Aeritalia and Aermacchi produced a joint proposal for the Italian Air Force's requirement for 187 new strike fighters to replace old G91s rather than compete for the contract, and in April 1978 work on the joint venture formally commenced.
Rather than competing for the contract, Aeritalia (now Alenia Aeronautica) and Aermacchi agreed to produce a joint proposal for the requirement, as both firms had been considering the development of a similar class of aircraft for some years. During early 1977, the Italian Air Force issued a requirement for 187 new-build strike fighters, which were to replace its existing Aeritalia G.91 in the close air support. In April 1978, development work on the joint venture formally commenced. 
