Italian Air Force

Italian Air Force
Aeronautica Militare
Coat of arms of the Italian Air Force
Founded	28 March 1923; 101 years ago (1923-03-28)
Country	Italy
Type	Air force
Role	Aerial warfare
Size	43,000 personnel 515 aircraft
Part of	Italian Armed Forces
Patron	Madonna di Loreto
Motto(s)	Latin: Virtute Siderum Tenus "With valour to the stars"
March	Marcia di Ordinanza dell'Aeronautica Militare (Ordinance March of the Air Force) by Alberto Di Miniello
Anniversaries	28 March (Air Force Day)
Decorations	1 Cavalier Cross of the Military Order of Savoy 3 Cavalier Crosses of the Military Order of Italy 2 Gold Medals of Military Valor 1 Gold Medal of Aviation Valor 5 Silver Medals of Military Valor 2 Silver Medals of Civil Valor 1 War Cross of Military Valor 1 Silver Medal of Merit of the Italian Red Cross 1 Gold Medal of Benemerited Public Honor 1 Gold Medal of Merit for Public Health
Website	www.aeronautica.difesa.it
Commanders
Chief of Staff of Air Force	Generale di squadra aerea Luca Goretti
Insignia
Roundel
Roundel Low Visibility
Aircraft flown
Attack	Panavia Tornado
Electronic warfare	Gulfstream G550, Panavia Tornado, Alenia C-27J
Fighter	Eurofighter Typhoon, F-35 Lightning II
Helicopter	Agusta-Bell 212, MD 500 Defender, AgustaWestland AW101, AgustaWestland AW139
Patrol	ATR 72
Reconnaissance	Beechcraft Super King Air
Trainer	Alenia M-346 Master, Alenia M-345, Piaggio P.180, Tecnam P2006T, Aermacchi MB-339, SIAI-Marchetti SF.260, McDonnell Douglas MD 500
Transport	Alenia C-27J Spartan, Piaggio P.180 Avanti, Airbus A319CJ, Airbus A340-500, Dassault Falcon 50, Dassault Falcon 900, C-130J Super Hercules
Tanker	Boeing KC-767, KC-130J Hercules

The Italian Air Force (Italian: Aeronautica Militare; AM, lit. 'military aeronautics') is the air force of the Italian Republic. The Italian Air Force was founded as an independent service arm on 28 March 1923 by King Victor Emmanuel III as the Regia Aeronautica ("Royal Air Force"). After World War II, when Italy became a republic following a referendum, the Regia Aeronautica was given its current name. Since its formation, the service has held a prominent role in modern Italian military history. The acrobatic display team is the Frecce Tricolori.