Editing Macchi C.202 Folgore (section)

==Variants and production==
Like its predecessor C.200, the C.202 had relatively few modifications, with only 116 modifications during its career, most of them invisible, externally. The total series production ordered was 1,454: 900 to Breda, 150 to SAI Ambrosini, 403 to Aermacchi. The amount produced was actually 1,106 and not 1,220 as previous stated. Breda built 649 (Series XVI deleted, Series XII and XV partially completed caused the difference); Aermacchi made 390 examples, SAI only 67.<ref>Sgarlato 2008</ref>

One of the differences between prototype and series production was the lack of radio antenna and the retractable tailwheel (these differences resulting in a slightly higher top speed); the difference in speed was not so great and so, the series version had the fixed tailwheel and the radio antenna. The support for the engine, originally steel, was replaced with a lighter aluminium structure.<ref>Sgarlato Nico, Folgore Monography Feb 2008</ref>
;C.202
: Starting with the ''Serie'' VII, the fighter had a new wing with a provision for two 7.7&nbsp;mm (.303&nbsp;in) [[Breda-SAFAT]] machine guns and an armored windscreen (previously, only the armored seat and the self-sealing tanks were provided). Serie IX's weight was 2,515/3,069&nbsp;kg with the 7.7 machine guns seldom installed.<ref name="Sgarlato 2008, p. 36">Sgarlato 2008, p. 36.</ref>

;C.202AS
:Dust filters for operations in North Africa (AS – ''Africa Settentrionale'', North Africa); they affected the speed little and so, almost all Folgores had them and thus were in C.202AS standard; finally, starting with Serie XI there was a provision for two 50, 100 or 160&nbsp;kg bombs, small bombs clusters (10, 15, 20&nbsp;kg) or 100 L drop tanks. These underwing pylons were rarely utilized, as Folgores were needed in the interceptor roles.<ref>Sgarlato 2008, p. 29.</ref>

;C.202CB
:Underwing hardpoints for bombs or drop tanks (CB – Caccia Bombardiere, Fighter-Bomber)

;C.202EC
:Likely standing for ''Esperimento Cannoni'', it was another link between ''Veltro'' and ''Folgore''. One aircraft (Serie III, s/n MM 91974) was fitted with a pair of gondola-mounted 20&nbsp;mm cannon with 200 rounds each (it flew on 12 May 1943); later it was turned into a C.205V. Another four examples were so equipped, but, despite the good results in the trials (aimed to boost the Folgore's firepower), there was no further production, because the cannons penalized the aircraft's performance. There was, in the ''Folgore'', no room to mount them inside the wings or the nose, so the MC.205V/Ns was developed.<ref name="Sgarlato p. 37" /> Nevertheless, the XII series could have introduced a new wing with MG 151 provisions. This is not well documented, as this series was produced by Breda after the Armistice, and was interrupted with the devastating USAAF bombings, together with many other aircraft; among them, also Macchi 205 production and the 206 prototype (30 April 1944; in five days, the USAAF destroyed both Fiat and Macchi facilities, eliminating all of Italy's fighter production).<ref>Sgarlato Nico. ''I caccia Serie 5 Monography'', March 2009, pp. 16, 30, 43.</ref>

;C.202RF
:Equipped with cameras for photo-reconnaissance missions (R – Ricognizione, Reconnaissance), very few produced, later the recce role was covered by Veltros.<ref name="Sgarlato p. 37">Sgarlato 2008, p. 37.</ref>

;C.202D
:Prototype with a revised radiator, under the nose, similar to the P-40 (s/n. MM 7768)

;C.202 AR.4
:At least one such aircraft was modified to server as a "drone director" (coupled with S.79s), and it was planned to use ''Folgores'' also as 'Mistel', with an AR.4 "radiobomba" (a form of remote-control kamikaze bomber).<ref name="Sgarlato 2008, p. 36" />

;C.202 with DB 605 and other engines
:Macchi MC.202 with DB 605 were initially known as MC.202 bis; later as the C.205 Veltro. Macchi C.200, C.202 and C.205 shared many common components. The MC.200A/2 was a MC.200 with ''Folgore'' wings (MM.8238). After the Armistice, Aeronautica Sannita or the Co-Belligerent Italian AF began MC.205 modifying C.202s with DB 605s. These aircraft were known also as ''Folgeltro''. Around two dozen were made. Another ''Folgore'' was modified with DB 601E-1 (1,350 PS) in mid-1944, but this hybrid with Bf 109F technology crashed on 21 January 1946. The MC.204 was a version with a L.121 Asso (1,000 hp); proposed early in the war (28 September 1940), but all the effort continued only with DB 601 engines.<ref name="Sgarlato p. 37" /> Early Folgores had original DB 601s, while from the ''Serie'' VII, RC.41s were available.

After the war, 31 C.202 airframes were fitted with license-built [[Daimler-Benz DB 605]] engines and sold to Egypt as C.205 ''Veltros'', with another 11 'real' MC.205s (with MG 151 cannon in the wings).