The Battle was designed as a two-seat single-engine monoplane day-bomber able to carry 452 kg (1,000 lb) of bombs for 1,609 km (1,000 miles) at 322 km/h (200 mph).

Designed for the Italian Army by Siai-Marchetti to replace the Lycoming powered Aermacchi AM.3C, which itself had replaced the Cessna O-1 Birdog in the forward air control and liaison duties role, the prototype being first flown on 24 May 1969, this being a re-manufactured Cessna O-1 modified to take an