It was designed for the 1936 new fighter contest for the Regia Aeronautica, with practically all the Italian aircraft builders involved.

The aircraft, designed by the engineer Galasso, was a single-seat, monoplane fighter, of mixed construction (the wings were made of wood), and initially with a fixed undercarriage.

The engine was standard for this generation of fighters, an 840 hp (630 kW) Fiat A.74 RC 38 radial powering a three-blade propeller.

In June 1938 the first prototype, initially fitted with a very small tail, was tested and found inferior to the Macchi C.200 and Fiat G.50.

Data from The Complete Book of Fighters,[1] Italian Civil and Military Aircraft 1930-1945,[2] airwar.ru : IMAM Ro.51[3]General characteristics Performance Armament