Italian Naval Aviation Explained

Unit Name:Italian Naval Aviation
Native Name:Italian: Aviazione Navale
Dates:1913-1937
1956-Present
Country:Italy
Branch:Italian Navy
Type:Naval aviation
Size:2,000 personnel (2015)[1]
Command Structure:Commander in Chief Naval Fleet
Current Commander:Rear Admiral Giancarlo Ciappina
Identification Symbol Label:Roundel

The Italian Naval Aviation (Italian: Aviazione Navale) is the naval air component of the Italian Navy composed of around 2000 men and women and 69 aircraft and helicopters.

History

It is more commonly known as Naval Aviation as it received various official designations throughout its service and its origins date back to 1913, when it was created as the air branch of the Navy.[2] The service was then disbanded and integrated into the Italian Air Force, upon the creation of this new branch in 1937, when a law gave control of all national fixed-wing air assets to the Italian Air Force.

Having been reactivated in 1956 to operate the Navy's new shipborne helicopters entering service with the Italian frigates.[3] The ban on fixed-wing aircraft was lifted in 1989, and the Italian Navy acquired Harrier II fighters to fly from the aircraft carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi.

In 2009, the Giuseppe Garibaldi was replaced as the flagship of the Italian navy by the new and larger aircraft carrier Cavour.

Organisation

The units of the Italian Naval Aviation are based at three civil airports. A small detachment is based at the Italian Air Force's the Pratica di Mare Air Base.[4] [5]

Aircraft

AircraftOriginTypeVariantIn serviceNotes
Combat Aircraft
AV-8B Harrier IIUnited Statesground attackAV-8B+14being replaced by F-35B
F-35 Lightning IIUnited StatesMultiroleF-35B615 ordered in total
Liaison
Piaggio P.180ItalyLiaisonP.180 Maritime3
Helicopter
Agusta-Bell 212ItalyASuW/ASW
Transport
SH-212A
MH-212B
33being replaced by NH90
NH90ASuW/ASW
Transport
SH-90A
MH-90A
3846 ordered in total
10 ordered in total
AW101ItalyASuW/ASW
Transport
HEW
SH-101A
MH-101A
EH-101A
8
10
4[8]
Unmanned aerial vehicles
Camcopter S-100Austriasurveillance2[9] [10]
Boeing Insitu ScanEagleUnited Statessurveillance 10[11]

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Present Aviation - Marina Militare . Marina.difesa.it . 2017-01-14.
  2. Web site: The Naval Aviation - History - Marina Militare . Marina.difesa.it . 2017-01-14.
  3. Web site: Post War Naval Aviation - Marina Militare . Marina.difesa.it . 2017-01-14.
  4. Web site: The Present Aviation . Marina Militare . 29 May 2020.
  5. Web site: Comando delle Forze Aeree . Marina Militare . 29 May 2020.
  6. Web site: Primo Gruppo Elicotteri della Marina Militare . Italian Ministry of Defense . 29 May 2020.
  7. Web site: Terzo Gruppo Elicotteri della Marina Militare . Italian Ministry of Defense . 29 May 2020.
  8. Web site: EH - 101 . Italian Ministry of Defense . 29 May 2020.
  9. Web site: The Aviationist » The Italian Navy is testing a tiny Camcopter drone from its amphibious warfare ship. The Aviationist. 24 December 2014. 2014-05-31.
  10. Web site: Messaggio Forum. Regiamarinaitaliana.forumgratis.org. 24 December 2014.
  11. Web site: Insitu: contract with the Italian Navy for ScanEagle UAS aircraft delivery. 28 March 2014. Avionews.it.