Twin-turboprop tactical transport aircraft, high-wing monoplane, with rear loading ramp and variable incidence undercarriage, capable of operating from very short runways.

It made its first flight in July 1970 at Caselle and was delivered to the Experimental Flight Department at Pratica di Mare (Rome) in December 1971.

The first Air Force flying unit to be equipped with it was the 46th Air Brigade, with the 98th Group first and then the 2nd Group. 

Subsequently, the twin-engine aircraft, equipped to carry out radio measurement missions, will be assigned to the 14th Wing at Pratica di Mare and was also used for aerobatic displays. 

In the following years, the G.222 participated in numerous humanitarian operations and supported increasingly frequent out-of-area interventions, including the Gulf War. They were often deployed to makeshift airfields and in extreme conditions: during the evacuation of refugees from Mogadishu in 1991, for example, they carried over 80 people.

After approximately 167,000 flying hours, the line retirement of the G.222 was celebrated by the 46th Air Brigade on 10 September 2005.