Breda Ba.65

Guns: 2 × 12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns 2 × 7.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns
Bombs: 500 kg

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Breda Ba.65

Type	Ground attack aircraft
Manufacturer	Ernesto Breda
Maiden flight	September 1935
Retired	1941
Primary user	Regia Aeronautica
Produced	1935-1939
Number built	218

The Breda Ba.65 was a single-engine ground attack aircraft used by the Italian Regia Aeronautica during the Spanish Civil War and World War II.

An evolution of Breda Ba.64, the prototype, designed by Antonio Parano and Giuseppe Panzeri, first flew in September 1935. Production ceased in July 1939 after 218 aircraft were built by Breda and Caproni. Starting from the 82nd airplane, a more powerful 1,000-hp Fiat A.80 RC.41 engine was adopted.

The Breda Ba.64 debuted during the Spanish Civil War, with the version provided with Gnôme-Rhône K-14 engine. It proved effective, and was compared positively with the German Junkers Ju 87. During the Second World War it was used against the British in North Africa. Most were either out of service or shot down by February 1941. The aircraft, which had been forcibly kept in service after the failure of the Breda Ba.88 and the poor performances showed by the Caproni Ca.310, was replaced by adapted S.79s or fighters in the assaulter-diver bomber role.

Twenty-five Breda Ba.65s were sold to Iraq in 1938 and saw action against the British. Chile bought twenty and Portugal ten, in June 1939. Soviet Union received 10 aircraft. Single and two seat versions of Breda Ba.64 were built.