 72 Italy ASW / Maritime patrol aircraft P-72A 4
ATR 42 Italy
France		 Maritime surveillance ATR-42-400MP 4
Transport
P-180 Italy Transport P-180 Avanti II 2
Helicopters
AW169 Italy Utility / Transport AW-169M 24 6 with fixed landing gear and 18 with skids
AW139 Italy Utility / Transport 20
AW109 Italy Utility / Transport AW-109N 4
NH-500 USA Trainer NH-500MC 6
NH-500MD
Coat of Arms of the Carabinieri

Carabinieri

[edit]

Current inventory

[edit]
[80]
Picture Aircraft Origin Type Variant In service Notes
Fixed-wing
P-180 Italy Transport P-180 Avanti II 2
Helicopters
AB-412 USA
Italy		 Search and Rescue / Utility AB-412 9 License built by Agusta
AB-412HP 12
AB-412SP 9
AW109 Italy Utility / Patrol A109A/A-II 26
A109E Power 3
A109N Nexus 17
AW119 Koala Italy Utility / Patrol AW-119Kx 20
AW139 Italy Utility / Patrol UH-139D 3
AW169 Italy Utility / Patrol AW169M 6
NH-500 USA Trainer NH 500D 10
Coat of arms of the Air Service of the Italian Coast Guard

Italian Coast Guard

[edit]

Current inventory

[edit]
Picture Aircraft Origin Type Variant In

service

 Notes
Maritime patrol
ATR 42 Italy
France		 Maritime surveillance ATR-42MP-420 1
ATR-42MP-500 2
ATR-42MP-600 1
P-180 Italy Maritime surveillance P-180 Avanti II 1
Helicopters
AB412 Italy Search and Rescue AB-412HP Koala 5
AW139 Italy Search and Rescue PH-139 Nemo 15

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 "Page 22 - World Air Forces 2026". Archived from the original on 10 December 2025.
  2. ↑ "F-35 Lightning II". 21 June 2024.
  3. ↑ Conversi, Gianluca (2021-05-18). "Primo volo per il 14° F-35A destinato all'Aeronautica Militare (32-15)". Aviation Report (in Italian). Retrieved 2025-12-11.
  4. ↑ "RID Rivista Italiana Difesa - Altri 25 F-35 per l'Italia". www.rid.it (in Italian). Retrieved 2025-12-11.
  5. ↑ Potenza, Michele. "F35: riattivato al 32° Stormo di Amendola il 101° Gruppo Volo con gli F-35B". Italian Air Force. Retrieved 13 December 2025.
  6. ↑ "Italy places order for up to 24 Eurofighter Typhoon jets". Eurofighter Typhoon. Retrieved 2025-12-10.
  7. ↑ "The Ministry of Defense and Israel Aerospace Industries have delivered the First CAEW G550 to the Italian Air Force". 19 December 2016.
  8. ↑ D'Urso, Stefano. "Italy Signs Contract to Acquire EA-37B Compass Call". The Aviationist. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
  9. ↑ Hoyle, Craig. "L3Harris secures G550 electronic attack contract for Italian air force". Flight Global. Retrieved 2025-12-11.
  10. ↑ Martin, Tim (2025-07-25). "L3Harris and ELT Group team up on Italian ISR multi-sensor test facility". Breaking Defense. Retrieved 2025-12-11.
  11. ↑ "Beechcraft Super King Air 350ER Spydr".
  12. ↑ Kington, Tom (2024-07-12). "Italy Air Force eyes new tanker competition after dropping Boeing buy". Defense News. Retrieved 2025-12-11.
  13. ↑ Gosselin-Malo, Elisabeth (2026-05-19). "Italy buying six Airbus-made A330 MRRT tankers, a $1.6B value - Breaking Defense". Breaking Defense. Archived from the original on 2026-05-19. Retrieved 2026-05-20.
  14. ↑ Gosselin-Malo, Elisabeth (2026-05-19). "Italy buying six Airbus-made A330 MRRT tankers, a $1.6B value - Breaking Defense". Breaking Defense. Archived from the original on 2026-05-19. Retrieved 2026-05-20.
  15. ↑ "Precipita aereo militare a Pisa: 5 morti". Corriere della Sera. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
  16. ↑ "Military Database, Current Airforce: Italy (Europe)". (inserire matricola militare MM)
  17. ↑ "Il portale dell'Aeronautica Militare – Airbus A319CJ". Archived from the original on 10 January 2015. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
  18. 1 2 "FALCON 900EX". Ministero della Difesa. Aeronautica Militare. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
  19. ↑ "Dassault Falcon 900EXs To Italian Air Force | Aviation Week Network". aviationweek.com. Retrieved 2025-12-11.
  20. 1 2 D'Urso, Stefano (2025-04-15). "First Two Gulfstream G650ERs Delivered to Italian Air Force". The Aviationist. Retrieved 2025-12-11.
  21. 1 2 Report, Redazione di Aviation (2024-11-26). "P.180 Avanti EVO+: Piaggio Aerospace delivered 3 new aircraft to the Italian Armed Forces". Aviation Report - ENG. Retrieved 2025-12-11.
  22. ↑ "AgustaWestland VH-139A". Aviationsmilitaires.net. 2013-05-07. Archived from the original on 2014-04-13. Retrieved 2014-07-15.
  23. ↑ "Military Database, Current Airforce: Italy (Europe)". (inserire matricola militare MM)
  24. ↑ Valpolini, Paolo (2025-06-12). "International Flight Training School: Phase 4 training, Italian style". EDR Magazine. Retrieved 2025-12-10.
  25. ↑ "Leonardo: Accordo con la Difesa per il nuovo velivolo da addestramento M-345 e per lo sviluppo del nuovo elicottero da esplorazione e scorta". www.leonardo.com (in Italian). Retrieved 2025-12-10.
  26. ↑ Cenciotti, David (2019-06-13). "Italy Orders 13 M-345 HET Bringing to 18 The Number of New Trainers For The Italian Air Force". The Aviationist. Retrieved 2025-12-10.
  27. ↑ "Leonardo: consegnati all'Aeronautica Militare i primi due M-345". www.leonardo.com (in Italian). Retrieved 2025-12-10.
  28. ↑ Tenente Colonnello Giuseppe Traina. "Scuola Addestramento Trasporti Aerei: al via i corsi con il nuovo velivolo P-180 EVO+ per i piloti delle linee Combat Support". Italian Air Force. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
  29. ↑ Peruzzi, Luca (2025-12-08). "L'Aeronautica potenzia la componente CAEW ed acquisisce la capacità Airborne Electronic Attack – Analisi Difesa" (in Italian). Retrieved 2025-12-11.
  30. 1 2 "Aermacchi MB-339 PAN (x10)". www.airtattoo.com. Retrieved 2025-12-11.
  31. ↑ "Frecce Tricolori National Aerobatic Team - Aeronautica Militare". Aeronautica Militare (in Italian). Archived from the original on 2025-04-02. Retrieved 2025-12-11.
  32. 1 2 Peruzzi, Luca (2025-12-08). "Nuovi dettagli sul programma di acquisizione di 20 nuovi velivoli M-346 – Analisi Difesa" (in Italian). Retrieved 2025-12-10.
  33. ↑ "XIX Legislatura - Lavori - Atti del Governo sottoposti a parere". www.camera.it.
  34. ↑ "M-346, alla scoperta del nuovo velivolo delle Frecce Tricolori". www.leonardo.com (in Italian). Retrieved 2025-12-10.
  35. 1 2 "P-180" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 December 2025.
  36. ↑ "MQ-9A PREDATOR B". Ministero della Difesa. Aeronautica Militare. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
  37. ↑ "Drone strike destroys Italian MQ-9 at Kuwait base, no injuries reported". 16 March 2026.
  38. ↑ Charpentreau, Clement (2026-10-13). "Italian Air Force orders six armed drones from Leonardo-Baykar venture". AeroTime. Archived from the original on 2026-10-14. Retrieved 2026-10-14.
  39. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Page 23 - World Air Forces 2026". Archived from the original on 10 December 2025.
  40. ↑ "F-35B - Marina Militare". www.marina.difesa.it (in Italian). Retrieved 2025-12-11.
  41. ↑ Conversi, Gianluca (2021-05-18). "Primo volo per il 14° F-35A destinato all'Aeronautica Militare (32-15)". Aviation Report (in Italian). Retrieved 2026-05-01.
  42. ↑ "RID Rivista Italiana Difesa - Altri 25 F-35 per l'Italia". www.rid.it (in Italian). Retrieved 2026-05-01.
  43. ↑ "AV-8B - Marina Militare". www.marina.difesa.it (in Italian). Retrieved 2025-12-11.
  44. ↑ "P 180 Maritime - Marina Militare". www.marina.difesa.it (in Italian). Retrieved 2025-12-11.
  45. ↑ "P 180 Maritime - Marina Militare". www.marina.difesa.it (in Italian). Retrieved 2025-12-11.
  46. ↑ "SH-101A - Marina Militare". www.marina.difesa.it (in Italian). Retrieved 2025-12-11.
  47. ↑ "EH-101 ASH - Marina Militare". www.marina.difesa.it (in Italian). Retrieved 2025-12-11.
  48. ↑ "MH-101A - Marina Militare". www.marina.difesa.it (in Italian). Retrieved 2025-12-11.
  49. ↑ "EH101 ASW/ASUW - Marina Militare". www.marina.difesa.it (in Italian). Retrieved 2025-12-11.
  50. ↑ "SH90 NFH - Marina Militare". www.marina.difesa.it (in Italian). Retrieved 2025-12-11.
  51. ↑ "SH90 TTH - Marina Militare". www.marina.difesa.it (in Italian). Retrieved 2025-12-11.
  52. ↑ "Completate le consegne di elicotteri NH90 della Marina Militare Italiana e ultimato il centro di simulazione alla missione presso la base di Maristaeli Luni". www.leonardo.com (in Italian). Retrieved 2025-12-11.
  53. ↑ "AB 212 ASW - Marina Militare". www.marina.difesa.it (in Italian). Retrieved 2025-12-11.
  54. ↑ "The Aviationist » The Italian Navy is testing a tiny Camcopter drone from its amphibious warfare ship". The Aviationist. 31 May 2014. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
  55. ↑ "Messaggio Forum". Regiamarinaitaliana.forumgratis.org. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
  56. ↑ "Insitu: contract with the Italian Navy for ScanEagle UAS aircraft delivery". Avionews.it. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  57. ↑ "Piaggio P180". www.esercito.difesa.it (in Italian). Archived from the original on 2025-09-22. Retrieved 2025-12-11.
  58. ↑ "DORNIER DO 228". www.esercito.difesa.it (in Italian). Archived from the original on 2025-09-22. Retrieved 2025-12-11.
  59. ↑ "Elicottero da esplorazione e scorta A 129 EES".
  60. ↑ "AW129 Multi-Role Combat Helicopter". Army Technology. Retrieved 2025-12-11.
  61. ↑ "Nuovo elicottero da esplorazione e scorta AH-249".
  62. ↑ Cavanna, Giacomo (2025-10-28). "Terza fase del programma AW249 per l'Esercito Italiano". Ares Osservatorio Difesa (in Italian). Retrieved 2025-12-11.
  63. 1 2 "AW1184 Italian Army ICH-47F delivery". www.leonardo.com. Retrieved 2025-12-11.
  64. ↑ "Nuovo elicottero da trasporto medio CH-47 F". www.esercito.difesa.it (in Italian). Archived from the original on 2022-11-26. Retrieved 2025-12-11.
  65. ↑ "Primi due elicotteri ICH-47F consegnati all'Esercito Italiano". www.leonardo.com (in Italian). Retrieved 2025-12-11.
  66. ↑ "Elicottero da trasporto tattico NH-90". www.esercito.difesa.it (in Italian). Archived from the original on 2024-07-05. Retrieved 2025-12-11.
  67. ↑ "Leonardo: completate le consegne degli elicotteri UH-90A per l'Esercito Italiano". www.leonardo.com (in Italian). Retrieved 2025-12-11.
  68. ↑ Ranter, Harro. "Accident NHIndustries NH90 TTH MM81519, Sunday 1 June 2008". aviation-safety.net. Retrieved 2025-12-11.
  69. ↑ Stefano (2022-12-02). "Completate le consegne degli elicotteri UH-90A per l'Esercito Italiano | Airholic.it" (in Italian). Retrieved 2025-12-11.
  70. ↑ "Light Utility Helicopter (LUH)".
  71. ↑ "Leonardo consegna il primo elicottero AW169 da addestramento per l'Esercito Italiano". www.leonardo.com (in Italian). Retrieved 2025-12-11.
  72. ↑ "Prosegue il programma LUH dell'Aviazione dell'Esercito per l'acquisizione dell'elicottero UH-169D (Leonardo AW169 Multiruolo Avanzato)- | Aeronautica Militare Virtuale Italiana". www.amvi.it. Retrieved 2025-12-11.
  73. ↑ Stefano (2025-04-28). "L'Aviazione dell'Esercito riceve l'Elicottero Multiruolo Leggero di ultima generazione | Airholic.it L'Aviazione dell'Esercito riceve l'Elicottero Multiruolo Leggero di ultima generazione UH-169D" (in Italian). Retrieved 2025-12-11.
  74. ↑ "Elicottero da Sostegno al Combattimento AB-205".
  75. ↑ "Elicottero da Sostegno al Combattimento AB-212".
  76. ↑ "Elicottero da Sostegno al Combattimento AB-412".
  77. ↑ "Elicottero da Sostegno al Combattimento AB-206".
  78. 1 2 MC (2020-07-14). "AW169 - Il nuovo elicottero dell'AVES". Associazione Nazionale Aviazione Esercito (in Italian). Retrieved 2025-12-11.
  79. ↑ "AAI to Provide Shadow Unmanned Aircraft to Italian Army". 21 July 2010. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
  80. ↑ "Servizio Aereo Carabinieri". aviazione-italiana.it. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
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