17th Raiders Wing

17º Stormo Incursori (17th Raiders Wing)
Active	1 March 2003 – present
Type	Special forces
Role	Special operations
Part of	Comando interforze per le Operazioni delle Forze Speciali (Joint Special Forces Operations Command)

17º Stormo Incursori Operator

The 17º Stormo Incursori (English: 17th Raiders Wing) is the Italian Air Force special forces unit. It is the youngest 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 to "17° Stormo Incursori".

Specialisations

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

Organization

Raiders Group

Raiders Group divided into: Command, Operations, Vehicles and Special Equipment, and four squadriglie (wings) of raiders, each of two to four detachments of eight to twelve soldiers. This means that the entire operational force will be (at full strength) from 64 to 192 soldiers.

Training Group

This branch provides training for the operational main force but is also capable of providing training sessions on: Evasion and Escape and EOD/EOR/IEDD to other Italian army and navy units.

Vehicles and equipment

The Italian Air Force has HH-3F helicopters to support its activity, as well as C-130J "Hercules IIs" and C-27J "Spartans". There is a requirement for a more modern helicopter, such as NH-90. In the field the operative force is equipped with the VTLM "Lince", quads and jeeps.

This unit has access to a large arsenal of sniper rifles and anti-materiel rifles to be used to knock out aircraft. It also uses mini UAVs such as the "Strix" produced by Galileo Avionica, and L-3 Communication's "ROVER IV".