Italian Air Force

The Italian Air Force, in Italian Aeronautica Militare is the air force of the Italian Republic (Repubblica Italiana). She had a prominent role in modern military history of Italy and its aerobatic display team is the Frecce Tricolori.

History
Italy is one of the nations that possess one of the oldest traditions in the field of aviation. In 1884, the Italian Royal Army (Regio Esercito) was allowed to equip with their own air component, the Aeronautical Service ( Servizio Aeronautico ) with the command center in Rome. In 1911, during the Italo-Turkish war, the country, was the first in the world to build aircraft for reconnaissance and bombing.

On March 28th of 1923, it was founded as an independent government by King Emmanuel III the Kingdom of Italy (Regno d'Italia). The air force was known as the Regia Aeronautica, which equates to "Royal Air Force."

During the 1930s, the Italian Royal Air Force was involved in its first military operation, initially in Ethiopia in 1935, and later in the Spanish Civil War, between 1936 and 1939. After a period of neutrality, Italy entered the World War II on June 10 of 1940 on the side of Germany. in which the Italian Air Force could offer more than 3,000 aircraft, even though less than 60% were useful. She fought from the icy steppes of Russia to the desert sands of North Africa, losing men and machines. After the armistice between Italy and the allied forces on September 8 of 1943, Italy was divided into two sides, and so did the Italian Royal Air Force. The end of hostilities on 8 May of 1945, the doors in April for the rebirth of military aviation in Italy.

Italian Aircraft
The Italian Air Force operates 585 aircraft, including 386 (2007) 114 fighter jets and helicopters.

Future aircraft

 * Boeing KC-767 (4)
 * Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II (109 + 22 for the Marina Militare)
 * Aermacchi M-346 (6 ordered, and 9 more expected)
 * Joint Airborne Multisensor Multimission System on the Gulfstream G550 platform (8)
 * Another 21 Eurofighter Typhoons

Retired aircraft

 * Aeritalia G.222
 * Boeing 707
 * Aeritalia F-104S Starfighter
 * Lockheed C-130 Hercules H variant
 * Lockheed F-104 Starfighter
 * Lockheed P-38J and L Lightning
 * Panavia Tornado ADV-24 leased from RAF
 * Republic P-47 Thunderbolt