The tri-motor Savoia-Marchetti SM.82 Canguru (Kangaroo) was considered by some to be the most capable Axis transport of the war, serving in both the Regia Aeronautica and the Luftwaffe in small numbers on the Eastern Front. It was developed from the earlier SM.75 military transport albeit with a longer and deeper fuselage made of steel tube and fabric (like most Savoia-Marchetti designs, the wings were made of wood), a redesigned fin and rudder, more powerful engines, both offensive and defensive armament and increased weights. It was considerably useful due to its load carrying capacity but suffered from a number of operational problems mostly on account of its underpowered engines, as a result it was seldomed used in the bomber role which it had also been intended. Post war, the SM.82 was used by both Axis and Allied forces and continued in Italian service well into the 1950s.

First flight of the SM.82 took place sometime in 1939, two years later than the civil/military SM.75 which preceded it. No additional variants were ever built although the basic model was designed for both transport and bomber roles (seldom operating as the latter). Both SM.82 and military SM.75s served with the Regia Aeronautica during the war.