Based on Aermacchi M.B. 326, M.B. 339 is a direct successor of this type. The changes made on the cockpit, front parts and tail-end result in new product. The delivery has started in 1978. From 1982, those planes became the main plane of the Italian flight group Frecce Tricolori. This plane has been exported in 8 countries. The later types like M.B. 339 CD/FD have been produced only for Frecce Tricolori and can be seen as 4th generation fighters.