Italy confirms P.180 EVO Plus acquisition, P.1HH cancelled

The Italian armed forces are procuring six new Piaggio Aerospace P.180 EVO Plus light utility aircraft, the Italian Air Force has confirmed to Janes on 20 October. (Piaggio)

The Italian Air Force (Aeronautica Militare Italiana – AMI) has confirmed to Janes that the country's armed forces are procuring six Piaggio Aerospace P.180 light utility aircraft to replace legacy units. Meanwhile, the P.1HH HammerHead programme has been officially cancelled.

Speaking to Janes on 20 October, a spokesperson of the press office of the AMI said that the new aircraft will be Piaggio EVO Plus models, and that these are yet to be assigned to a specific military service, be it the army, navy, air force, or Carabinieri.

However, he said that the six P.180s will replace legacy platforms and that “once the registration numbers to be retired are identified, a breakdown by service will be finalised and a decision will be made on the final configuration of the six P.180 aircraft”. Such information will likely be provided once a contract is formalised.

The acquisition of six new Piaggio aircraft is part of a EUR171 million (USD200 million) package authorised by decree by the Italian Minister of Defence Lorenzo Guerini on 30 September. The deal also includes a P.180 flight simulator and an extension of the maintenance contract for the Viper engines that power the Aermacchi MB-339 jet trainers in service with the national acrobatic team (Frecce Tricolori).