In 1937, the Air Development Committee of the Tripolitan government concluded talks with Ing. Mitrovich of Yugoslavia. Under their agreement, Mitrovich would relocate his design studio to Tripolitania, where a major new factory was built. Mitrovich brought with him the sole prototype of the M.M.S.3 twin-boom lightplane. This became the first product of the new Barbary Aircraft Co., controlled by the Tripolitan Government and overseen by Ing. Mitrovich. The original MMS-3 was ordered for use as an observation aircraft in support of the Tripolitan Army ground units. One hundred were ordered, but only twenty were built before they were supplanted on the construction line by the MMS-3bis. This aircraft was re-engined with the Italian Colombo S.63, to remedy the underpowered situation of the original MMS-3 with military equipment. The Colombo engine was chosen because the Tripolitans did not want to rely on a British engine source (the original MMS-3 was powered by a British Pobjoy Niagara). The MMS-3bis had about 30 percent more power with the Colombo engine. The remaining 80 aircraft on the original order were completed as MMS-3bis, and included a flexible 7.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine gun in the rearmost seat, with an open position replacing the elegant windows of the original. The change required the addition of strengthening struts on either side of the machine gun position (replacing the central structural member of the original). Since most field units dispensed of the elegant spats on the mainwheels, these were also eliminated from the production line after the 33rd aircraft.
Finally, in 1940, the Tripolitan Navy requested a new scout seaplane, and the Barbary design team under Mitrovich adapted the MMS-3bis with a central float mounted directly under the fuselage pod, and wingtip stabilizing floats. 40 were built and were used from shore bases and various warships. The MMS-3bis Idro was not catapult capable.
