The Italian Aerospace Information Web
by Aeromedia - corso Giambone 46/18 - 10135 Torino (Italy)

Illegal Warriors requisitioned by the Italian Police

On February 20, 2003, the Italian Police arrested an industrial entrepreuneur and requisitioned two piston-engined military aircraft stored in his machine-shop near Legnago, in North-East Italy. The investigation, which may involve others in the future, started in 2002, days after the arrival at the port of La Spezia, from Burundi, of two crated SIAI Marchetti SF.260W Warrior light attack/trainer aircraft. The shipment documents referred to aircraft parts to be restored for an exhibition. But apparently the two battle scarred aircraft (9U-ZRC and 9U-ZRD civil markings) were undergoing a complete overhaul, at a cost of 600,000 USD, to return to flight condition. The recent police action was also caused by the fact that Burundi, which has been ravaged by civil war since 1993, is subject to a strict arms embargo declared by the UN.

Some years ago the aviation element of the Burundi Army received no less than five SF.260Ws from Libya. These aircraft came from a significant order to SIAI Marchetti made by Libya at the end of the 1970's, comprising some 200 SF.260s of the W variant, capable of carrying warloads on underwing hardpoints. The Libyan SF-260Ws were initially based at Misratha, on the coast, and at Ghat and Sebha, in the inner desert area. It is believed that small detachments of Warriors, stationed in the remote Fada and Gouro oases, took part in the successive ostilities with Chad.

In the picture: SIAI Marchetti SF.260W Warrior at Rome/Ciampino airport on delivery to Libya, February 1978. (Aeromedia/M.Gori)

(Aeromedia, February 2003)