To meet an Italian Army requirement for a short take-off liaison aircraft, SIAI-Marchetti modified the design of the Cessna 305A/O-1 Bird Dog with a new turboprop engine and a revised tail unit.

The prototype first flew on 24 May 1969 powered by a 317 hp (236 kW) Allison 250-B15C turboprop engine.

It was evaluated against the Aermacchi AM.3 and was successful and won a production order for 80 aircraft.

On 24 July 2021, former US Navy F-14 pilot Dale "Snort" Snodgrass fatally crashed in an SM.1019B with the registration N28U at Lewiston–Nez Perce County Airport in Lewiston, Idaho.

[3] Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1976–77[4]General characteristics Performance