Italian Air Force. Italian armed forces at the start of the invasion of Ethiopia Italian armed forces

Abyssinia

The area of ​​Abyssinia was 3.5 times larger than the area of ​​Italy (without colonies). The capital Addis Ababa was located almost in the center of the country. Abyssinia could become a resource base for Italy, since its depths were rich in minerals, including gold and oil. The country's varied climatic conditions and fertile soils made it possible to develop agriculture (2-3 harvests per year), cattle breeding, cotton growing, etc. Abyssinia was a poor agricultural country. At the same time, there was little bread and during the war it was purchased from Anglo-Egyptian Sudan. The main export goods were raw leather and coffee. Industry was present only in the form of crafts.

Abyssinia is distinguished by the fact that most of the territory is filled with highlands, on which rise terrace-like mountains with an average height of 2500-3500 meters. They are separated by a wide depression (fault) in the center of the country, which begins in the interior of Africa, in the area of ​​Lake Tanganyika. The depression ends at the Red Sea and divides the mountains into northern (Eritrean) and southern (Somali) ranges.

Mountain gorges are difficult to pass. The Eritrean mountains represent a series of lines for consistent defense with a front to the north and northeast. The northern part of the Eritrean Ridge is in Eritrea, which made it easier for the Italians to launch their offensive. The mountainous terrain of the country facilitated defense and guerrilla operations and at the same time worsened the possibility of using equipment. The most convenient zone for the offensive was the zone in the fault area. But here in the east was the Danakil Desert. Thus, for the blitzkrieg, troops were needed ready to fight in the mountain and desert theaters, and the corresponding equipment.

Of the water boundaries, the Takchese River and its tributaries played the most important role. On the northern front, the border line was the Mareb River. Lake Tana, which was important for irrigating the cotton plantations of Sudan and Egypt (the Blue Nile flowed from it), was the subject of a dispute between England and Italy. On the Blue Nile in the Sennar region, the British built a dam in 1925 to irrigate fields. This grandiose structure gave Britain a reason to demand control over the water regime of the Blue Nile in northwestern Abyssinia. In the south, in the area of ​​the fault, a chain of lakes and a number of rivers flowing from the Somali ridge covered Addis Ababa from Italian Somalia. In many areas of the east of the country, during the drought period, the problem of water supply was acute. The main forest areas were located in the Takkaze River basin and along the rivers on the southern slope of the Somali Range. These forests allowed for guerrilla warfare.

From June to September came the so-called. the period of “big rains”, which created great difficulties in the use of mechanized transport, and also seriously increased the level of rivers and other bodies of water. Therefore, the Italian command planned a blitzkrieg to end hostilities before the onset of “big rains.” In addition, in the area of ​​the Somali Range and Addis Ababa there was still a period of “light rains” - from March to May (they were brought by monsoons from the Indian Ocean).

In Abyssinia, the road network was poorly developed. Almost all the routes were for pack transport. The so-called direction coincided with the northern operational direction. The "imperial" route is a caravan road from Eritrea to Addis Ababa. The same routes led from the south to the second most important city in Ethiopia - Harar. The road between Addis Ababa and Dessier, with proper repairs, allowed vehicular traffic. This road could be extended to the port of Assab, which the Italians took into account. The Ethiopian capital was connected by a single-track railway to the French port of Djibouti, but this road was a French concession. In addition, the Abyssinians could use two roads to communicate with the outside world (in conditions of war with Italy). Two roads went from Addis Ababa to Gallabat and Kurmuk (Sudan), one road from Harar to British Somalia. These routes could be used to obtain grain and ammunition. Thus, there was little communication in Abyssinia; this required serious road work and road protection from the Italians.

The country's population numbered 12 million people. The main core of the population was the Amhara group (5 million people). Their language was dominant. Feudal and patriarchal structures dominated in Abyssinia. There were major contradictions between the emperor (negus) and the major princes (races) on issues of internal policy related to the modernization of the country, the creation of a centralized state, a regular army and reforms aimed at the final elimination of slavery. Certain races, dissatisfied with the policy of centralization and modernization of the country, which led to the loss of power and income, repeatedly rebelled and had connections with European powers interested in the weakness of Ethiopia. As a result, Italy could rely on Ethiopian collaborators, traitors who put their personal interests above national ones. In addition, contradictions grew between the feudal class and the mostly landless peasant masses. There have been uprisings in Ethiopia more than once.

Thus, the external enemies of Ethiopia could take advantage of some of the feudal lords who were dissatisfied with the modernization of the country, as well as national and religious contradictions. The country's technical backwardness, poorly developed transport and communications, lack of food security, and the presence of dependent tribes and slaves weakened the country's defense capability.

Benito Mussolini meets with Ethiopian traitors in Rome

The armed forces of the parties at the beginning of the war. Italy

The Italian command, preparing for war, proceeded from two main conditions. Firstly, due to political complications in Europe, it was impossible to weaken the armed forces in Italy. Therefore, new divisions were immediately formed to replace the divisions sent to Africa. As a result, the army in the metropolis not only did not decrease, but even increased. Mussolini boasted that he would keep the conscripts of 1911-1914 under arms. births as long as it deems necessary, and that “900 thousand soldiers fully ensure our security... They are equipped with the latest, produced... military factories,” which “have been operating at full speed for several months.”

Secondly, the need was recognized to send such forces to Abyssinia to end the war as quickly as possible. Already during the war, as it became clear that nothing threatened Italy in Europe and the world community was indifferent to the tragedy of Abyssinia (except for the USSR), Italy carried out additional mobilization and strengthened the colonial group.

Italian troops consisted of three types of divisions:

Regular troops consisted of mobilized soldiers. They had good combat training.

Blackshirt divisions - voluntary national security militia. These were armed units of the National Fascist Party, organized by Mussolini. They included representatives of the nationalist intelligentsia, retired officers, bourgeois youth, and landowners. The Blackshirts, although inferior in combat training to regular troops, had high morale, so they were included in army corps and task forces.

Colonial (native) divisions did not have a solid organization and were included in the regular troops. They were quite well prepared and had good knowledge of local conditions. But these units did not enjoy the full confidence of the command, so they were distributed between regular and fascist formations. Thus, the expeditionary army had a rather motley composition.

The first mobilization order was announced on February 5, 1935. By the end of August 1935, the mobilization of troops originally intended for the war with Abyssinia was completed. In general, 5 regular, 4 blackshirt (fascist) and 2 native divisions were mobilized in several stages and sent to war. In addition, separate militia, police and native units that were not part of the divisions were formed and sent to the front. This amounted to more than 270 thousand soldiers. Together with the mobilized workers - 30 thousand Italians and 45 thousand local population of Eritrea and Somalia, up to 350 thousand people were concentrated on the Abyssinian front at the beginning of the war. Already during the war, Italy transferred reinforcements. Italian forces increased to 500 thousand people, including 9 divisions of the regular army (7 infantry, 1 Alpine and 1 motorized), 6 divisions of the fascist militia. At the end of the war, the expeditionary army consisted of up to 21 divisions, including 7 blackshirts and 4 colonials, 1 cavalry brigade and 35 independent battalions. Thus, Italy formed a powerful expeditionary army in order to end the war in a short time and not prolong the fighting.

The Italian troops were equipped according to local conditions. In addition, they tried to ensure that the conscripted contingents could quickly get used to local conditions. Natives of the highlands of Italy were sent to the infantry divisions that were transferred to the Eritrean (Northern) front; The troops destined for the Somali (Southern) front were replenished with natives of Sicily, as well as people who had experience living in the subtropical and tropical conditions of South and Central America. Colonial (native) troops were replenished by the indigenous population of Eritrea, Somalia and Libya. The population of Eritrea and Somalia provided up to 15% of the expeditionary army.

Italy was preparing quite seriously for war; the lessons of the last war, which ended in defeat, were remembered. The troops underwent tactical training in high mountain areas. Special courses were organized for officers, many of whom knew the conditions of colonial service. The Italian General Staff issued special instructions for action in the Abyssinian theater. The troops were given the task that, having captured a certain area, they would carefully develop the occupied territory, build roads, bridges, and organize the work of the rear. It was necessary to continue offensive operations. Before the war, Italy organized an intelligence network in Ethiopia that studied the country, bribed feudal lords,
and conducted subversive propaganda. This activity was facilitated by the absence of Abyssinian security and the use of diplomatic, trade, and scientific research missions.

Given that Britain could cut off the main communication through Suez, Italy took seriously the preparation of the areas where the expeditionary army was concentrated in Eritrea and Somalia. If necessary, they were to become the main bases for the army. Ports were expanded, roads, airfields, etc. were built. First of all, the capabilities of the ports in Eritrea were increased. Thus, the main port of Massawa, after modernization, could receive more than 40 steamships per day instead of 2-3. The port of Assa was also reconstructed, and in Italian Somalia the ports of Mogadishu and Bandar Qasim. In addition to the existing railways, the Massawa-Asmara line was built, and the Mogadishu-Lugh line was under construction. Since the main forces were concentrated in the north, in addition to the railway, the Massawa-Asmara highway and a cable car were built. The ports of Mogadishu and Bandar Qassim were connected by a highway. An airfield network was equipped and communication lines were laid. To ensure a calm concentration of arriving troops in the border zone, small forts with wire fences were prepared. They were initially defended by colonial troops, and then regular units began to be located behind them. However, the Abyssinians did not interfere with the enemy; they only hastily strengthened their border posts.

Much attention was paid to water supply to the army, which was especially important in the eastern part of Ethiopia, where droughts occurred. Special units were introduced into the expeditionary army, which, on the one hand, were supposed to build a network of artesian wells, and on the other, to deliver water to the troops by tankers (200 vehicles, 2,500 liters each, for 10 thousand people) and transport aircraft in desert areas. To house troops in the hot regions of Eritrea and Somalia, barracks were built from materials with low thermal conductivity. At the main points of the colonies, warehouses for supplies were built and refrigerators for meat were placed. The ration of a soldier in the expeditionary army consisted of bread, meat, sugar, coffee, canned vegetables, fats and spices. The soldier's carryable supply consisted of 2 liters of water and a 4-day ration of food (crackers and canned food). To do this, it was necessary to reduce personal ammunition from 200 to 110 rounds.

The overall command of the Italian troops in East Africa was exercised by General Emilio de Bono (from November 1935 - Field Marshal Pietro Bodoglio). Italy deployed its main strike force in Eritrea, where 10 regular and fascist divisions arrived. Of these, the Northern Front was formed, consisting of first 3 and then 5 corps (75% of all forces of the expeditionary army). The front attacked Dessier (Dessie) and then the Ethiopian capital. At the end of the war, on the Northern Front there were 5 corps and two groups of generals Couture and Mariotti to secure the flanks. The southern front in Somalia was of auxiliary importance and was supposed to tie up as many Ethiopian troops as possible, advancing in the direction of Harer and Addis Ababa. Here the troops were united into two operational groups (up to two divisions). The southern front was commanded by Rodolfo Graziani. There was also a central operational direction (up to one division). The troops of the Central Front were supposed to secure the flanks and communications of the Northern and Southern groups and advance from the Assab area in the direction of Dessier.

The Italian Armed Forces are: Navy, Army, Carabinieri, Air Force. The Italian Armed Forces also include the Financial Police Corps (Guardia di Finanza), the Military Corps of the Italian Red Cross, Volunteer Nurses, the Military Corps of the Italian Armed Forces, the Sovereign Order of Malta and the Military Ordinariate.

Every year, 1.7% of GDP is allocated to the army, which amounts to 20.7 billion US dollars.

Since 1999, compulsory military service has been abolished, and Italy has completely switched to a contract army. Now, the Italian Armed Forces consist only of voluntary mercenary military personnel with specialized knowledge in military affairs. Also, the Italian army consists of female personnel, which has already become a complementary part of the Italian Armed Forces, where women are not only engaged in logistics, but also enter the active forces, taking part in combat operations in which Italian troops participate abroad.

Military parade. Photo italyproject.ru

Compulsory military service was legalized during the reign of Napoleon, in 1802, although historians argue about this. Some argue that the author of this idea was Nicolo Machiavelli, who lived three hundred years before the famous French emperor.

It should also be noted that according to Article 52 of the Italian Constitution, every citizen is obliged to defend his Fatherland. This is his sacred duty to the country and society. Therefore, in the event of the outbreak of hostilities or in any other extreme situations that threaten the integrity of the country and the peace of its citizens, compulsory military service can be resumed. According to the Constitution of the country, the combat-ready population includes the male population aged 15 to 49 years.

After the army has become professional, a soldier can sign a contract for a period of five years, and after that extend it for one or two years (this contract can be signed twice). The wages of contract soldiers are several times higher than the amount paid to conscript soldiers. According to 2006 data, young people serving in the army under contract received 1,000 euros, while soldiers carrying out compulsory military service earned 90 euros per month.

Italian police. Photo crimso.msk.ru

At the end of their service period, military personnel are discharged and can be hired into the police, civil defense, fire departments and security organizations. It is also worth noting the fact that military reform in Italy provides good prospects for women who can now serve in various branches of the military and occupy different positions and positions.

Italy is one of the largest in the EU and NATO in terms of population, economic size and, accordingly, military potential, however, it has not been spared by the pan-European trends of significant reductions in the Armed Forces.

The country has a very powerful military-industrial complex, capable of producing military equipment of almost all classes. The level of training of Italian army personnel has traditionally been considered very low, but now it has fallen throughout Europe, so the "pasta" are no longer singled out as the worst. Like most southern European countries, Italy does not recycle a significant part of obsolete and decommissioned equipment, but leaves it in warehouses.

Ground troops

In recent years, we have experienced many organizational transformations. At the moment, they have newly restored divisions, of which there are three. The Army also includes three separate brigades and four commands.

The Tridentina division (headquarters in Bolzano) is a mountain infantry division, and includes the Alpine brigades Taurinense (Turin) and Iulia (Udine).

Division "Friuli" (Florence) - "heavy". It consists of three brigades: the armored Ariete (Venice), the mechanized Sassari and Pozzuolo de Friuli (Bologna).

The division "Aqui" (San Giorgio, Naples), being "medium", includes the brigades "Garibaldi" (Caserta), "Pinerolo" (Bari) and "Aosta" (Messina), the latter two mechanized.

Separate brigades: parachute "Folgore" (Livorno), communications and electronic warfare (both in Anzio), support (Solbiate Olona).

The MTR Command (Pisa) has 4 parachute and 3 helicopter regiments. The Army Aviation Command (Viterbo) consists of one brigade. The air defense command includes 3 regiments (4, 17, 121st), the support command - 6 (MLRS, RCBZ, self-propelled guns, two engineering and railway).

Carabinieri can be considered as an integral part of the ground forces. These are 2 divisions, 1 brigade and regional units. Submitting to the command of the Armed Forces, they solve various police tasks throughout the country as a whole. Their level of combat training is higher than that of military personnel. The Carabinieri are armed with a number of armored personnel carriers, light aircraft and helicopters, which are included in the total number of equipment.

Tank park consists of 197 C1 "Ariete" of its own production, created on the basis of the German one. The B-1 Centauro BMTV with a 105 mm cannon is often considered a “wheeled tank”. There are 300 of these machines. Of the 317 BRMs, 14 are French VAB-RECO NBC, the rest are their own Pumas. All infantry fighting vehicles are our own: 172 Freccia, 198 VCC-80 Dardo. Armored personnel carrier - about 2000: 148 Swedish Bv-206, up to 560 native VCC-1, up to 1190 VCC-2, 250 Puma, 57 Fiat-6614, 17 American amphibious AAV-7.

Artillery includes 96 old American M109 self-propelled guns and 70 newest German РzН-2000, 72 British FH-70 towed guns, up to 1000 mortars, 22 American MLRS MLRS. There are 173 of the latest Israeli Spike ATGMs, including 36 self-propelled on the Freccia BMP chassis, 702 American Tou (270 self-propelled on the M113 armored personnel carrier), 714 old French Milan.

Ground air defense contains 10 batteries of the American Hawk air defense system (60 PU), 6 batteries of the latest French SAMP/T air defense system (36 PU), 24 batteries of its own short-range air defense system "Skygard-Aspid", 145 American MANPADS "Stinger", 96 of its own ZRPK SIDAM.

Army aviation has 7 light transport aircraft (3 Do-228, 4 P-180), 60 combat AW129 "Mongoose" and more than 300 multi-purpose or transport helicopters (21 AW109, 37 A109, up to 63 AB-412, 22 CH-47, 1 NH90 , to 61 AB-205, to 84 AB-206, 30 AB-212). Almost all aircraft are of our own production.

Air Force

The Italian Air Force has six commands: combat, tactical, training, logistics, and two regional (northern and southern).

Italy became the first outside the United States to begin licensed production of American F-35A fighter jets. She currently has 7 of these machines. In addition, it is armed with 75 of the latest European Typhoon fighters, in the production of which Italy itself participates (62 IS, 13 combat training IT), 72 German-British-Italian Tornado IDS bombers, 28 own MV339CD and 55 Italian-Brazilian AMX attack aircraft. 4 outdated basic patrol aircraft "Breguet-1150 Atlantic" can also be classified as combat aircraft.

The Air Force is armed with 1 Gulfstream-3 RER aircraft, 4 Boeing 767 MRTT tankers and 1 KC-130J, up to 100 transport aircraft (19 C-130J, 13 C-27J, up to 3 P-166, 27 P- 180, 24 S-208, 3 A319CJ, 2 Falcon-50, 7 Falcon-900). There are 40 UBS MB-339A and purely training: 31 SF-260EA, 7 newest T-346, 9 German Grob-103. Helicopters: 85 NH-500, up to 7 HH-3F, 30 AB-212, 2 SH-3D, 10 AW139, 13 НН-139А, 2 VH-139А, 10 UH-139, 2 HH-101.

Italy is one of two NATO countries (the other is Great Britain) that received combat UAVs from the United States - 5 RQ-1B and 1 MQ-1B Predator, 3 MQ-9 Reaper.

The Aviano airbase stores 50 nuclear B-61s for the US Air Force, and the Gedi Tore airbase stores 20 similar bombs for the Italian Air Force.

Navy

The most powerful type of the country's armed forces, and all combat units are built at their own shipyards.

There are 2 newest submarines “Salvatore Todaro” (German project 212), 2 more are under construction, 4 “Sauro” types. The aircraft carriers Cavour and Giuseppe Garibaldi are in service with the Navy. They are the only Western ones in their class that, in addition to carrier-based aircraft, carry not only short-range air defense systems, but also strike weapons, including anti-ship missiles. In fact, like Russian ships, they should be classified as aircraft-carrying cruisers. "Cavour", in addition, can be used as a UDC. The decommissioned helicopter carrier cruiser Vittorio Veneto is in storage.

There are 4 modern destroyers - 2 each "Andrea Doria" and "Luigi Durand de la Penne", and 2 old Audace-class destroyers are in storage. Frigates: 4 newest "Bergamini" (Italian-French project FREMM, a total of 10 are expected), 2 "Artillere", 7 "Maestrale".

The Navy, as well as the coastal and financial guards, have a significant number of corvettes, patrol and patrol ships: 4 Minerva types, 4 Cassiopeia, 4 Esploratore, 2 Sirio, 4 Comandanti, 1 Zara, 6 Saettia plus approximately 300 patrol boats. In service are 2 minesweepers "Lerici" and 8 "Gaeta", 3 DVKD "San Giorgio".

Naval aviation It is armed with 16 AV-8B Harrier fighters with vertical take-off for two aircraft carriers. It also includes 3 basic patrol aircraft P-180 and 7 ATR-42, 11 transport P-166, helicopters: 50 anti-submarine (5 EN-101ASW, up to 36 AV-212ASW), 4 AWACS (EN-101), 2 RER (AB-212ASW-EW), more than 70 transport and multi-purpose (10 EN-101, up to 12 SH-3D, 18 AV-206, 21 AV-412, 1 AW139, 11 AW109, 9 A109).

Marines consists of the San Marco regiment. It is armed with 40 VCC-2 and 18 AAV-7 armored personnel carriers, 14 Brandt mortars, 6 Milan ATGMs and 6 Spike.

A group of US troops is stationed in Italy. It consists of the 173rd Airborne Brigade (Vicenza), the 31st Fighter Wing (Aviano, in service with 21 F-16s), and a squadron of 9 P-3C base patrol aircraft (Sigonella). Gaeta (near Naples) is the headquarters of the 6th Operational Fleet of the US Navy.

In general, the current potential of the Italian Armed Forces is quite sufficient to solve the only task within NATO and the EU - limited participation in collective police operations in developing countries. Its army is incapable of carrying out a serious operation, even in its former colony of Libya, which was plunged into chaos with the active participation of Italy itself - it will have to shed a lot of its own blood. For Europeans this is impossible today.

Italian Air Force structure. Italy has a very rich aviation history - suffice it to say that it was the Italians who first used aircraft for military purposes (in 1911 in Libya during the Italo-Turkish War). Currently, the Italian Air Force - Aeronautica Militare - is one of the three main branches of the country's armed forces.
The Italian Air Force has approximately 470 aircraft and helicopters and approximately 43,000 personnel.

emblem and identification mark of the Italian Air Force

The Air Force's motto is "Virtute Siderum Tenus" ("courage the stars"). Organizationally, the air force consists of the Air Squadron Command, the Support Command, the Aviation Schools Command, the Air Operations Command and two commands of the air districts of the 1st in Milan and the 3rd in Baria.
Italian Air Force structure, command of the air squadron (COMANDO DELLA SQUADRA AEREA).
Almost all aviation units, with the exception of training ones, are subordinate to this Command.

Basic organizational units

• - stormo (Stormo - lit., “flock”), roughly corresponding to a regiment;
• - Gruppo - analogue of a squadron;
• - squadrilla (Squadriglia) - corresponds to a link.

The most modern combat vehicles are the Typhoon fighters, which are armed with three stormos (air regiments): 4th in Grosseto (9th and 20th combat training groups), 3rd in Gioia del Colle (10th and 12th -th gr) and 37th in Trapani (18th gr).

Italian Air Force multirole fighter Eurofighter "Typhoon" photo, two have refueling probes, but the first does not

Strike aviation is represented by Tornado fighter-bombers, which are in service with the 6th Stormo in Gedi (102nd combat training, 154th and 156th groups), as well as the 50th Stormo in Piacenza (155th group , specializing in reconnaissance and electronic warfare).
Lighter AMX fighter-bombers are available at the 32nd Stormo in Amendola (13th and 101st Combat Training Groups, as well as the 28th Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) and the 51st Stormo in Istrana (103rd and 132nd). I'm intelligence). Sigonella is home to the 41st Stormo, which includes the 88th Group with base patrol aircraft. Most of the transport workers are concentrated in the 46th air brigade (Pisa), which includes the 2nd and 50th groups with medium-sized C-130J aircraft, as well as the 98th with light C-27J aircraft. The 14th stormo (Pratica di Mare) includes KC-767 refueling aircraft and light transport R.180, the 31st (Ciampino) - aircraft for transporting dignitaries. The 15th Stormo, headquartered in Cervia, unites helicopters assigned to five search and rescue centers located at various airfields.

"Tornado" IDS of the 6th Italian Air Force Regiment. Afghanistan, 2008.

Ground air defense is provided by the 2nd Stormo (700th and 701st groups with the Spada air defense system), the 1st Special Forces Brigade and the 313th Aerobatic Team "Frekke Tricolori" ("Tricolor Arrows") are also subordinate to the Air Squadron Command. operating on MB.339PAN aircraft.

Italian aerobatics Frecce Tricolori

Aerobatic team of the Italian Air Force "Frecce Tricolori". RIAT International Airshow, Gloucestershire, 2013

at the Flugtag air show in Germany in 1988, on a collision course, one plane rammed the group, damaging two. As a result of the disaster, about 400 people were injured and 70 died.

Italian Air Force structure command of aviation schools.
Future military pilots undergo initial training in the 70th Stormo (Latina), which includes the 207th Group with SF.260EA propeller-driven aircraft. Basic and advanced training is provided by the 61st Stormo in Lecce. Its 213th group is equipped with MB.339A jets, and the 212th group is equipped with MB.339CD with more modern avionics.

A high-speed race between a Lamborghini and a Tornado fighter-bomber on a 3-kilometer stretch. Leading at the initial stage, Lamborghini still lost, the 38,000 hp of the Tornado did its job, it crossed the finish line at a speed of more than 750 km/h, and the sports car was more than 300

To train helicopter pilots, the 72nd Stormo (Frosignone) serves with the 208th Group (NH 500E helicopters), which also provides training for flight personnel for army and naval aviation. The Support Command includes various ground units (supply, repair, etc.), and the Air Operations Command includes two radar groups (12 radar posts).
Modernization
The Italian Air Force is currently finalizing the procurement of the last of the 87 Typhoon fighters on order.

Italian Air Force AMX during a training flight. Nellis Air Force Base, 2009

The Tornado and AMX aircraft are being modernized, and in the future they will be replaced by the fifth generation F-35 Lightning II fighter-bombers.
It is planned to purchase 90 of these aircraft: 60 F-35A and 30 F-35 (including 15 for naval aviation), but this number is likely to be revised downwards.

In the near future, the Air Force will include two G.550 AWACS aircraft, purchased from Israel as an “offset” for the supply of training M.346 “Master” to this country. The latter were also purchased by Italy itself - so far in relatively small quantities (15 units). The outdated basic Atlantic patrol aircraft are being replaced by ATR 72ASW aircraft, created on the basis of passenger ones. The command pays great attention to updating the fleet of search and rescue helicopters.

heavy helicopter AW101, plans to increase the fleet by 15 vehicles

To replace the light AV 212 machines, deliveries of AW 139 helicopters began, and starting from 2014, the HH-3F will be replaced by the heavier AW 101 (15 units ordered).
Italian aircraft and helicopter fleet.
Multi-role fighters

"Typhoon" F-200 (VTF-2000 - 60/11 (+ 25 ordered)
Fighter-bombers

• "Tornado" IDS/ECR - 60/15
• AMX/AMX-ET - 43/12

Basic patrol aircraft

• "Atlantic" - 4
• ATR72ASW-1 (+4 ordered)

Electronic reconnaissance aircraft

• G.222-3

Refuellers

• KS-767 - 4

Transport aircraft

• C-130J/C-130J-30/KC-130J - 5/10/6
• C-27J-12
• A319-3
• "Falcon" 900 - 5
• Falcon 50-2
• R.180-14

• SF.260 - 30
• MB.339A/PAN/CD - 34/18/29
• M.346-3(+12 ordered)

Helicopters

• NH500E-49
• AB 212 - 33
• AW139-3 (+17 ordered)
• HH-3F - 21

Unmanned aerial vehicles

RQ-1B-6 unmanned aerial vehicles

• RQ-1B-6
• MQ-9A - 6