17º Stormo Incursori

Insignia of the "17º Stormo Incursori"

The 17º Stormo Incursori (en. 17th Raiders Wing) is the Italian Air Force Special Forces unit.

Characteristics

It is the younger special force created in Italy. It is based in Furbara, near Rome and part of the Comando interforze per le Operazioni delle Forze Speciali (COFS – Special Forces Operations Command).

Until April 8, 2008 the unit was named Reparto Incursori Aeronautica Militare (RIAM - Air Force Raiders Group) but with the expansion and evolution of the unit's assignments and its size the name was changed in "17° Stormo Incursori"

Historically the 17º Stormo Incursori has evolved from the Arditi Distruttori della Regia Aeronautica of World War II.

Specialisations

• Combat Search and Rescue (C-SAR)
• Combat Controller (Forward Air Controller and Joint Terminal Attack Controller)
• Pathfinder
• Direct actions on airbases and aeronautical compounds

Organization

Raiders Group

Raiders Group divided in: Command, Operations, Vehicles and Special equipments and 4 "squadriglie" ( wings) of raiders, of 2 to 4 detachments, of 8 to 12 soldiers. This means that the entire operational force will be ( at full strength) from 64 to 192 soldiers.

Training Group

This branch provide the training for the operational main force, but is also capable to provide training sessions on: Evasion end Escape and EOD/ EOR / IEDD to others Italian army and navy units.

Vehicles and equipment

The Italian Air Force has HH-3F helicopters for its activity, as well as C-130J "Hercules II" and C-27J "Spartan". There is a requirement for a more modern helicopter, such as NH-90. On the field the operative force in equipped with VTLM "Lince", quads, jeep.

This unit has access to a big arsenal of sniper rifles (especially for heavy snipers, used to knock out military airplanes) and mini UAV as "Strix" of Galileo Avionica and "ROVER IV" of L-3 Communication.