The Folgore Parachute Brigade participated in the United States in Bold Quest 2026, one of the main multinational exercises dedicated to the experimentation and integration of command and control systems.

The activity took place from 24 August to 10 September 2026 in the State of Michigan and saw the Army Evaluation and Integration Command (COMVIE) lead the Italian component with its own ITB team, Integration Test Bed, supported by Folgore and the Marine Brigade “San Marco”.

The objective was to verify in the field the capability of Italian systems to operate within a multinational and joint environment, creating a shared Common Operational Picture updated in real time.

From experimentation to the field

Compared to previous editions, Bold Quest 2026 involved the concrete deployment of tactical assets within the training area of Alpena, in Michigan.

Command and control systems were used both for vehicles and for dismounted units, installed also on US vehicles and equipped with Italian production technologies.

The assets were connected via radio with the command post located at the Alpena base, equipped with IMPERIO and C2DN Evo systems.

The exercise thus made it possible to verify not only the technical compatibility of the different systems, but above all their ability to exchange operational information within a multinational structure.

Folgore tests SIRIO

One of the most interesting aspects of the activity directly concerned the Italian paratroopers.

Units of the Folgore Brigade conducted numerous tactical activities employing the new command and control system SIRIO.

The system allowed operators to know in real time the position of friendly units and to integrate into the tactical situation also information relating to opposing units.

The latter were identified also thanks to the employment of unmanned assets operating in depth, capable of collecting data on the ground and transferring it within the command and control network.

The result is a much more complete representation of the battlefield, in which sensors, ground units, drones and command posts contribute to the construction of a single operational picture.

The battlefield becomes a network

Bold Quest concretely demonstrates one of the most important transformations underway in Western armies.

The value of a unit no longer depends solely on its capability for maneuver and firepower, but also on the speed with which it can identify the enemy, share information and transform it into operational decisions.

A drone that localizes an enemy position, for example, becomes truly effective when that information can be transmitted rapidly to the command system, distributed to the interested units, and used to direct a subsequent action.

It is precisely this integration between sensors, digital networks, command systems, and units on the ground that constitutes one of the central elements of modern multi-domain warfare.

Interoperability as a force multiplier

General Corps Commander Francesco Olla, Commander of COMVIE, present at the final phase of the exercise as a representative of the Italian Army, emphasized precisely this aspect.

“In a geopolitical landscape in continuous evolution, the ability to make different technological systems interoperable in a dynamic way constitutes the true force multiplier, especially in large-scale warfighting scenarios”.

The statement captures one of the main needs that emerged from contemporary conflicts.

In a high-intensity scenario, in fact, units belonging to different countries must be able to operate within the same information environment, sharing data from sensors, ground platforms, drones, reconnaissance systems, and command posts.

The ability to exchange this information without interruptions can directly determine the speed and effectiveness of the response in the field.

The role of COMVIE

Italian participation in Bold Quest is part of the work carried out by the Army Assessment and Integration Command, responsible for the processes of evaluation, validation, and integration of new systems intended for the Armed Force.

COMVIE thus performs an essential function in the transition between technology, experimentation, and operational use.

The presence at Bold Quest also makes it possible to verify Italian systems directly within multinational architectures, comparing them with platforms and procedures used by allied armies.

Folgore as an operational laboratory

For the Folgore Parachute Brigade, the exercise also represents a further step toward a unit model increasingly integrated with sensors, drones, and digital command systems.

The nature of airborne troops—characterized by high mobility, the ability to operate with dispersed assets, and the need to maintain an updated operational picture even at great distances from command posts—makes the availability of modern and interoperable C2 tools particularly important.

Bold Quest 2026 thus made it possible to bring to the field a concept destined to become increasingly central: the parachutist no longer operates solely as a maneuver element, but as a node in a digital network capable of seeing, communicating, and reacting in real time.

In a high-intensity warfare scenario, this capability can transform itself into a true multiplier of operational effectiveness.

Source

COMVIE – Army Assessment and Integration Command
Communication of September 14, 2026.