The Macchi C.205 Veltro was a late-war Italian single-seat fighter developed as a direct evolution of the Macchi C.202 Folgore. Designed by Mario Castoldi, the C.205 was part of the "Serie 5" class of fighters, which also included the Fiat G.55 and Reggiane Re.2005. These aircraft were specifically designed to utilize the powerful Daimler-Benz DB 605 engine to allow the Regia Aeronautica to compete with contemporary Allied aircraft such as the P-51 Mustang and Spitfire Mk IX.
Production of new C.205 airframes took place in Italy between September 1942 and May 1944, with a total of 262 aircraft produced. The aircraft featured a streamlined monoplane design and significant upgrades over its predecessor, most notably the replacement of the DB 601-based powerplant with a license-built Alfa Romeo DB 605 liquid-cooled, inverted V-12 piston engine. Armament was also increased; while the C.202 was lightly armed, the C.205 incorporated 20 mm cannons in the wings alongside two 12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns in the nose, enhancing its effectiveness for ground attack and bomber interception.
The C.205 entered frontline service in February 1943. During the Mediterranean campaign, it operated in Tunisia and defended Pantelleria and Italy. Following the Armistice of September 8, 1943, the aircraft's service split: six joined the Italian Co-Belligerent Air Force, while the majority passed to the Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana (ANR) in northern Italy, where they intercepted B-17 and B-24 bombers. The Luftwaffe also evaluated the type, with II./JG 77 operating the fighter from October to December 1943, and a small batch served with the Zrakoplovstvo Nezavisne Države Hrvatske (ZNDH) in 1944. Notably, No. 3 Squadron RAAF captured a C.205 (serial MM9377) at Catania on August 24, 1943, which was briefly flown by Flying Officer A. Dawkins.
Post-war, the C.205 remained in service with the Italian Air Force as a trainer until May 1947. Between 1948 and 1949, Egypt acquired approximately 62 refurbished aircraft, many of which were C.202s converted to C.205 standards. These aircraft saw limited combat during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War before being retired around 1950. Today, only three museum examples survive, including one original aircraft displayed at the Aermacchi office in Venegono and another at the Museo della Scienza e della Tecnologia in Milan.