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ITALIAN ARMY


Dardo IFV on exercise in Capo Teulada

Soldiers of the 33rd Field Artillery Regiment "Acqui" on parade

The 'Italian Army' (Esercito Italiano) is the ground defense force of the Italian Republic. It recently (July 29th, 2004) became a professional all-volunteer force of 115,000 active duty personnel.
The headquarters of the Army General Staff are in Rome, opposite the Presidential Palace.

Contents
Command structure
Operational forces
Support units
Effective operational capability
Equipment
Weapons
Combat vehicles
Artillery
Aircraft inventory
Operations
External links

Command structure


The Armed Forces of Italy are under the command of the Italian Supreme Defense Council, presided over by the President of the Italian Republic. The Italian Army is commanded by the SME or “Stato Maggiore dell’Esercito” (Chief of the Army General Staff) in Rome.
The Chief of staff has direct control of all support and logistics operations in Italy (i.e. military clinics, repair facilities, acquisitions,…), but no direct control of the operational forces, which are all assigned to and commanded by COMFOTER: “Comando delle Forze Operative Terrestri” (Command of Operational Land Forces).

Operational forces


COMFOTER has direct command on a NATO rapid reaction Corps Command (NRDC-IT), of four support brigades (Artillery, Air Defense, Logistics, Engineering), as well as command of the Army Aviation, the Army Communication and Transmission command and of three commands called COMFOD 1, COMFOD 2 and COMALP, which between them command the actual 11 Italian combat Brigades. The attached units are in detail:
Structure of the Italian Army (click to enlarge).

===
Coat of Arms of the NRDC-IT
NRDC-IT===
The NRDC or "NATO Rapid Deployable Corps" is located in Solbiate Olona (Lombardy) and has a whole brigade at its dependency, formed by:

★ Signal Bde HQ in Solbiate Olona (Lombardy)


1° Signal Regiment in Milan (Lombardy)


Logistic Support Regiment in Solbiate Olona (Lombardy)
===
Coat of Arms of the Comando Truppe Alpin3
COMALP===
Alpini from the Taurinense Brigade.

“Comando Truppe Alpine” or COMALP has command over the professional Mountain Troops of the Italian Army, called "Alpines", in Italian ''Alpini''. It is located in Bolzano and consist of the following units:

Coat of Arms of the Alpini Formation Centre
Alpini Training Center "Btg Aosta"in Aosta

Coat of Arms of the 4th Alpini Regiment
4° Alpini Paracadutisti regiment (Parachutist ''Alpini'') "btg Monte Cervino" in Bolzano with 21 Bv206 and 33 Puma 4x4 (Forces for Special Operations)

Coat of Arms of the 6th Alpini Regiment
6° Alpini Regiment "Btg Bassano" (high altitude training areas) in San Candido (South Tyrol) with 21 Bv206

Coat of Arms of the Tridentina Alpini Brigade
Tridentina Division Command (without fixed units) in Brixen (South Tyrol)

Coat of Arms of the Taurinense Alpini Brigade
'Taurinense Alpine Brigade in Turin (Piedmont)'


Coat of Arms of the 1° “Nizza” Cavalry Regiment
1° Cavalry Regiment “Nizza Cavalleria” in Pinerolo (Piedmont) with 50 Centauro and 33 Puma 4x4


Coat of Arms of the 2nd Alpini Regiment
2° Alpini Regiment "Btg Saluzzo" in Cuneo (Piedmont) with 21 Bv206 and 26 Puma 6x6


Coat of Arms of the 3rd Alpini Regiment
3° Alpini Regiment "Btg Susa" in Pinerolo (Piedmont) with 21 Bv206 and 26 Puma 6x6


Coat of Arms of the 9th Alpini Regiment
9° Alpini Regiment "Btg l'Aquila" in l'Aquila (Abruzzi) with 21 Bv206 and 26 Puma 6x6


Coat of Arms of the 1st Mountain Artillery Regiment
1° Mountain Artillery Regiment (alpini) "Grp Aosta"in Fossano (Piedmont) with 24 FH-70


★ 32° Alpini Engineer Regiment in Turin (Piedmont)

Coat of Arms of the Julia Alpini Brigade
'Julia Alpine Brigade in Udine (Friuli)'


Coat of Arms of the 5th Alpini Regiment
5° Alpini Regiment "Btg Morbegno" in Vipiteno (South Tyrol Italy) with 21 Bv206 and 26 Puma 6x6


Coat of Arms of the 7th Alpini Regiment
7° Alpini Regiment "Btg Feltre" in Belluno (Veneto) with 21 Bv206 and 26 Puma 6x6


Coat of Arms of the 8th Alpini Regiment
8° Alpini Regiment "Btg Tolmezzo" in Cividale e Venzone (Friuli) with 21 Bv206 and 26 Puma 6x6


Coat of Arms of the 3rd Mountain Artillery Regiment
3° Mountain Artillery Regiment (alpini) "Grp Conegliano"in Tolmezzo (Friuli) with 24 FH-70


Coat of Arms of the 2nd Alpini Engineer Regiment
2° Alpini Engineer Regiment "Btg Iseo" in Trento (Trentino)



★ 1° Hungarian Light Infantry Battalion (for out of area NATO peacekeeping deployment)



★ 10° Slovenian Motorised Infantry Battalion (for out of area NATO peacekeeping deployment)
===
Coat of Arms of the 1st Defence Command
COMFOD 1===
“Comando Forze di Difesa 1” or COMFOD 1 resides in the north-eastern city of Vittorio Veneto (Veneto) and commands the most specialized brigades of the Italian Army:

Coat of Arms of the Mantova Division
Mantova” Infantry Division Command (without fixed units)

Coat of Arms of the Ariete Brigade
Ariete” Armored Brigade in Pordenone (Friuli-Venezia Giulia)


Coat of Arms of the 4° Tank Regiment
4° Tank Regiment in Bellinzago Novarese (Piedmont) with 54 Ariete


Coat of Arms of the 32° Tank Regiment
32° Tank Regiment in Tauriano (Friuli-Venezia Giulia) with 54 Ariete


Coat of Arms of the 132° Tank Regiment
132° Tank Regiment in Cordenons (Friuli-Venezia Giulia) with 54 Ariete


Coat of Arms of the 3° Bersaglieri Regiment
Bersaglieri mechanized Infantry Regiment in Milan (Lombardy) with 59 VCC (M113 improved)


Coat of Arms of the 11° Bersaglieri Regiment
11° Bersaglieri mechanized Infantry Regiment in Orcenigo Superiore (Friuli-Venezia Giulia) with 59 Dardo


★ 132° Self Propelled Artillery Rgt. “Ariete” in Maniago (Friuli-Venezia Giulia) with 32 M109/L, which will be replaced within 2008 by the PzH 2000


★ 10° Engineer Regiment in Cremona (Lombardy)

Coat of Arms of the Folgore Brigade
“Folgore” Parachutist Brigade in Livorno (Tuscany)


Parachutist Training Center in Pisa (Tuscany)


Coat of Arms of the 9° Parachutist Regiment
9° Parachutist Assault Regiment “Col Moschin” in Livorno (Tuscany) (Special forces)


Coat of Arms of the 183° Parachutist Regiment
183° Parachutist Regiment “Nembo” in Pistoia (Tuscany) with 26 Puma 6x6


Coat of Arms of the 186° Parachutist Regiment
186° Parachutist Regiment “Folgore” in Siena (Tuscany) with 26 Puma 6x6


Coat of Arms of the 187° Parachutist Regiment
187° Parachutist Regiment “Folgore” in Livorno (Tuscany) with 26 Puma 6x6


185° Parachutist Reconnaissance Regiment “Folgore” in Livorno (Tuscany) (Forces for Special Operations)


8° Parachutist Engineer Regiment in Legnago (Veneto)

Coat of Arms of the Friuli Brigade
Friuli” Air Assault Brigade in Bologna (Emilia)


Coat of Arms of the 3° “Savoia” Cavalry Regiment
3 °Cavalry Regiment “Savoia Cavalleria” in Grosseto (Tuscany) with 50 Centauro and 33 Puma 4x4


Coat of Arms of the 66° Infantry Regiment
66° Air Assault Infantry Regiment “Trieste” in Forlì (Romagna) with 33 Puma 4x4


5° Army Aviation Regiment “Rigel” in Casarsa (Friuli-Venezia Giulia) with



★ 36 A129 "Mangusta" Attack Helicopters



★ 12 AB 109EOA "Hirundo" Observation helicopters



★ 24 AB 206C/1 Battlefield Surveillance helicopter


7° Army Aviation Regiment “Vega” in Rimini (Romagna) with



★ 24 A129 "Mangusta" Attack Helicopters



★ 12 AB 109EOA "Hirundo" Observation helicopters



★ 24 AB 412 Support helicopters

Coat of Arms of the Pozzuolo del Friuli Brigade
“Pozzuolo del Friuli” Cavalry Brigade in Gorizia (Friuli-Venezia Giulia)


Coat of Arms of the 2° “Piemonte” Cavalry Regiment
2° Cavalry Regiment “Piemonte Cavalleria” in Trieste (Friuli-Venezia Giulia) with 50 Centauro and 33 Puma 4x4


Coat of Arms of the 4° “Genova” Cavalry Regiment
4° Cavalry Regiment “Genova Cavalleria” in Palmanova (Friuli-Venezia Giulia) with 50 Centauro and 33 Puma 4x4


Coat of Arms of the 5° “Lancieri di Novara” Cavalry Regiment
5 °Cavalry Regiment “Lancieri di Novara” in Codroipo (Friuli-Venezia Giulia) with 50 Centauro and 33 Puma 4x4


Coat of Arms of the Lagunari Regiment
Lagunari (Marine Infantry) Regiment “Serenissima” in Venice (Veneto) with 13 AAV7-A1 and 41 Puma 6x6


★ Horse Artillery Regiment "Volòire" in Milan (Lombardy) with 24 FH-70


★ 3° Engineer Regiment in Udine (Friuli-Venezia Giulia)
===
Coat of Arms of the 2nd Defence Command
COMFOD 2===
“Comando Forze di Difesa 2” or COMFOD 2 resides in S. Giorgio a Cremano near Naples and commands 5 brigades. Three of those, the brigades “Aosta”, “Pinerolo” and “Granatieri di Sardegna” are made up of one year volunteers and therefore intended for use mainly on Italian soil. The COMFOD 2 commands:

Coat of Arms of the Acqui Division
“Acqui” Division Command (without fixed units)

Coat of Arms of the Garibaldi Brigade
GaribaldiBersaglieri Mechanized Brigade in Caserta (Campania)


Coat of Arms of the 131° Tank Regiment
131° Tank Regiment in Persano (Campania) with 54 Leopard 1


Coat of Arms of the 19° “Cavalleggeri Guide” Cavalry Regiment
19 °Cavalry Regiment “Cavalleggeri Guide” in Salerno (Campania) with 50 Centauro and 33 Puma 4x4


Coat of Arms of the 1° Bersaglieri Regiment
1° Bersaglieri Regiment in Cosenza (Calabria) with 59 Dardo


Coat of Arms of the 8° Bersaglieri Regiment
8° Bersaglieri Regiment in Caserta (Campania) with 59 Dardo


Coat of Arms of the 8° Artillery Regiment
8° Self propelled Artillery Regiment “Pasubio” in Persano (Campania) with 24 M109/L, which are currently being replaced by the PzH 2000


21° Engineer Regiment in Caserta (Campania)
Soldiers of the 8° Cavalry Regiment “Lancieri di Montebello”

Soldiers of the Sassari Brigade


Coat of Arms of the Granatieri Brigade
“Granatieri di Sardegna” Mechanized Brigade in Rome (Lazio)


Coat of Arms of the 1° Granatieri Regiment
1° “Granatieri di Sardegna” Mechanized Infantry Regiment in Rome (Lazio) with 41 Puma 6x6


Coat of Arms of the 2° Granatieri Regiment
2° “Granatieri di Sardegna” Mechanized Infantry Regiment in Spoleto (Umbria) with 41 Puma 6x6


Coat of Arms of the 8° Cavalry Regiment
8° Cavalry Regiment “Lancieri di Montebello” in Rome (Lazio) with 50 Centauro and 33 Puma 4x4


★ 33° Self propelled Artillery Regiment “Acqui” in l'Aquila (Abruzzi) with 24 M109/L

Coat of Arms of the Pinerolo Brigade
“Pinerolo” Mechanized Brigade in Bari (Apulia)


Coat of Arms of the 31° Tank Regiment
31° Tank Regiment (Battle lab) in Altamura (Apulia)


Coat of Arms of the 7° Bersaglieri Regiment
7° Bersaglieri Regiment in Bari (Apulia) with 59 VCC (M113 improved)


Coat of Arms of the 9° Infantry Regiment
9° Infantry Regiment “Bari” in Trani (Apulia) with 59 VCC (M113 improved)


Coat of Arms of the 82° Infantry Regiment
82° Infantry Regiment “Torino” in Barletta (Apulia) with 59 VCC (M113 improved)


21° Self propelled Artillery Regiment “Trieste” in Foggia (Apulia) with 24 M109/L


11° Engineer Regiment in Foggia (Apulia)

Coat of Arms of the Aosta Brigade
Aosta” Mechanized Brigade Messina (Sicily)


Coat of Arms of the 6° “Lancieri d´Aosta” Cavalry Regiment
6° Cavalry Regiment “Lancieri d’Aosta” in Palermo (Sicily) with 50 Centauro and 33 Puma 4x4


Coat of Arms of the 6° Bersaglieri Regiment
6° Bersaglieri Regiment in Trapani (Sicily) with 59 VCC (M113 improved)


Coat of Arms of the 5° Infantry Regiment
5° Infantry Regiment “Aosta” in Messina (Sicily) with 59 VCC (M113 improved)


Coat of Arms of the 62° Infantry Regiment
62° Infantry Regiment “Sicilia” in Catania (Sicily) with 59 VCC (M113 improved)


24° Self propelled Artillery Regiment “Peloritani” in Messina (Sicily) with 24 M109/L


4° Engineer Regiment in Palermo (Sicily)

Coat of Arms of the Sassari Brigade
Sassari” Mechanized Brigade in Sassari (Sardinia)


Coat of Arms of the 151° Infantry Regiment
151° Infantry Regiment “Sassari” in Cagliari (Sardinia) with 59 VCC (M113 improved)


Coat of Arms of the 152° Infantry Regiment
152° Infantry Regiment “Sassari” in Sassari (Sardinia) with 59 VCC (M113 improved)


5° Engineer Regiment in Macomer (Sardinia)
===
Coat of Arms of the COTIE
CoTIE===
“Comando Trasmissioni e ed Informazioni dell’Esercito” or CoTIE is the Italian Army’s Signal and Information Command, it resides in Anzio (Lazio) and consists of the following units:

★ Signal Brigade for Maneuver Support


Coat of Arms of the 2nd Alpini Signals Regiment
2° Signal Regiment (Alpini) in Bolzano with the Battalions:



★ "Gardena"



★ "Pordoi"


7° Signal Regiment in Sacile with the Battalions:



★ "Rolle"



★ "Predil"


11° Signal Regiment in Civitavecchia (Lazio) with the Battalions:



★ "Leonessa"



★ "Tonale"


★ 232° Signal Regiment in Avellino (Campania) with the Battalion:



★ "Fadalto".

★ Signal Brigade for National Support


3° Signal Regiment in Rome (Lazio) with the Battalions:



★ "Lanciano"



★ "Abetone"



★ "Gennargentu".


32° Signal Regiment in Padova (Veneto) with the Battalions :



★ "Valles"



★ "Frejus".


46° Signal Regiment in Palermo (Sicily) with the Battalions:



★ "Mongibello"



★ "Vulture".

ISTAR & Electronic Warfare Brigade


33° EW Regiment “Falzarego” in Treviso (Veneto)


41° ISTAR Regiment “Cordenons” in Casarsa (Friuli)


★ 13° ISTAR Battalion “Aquileia” in Anzio (Lazio)
===
Coat of Arms of the Aves
Army Aviation Command===
The Army Aviation Command resides in Viterbo and includes the non combat flying formations of the Army (i.e. Transport Planes, support helicopters,…)

Army Aviation Instruction Center in Viterbo


★ 1° Squadron “Auriga” in Viterbo with 6 A129, 6 AB205, 6 AB 212, 6 AB412 and 47 AB 206


★ 2° Squadron “Sestante


★ 21° Squadron “Orsa Maggiore” in Elmas (Cagliari) with 12 AB 205

★ Army Aviation Brigade


1° Army Aviation Regiment “Antares” in Viterbo (Lazio) with 36 CH-47C "Chinook" and 6 AB412


2° Army Aviation Regiment “Sirio” in Lamezia Terme (Calabria) with 12 AB 212 and 6 AB205


4° Army Aviation Regiment “Altair” in Venaria (Piedmont) and Bolzano with 18 AB 205


★ 28° Army Aviation Squadron “Tucano” in Viterbo (Lazio) with 3 Dornier DO-228 and 3 Piaggio P-180


★ ITALAIR Squadron in Naqoura (Lebanon) with 4 AB 205
===
Coat of Arms of the Air Defense Brigade
Air Defense Brigade===

4° Air Defense Regiment “Peschiera” in Mantova with 30 Hawk surface-to-air missile systems

5° Air Defense Regiment “Pescara” in Rovigo with 30 Hawk surface-to-air missile systems

17° Air Defense Regiment “Sforzesca” in Sabaudia with Skyguard "Aspide", SIDAM 25 and Stinger (2 Battalions)

★ 121° Air Defense Regiment “Ravenna” in Bologna with Skyguard "Aspide", SIDAM 25 and Stinger
===
Coat of Arms of the Field Artillery Brigade
Field Artillery Brigade===

Coat of Arms of the 2nd Mountain Artillery Regiment
2° Mountain Artillery Regiment (Alpini) "Grp Vicenza” in Trento (Trentino) with 24 FH-70

5° Rocket Artillery Regiment “Superga” in Portogruaro (Veneto) with 22 MLRS

7° NBC Defense Regiment “Cremona” in Civitavecchia (Lazio) with VAB in the NBC configuration

Coat of Arms of the 28° Infantry Regiment
28° Psychological Warfare Regiment “Pavia” in Pesaro (Marche)

52° Self propelled Artillery Regiment “Torino” in Vercelli (Piedmont) with 32 M109/L
===
Coat of Arms of the Engineering Brigade
Engineering Brigade===

2° Bridge Engineers Regiment in Piacenza

6° Pioneer Engineers Regiment in Rome

Railway Engineers Regiment in Castel Maggiore (near Bologna; 2 Battalions)
===
Coat of Arms of the Logistics Brigade
Logistics Brigade===

1° Maneuver Logistics Regiment in Rivoli

6° Maneuver Logistics Regiment in Pisa (Tuscany)

★ 10° Maneuver Logistics Regiment in Persano (Campania)

Coat of Arms of the 24th Alpini Maneuver Logistics Regiment
24° Maneuver Logistics Regiment (Alpini) “btg Dolomiti” in Merano (South Tyrol)

★ 1° Transport Regiment

6° Transport Regiment in Budrio

★ 8° Transport Regiment in Orzano

★ 10° Transport Regiment in Bari (Apulia)
Support units

The following support units are not under the command of COMFOTER and their role is exclusively the support of units on Italian soil. They are commanded by various sub staffs of the SME- Army General Staff in Rome.

Training Brigade in Capua


1° Infantry Regiment “San Giusto” in Trieste


17° Infantry Regiment “Acqui” in Capua


47° Infantry Regiment “Ferrara” in Capua


57° Infantry Battalion “Abruzzi” in Sora


78° Infantry Regiment “Lupi di Toscana” in Florence


80° Infantry Regiment “Roma” in Cassino


85° Infantry Regiment “Verona” in Montorio Veronese


91° Training Battalion “Lucania” in Potenza


123° Infantry Regiment “Chieti” in Chieti


235° Infantry Regiment “Piceno” in Ascoli Piceno

★ other Training units:


Coat of Arms of the 1° Tank Regiment
1° Tank Regiment in Capo Teulada (Sardinia)

★ Technical Support and Logistics units:


★ Military Region North



184° Signal Support Regiment in Treviso



2° Army Aviation Support Regiment “Orione” in Bologna



3° Army Aviation Support Regiment “Aquila” in Orio al Serio


★ Military Region South



44° Signal Support Regiment in Rome



1° Army Aviation Support Regiment “Idra” in Bracciano



4° Army Aviation Support Regiment “Scorpione” in Viterbo

★ Others


★ 8° Transport Regiment “Casilina”


11° Transport Battalion “Flaminia”


Coat of Arms of the 57° Infantry Battalion
57° Infantry Battalion “Abruzzi” in Rome

Effective operational capability


All brigades - with the exception of the home service Brigades “Aosta”, “Pinerolo” and “Granatieri di Sardegna” may be deployed outside Italy and are often involved in either war-fighting or peace-keeping operations on foreign soil. The three home service brigades have a role of 'presence and surveillance' of key Italian institutions, e.g. the “Granatieri di Sardegna” Brigade guards the capital city Rome and the Presidential Palace. They are not destined for extra-territorial missions and members expect to remain in Italy throughout their service years.
The remaining eight brigades are combat brigades, numbering between 3-7,000 troops each. These units are the pride of the Italian Army and are a front-line well-equipped force capable of dealing with most emergency situations. They are characterised by quality, efficiency, motivation and mobility.
In total numbers the Italian Army can field about 85,000 ground troops out of a total Army strength of 112,000 men and women. But although most units are designated as regiments they consist of one expanded Logistics, Support and Command company and a combat battalion, which- in the case of the infantry (Alpini, Bersaglieri, Granatieri, Lagunari, Fanti) units- consists of:
: 3 Infantry Companies
: 1 Mortar Company
: 1 Antitank Company
The naming has historical reasons. Most regiments are deployed singularly, especially the support brigades' regiments as adjuncts to combat units, formed for the task ahead.

Equipment


Weapons


Beretta AR70/90 - 5.56mm assault rifle - also in SC version

Beretta Model 12 - 9 mm Luger Parabellum Submachine gun

Beretta 92FS - 9 x 19 mm NATO pistol

Minimi - 5.56 mm light machine gun

MG3 - 7.62mm machine gun - also in 12.7mm version

Franchi SPAS 15 - shotgun

Sako TGR-42 - .338 Lapua sniper rifle

Panzerfaust 3Rocket propelled grenade

Anti tank missile Milan 2

Anti tank missile Spike

Anti tank missile TOW

FIM-92 Stinger - MANPADS

60mm Mortar
Combat vehicles

Ariete

Freccia


Ariete - Main Battle Tanks ( 200 )

Leopard 1 - Main Battle Tanks ( 120 )

Centauro - Armour fire Support Vehicle (AFSV) ( 400 purchased, 300 in service )

Dardo - Infantry fighting vehicle ( 200 )

Freccia - Infantry fighting vehicle (249 ordered, delivery in 2008)

★ VCC - Armoured personnel carrier (Highly modified M113) ( 1638 purchased, actual number unknown )

Puma 6x6 - wheeled armoured personnel carrier ( 360 )

Puma 4x4 - wheeled armoured recon vehicle ( 330 )

Lince VTML ( 1260 )

AAV7-A1 Amphibious vehicle
Artillery


M109L self-propelled howitzer ( 192; 72 are beeing replaced with the PzH 2000 )

PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzer ( 72 )

FH-70 towed howitzer ( 120 )

MLRS Multiple Launch Rocket System ( 22 )

120mm F1 Mortar
Aircraft inventory

PzH 2000

MLRS

A129 Mangusta

The Italian Army operates 484 aircraft, including 471 helicopters.
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Aircraft
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Origin
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Type
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Versions
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|In service[1]
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Notes
|-----
| Agusta A109 || || utility helicopter || A109A
A109EOA || 4
23 ||
|-----
| Agusta A129 Mangusta || || attack helicopter || || 56 ||
|-----
| Bell 205 || || utility helicopter || AB 205A || 89 || built by Agusta
|-----
| Bell 206 || || utility helicopter || AB 206A
AB 206B ||
56 || built by Agusta
|-----
| Bell 212 || || transport helicopter || AB 212 || 12 || built by Agusta
|-----
| Bell 412 || || transport helicopter || AB 412 || 23 || built by Agusta
|-----
| Boeing CH-47 Chinook || || transport helicopter || CH-47C || 36 || built by Agusta
|-----
| Dornier Do 228 || || utility transport || Do 228-200 || 4 ||
|-----
| NHI NH90 || || transport helicopter || || || 60 on order
|-----
| Piaggio P180 Avanti || || utility transport || || 3 ||
|}

Operations


A post-World War II peace treaty signed by Italy prevented the country from deploying military forces in overseas operations as well as possessing fixed-wing vessel-based aircraft for twenty-five years following the end of the war.
This treaty expired in 1970, but it would not be until 1982 that Italy first deployed troops on foreign soil, with a peacekeeping contingent being dispatched to Beirut following a United Nations request for troops. Since the 1980s, Italian troops have participated with other Western countries in peacekeeping operations across the world, especially in Africa, Balkan Peninsula and the Middle East.
As of yet, the Italian Army has not engaged in major combat operations since World War II; though Italian Special Forces have taken part in anti-Taliban operations in Afghanistan as part of Task Force 'Nibbio'. Italy was not yet a member of the United Nations in 1950, when that organization went to war with North Korea.
Italy did take part in the 1990-91 Gulf War but solely through the deployment of eight Italian Air Force Panavia Tornado IDS bomber jets to Saudi Arabia; Italian Army troops were subsequently deployed to assist Kurdish refugees in northern Iraq following the conflict.
As part of Operation Enduring Freedom in response to the September 11, 2001 attacks, Italy contributed to the international operation in Afghanistan. Italian forces have contributed to ISAF, the NATO force in Afghanistan, and a Provincial reconstruction team and 5 Italian soldiers have died under ISAF. Italy has sent 411 troops, based on one infantry company from the 2nd Alpini Regiment tasked to protect the ISAF HQ, one engineer company, one NBC platoon, one logistic unit, as well as liaison and staff elements integrated into the operation chain of command. Italian forces also command a multinational engineer task force and have deployed a platoon of Italian military police. Three AB 212 helicopters also were deployed to Kabul.
The Italian Army did not take part in combat operations of the 2003 Second Gulf War, dispatching troops only after May 1, 2003 - when major combat operations were declared over by the U.S. President George W. Bush. Subsequently Italian troops arrived in the late summer of 2003, and began patrolling Nasiriyah and the surrounding area. On 26 May, 2006, Italian foreign minister Massimo d'Alema announced that the Italian forces would be reduced to 1,600 by June. As of June 2006 32 Italian troops have been killed in Iraq - with the greatest single loss of life coming on November 12, 2003 - a suicide car bombing of the Italian Carabinieri Corps HQ left a dozen Carabinieri, five Army soldiers, two Italian civilians, and eight Iraqi civilians dead.
As of 2006, Italy ranks third in the world in number of military forces operating in peacekeeping and peace-enforcing scenarios Afghanistan, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Lebanon following only the United States and United Kingdom.
A recent law promotes membership of the Italian Army guaranteeing volunteers post-Army careers in the Carabinieri, Italian State Police, Customs Police, State Forestry Department and other state bodies.

External links



Official Homepage of the Italian Army

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