The Italian Air Force is the largest operator of the MB-339. The service, which received its first examples during 1978, has procured multiple batches and models of the type over the years; for several decades, it has been flown as its principal trainer aircraft. In addition to its use as a general trainer, the MB-339 is also flown by the "Frecce Tricolori" aerobatic display team; during 1988, three aircraft were lost during a tragic air display accident in Germany.