The A.R. project emerged from Italy’s urgent need to counter the British Mediterranean Fleet during WWII.
By 1940–42, the Regia Aeronautica’s assault aircraft were outdated and lacked the precision and effectiveness needed for naval strikes.
To address this, the Italian high command initiated the ARP programme (Aerei Radio‑Pilotati), conceived by engineer and Regia Aeronautica officer Ferdinando Raffaelli.
The idea was to convert ageing Savoia‑Marchetti SM.79 bombers into radio‑controlled explosive aircraft.
Crews would fly them into the combat zone, bail out, and have a second aircraft (“P” aircraft) take remote control for the final attack run.
The first operational test occurred on 12 August 1942 during the Battle of Mid‑August, but a transmitter failure caused the aircraft to crash in Algeria before reaching its target.
Conception of the A.R.
Despite the failure, military leadership still believed in the concept and requested a purpose‑built radio‑guided aircraft rather than modifying large bombers. Requirements emphasised:
Low cost
Simple construction
Use of non‑strategic materials
Acceptance that the aircraft would be lost in each mission
Aeronautica Lombarda, known for wooden glider construction, was selected to design the new aircraft.
In November 1942, a contract was signed for one prototype and five pre‑series aircraft, assigned serials MM.75576–75581.
The design team was led by Ermenegildo Preti and Stelio Frati, both of whom would later become influential Italian aeronautical engineers.
Design Philosophy
The A.R. was intentionally austere.
Single‑engine, medium‑wing monoplane
Almost entirely wooden structure
Minimal systems
Fixed landing gear designed to be jettisoned and reused
It used surplus Fiat A.80 RC.41 1,000 hp radial engines, originally intended for Fiat BR.20 bombers.
The prototype (MM.75576) differed from production aircraft:
Dual cockpit
Reinforced structure
Fixed landing gear for testing purposes
Flight Testing
The prototype first flew on 13 June 1943, piloted by Nello Valzania, from the Venegono airfield.
Tests showed performance better than expected, validating the design’s aerodynamic and structural qualities.
It was then transferred to the Direzione Superiore Studi ed Esperienze in Guidonia for further trials, which also proceeded without issues.
With successful testing, the Regia Aeronautica confirmed the production order, and Aeronautica Lombarda began assembling the pre‑series aircraft.
Cancellation and Fate
The first pre‑series aircraft (MM.75577) was completed in August 1943.
However, on 8 September 1943, Italy signed the Armistice of Cassibile.
German forces quickly took control of northern Italy, including the Aeronautica Lombarda facilities.
The programme was immediately suspended and then permanently cancelled by German authorities.
All five pre‑series aircraft were destroyed, and the fate of the prototype remains unknown.
Postwar Curiosity: The Italian “Mistle” Concept
Among documents seized by the Allies and later returned to Italy was a drawing showing an A.R. mated to a Macchi MC.202 fighter, similar to the German Mistel composite aircraft.
No other evidence supports that this concept progressed beyond a drawing.
Technical Characteristics
Wooden fuselage, ovoid cross‑section, with internal fuel tank and bomb bay
Large tail surfaces for stability during remote control
Medium trapezoidal wing with strong dihedral for inherent stability; no flaps (landing not intended)
Jettisonable landing gear to reduce drag after takeoff
Fiat A.80 RC.41 engine in NACA cowling with three‑blade propeller
Armament
two 1,000‑kg bombs mounted side by side internally
Operational Use
The AR never entered operational service.
The Regia Aeronautica used the prototype only for evaluation flights before the programme was terminated by wartime events.
Historical Significance
The Aeronautica Lombarda A.R. stands out as the following:
One of the earliest purpose‑built unmanned explosive aircraft in aviation history
A rare Italian attempt at remote‑controlled precision strike technology
A precursor to modern UAV‑based strike systems
A victim of Italy’s political collapse in 1943 rather than technical failure
Its development demonstrates that Italy was exploring advanced concepts parallel to German and Allied efforts but lacked the time and stability to bring them to fruition.
