  We describe the AGILE gamma-ray astronomy satellite which has recently been
selected as the first Small Scientific Mission of the Italian Space Agency.
With a launch in 2002, AGILE will provide a unique tool for high-energy
astrophysics in the 30 MeV - 50 GeV range before GLAST. Despite the much
smaller weight and dimensions, the scientific performances of AGILE are
comparable to those of EGRET.
