{"id":4761,"date":"2024-01-16T10:57:03","date_gmt":"2024-01-16T10:57:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/brigatafolgore.net\/?page_id=3196"},"modified":"2025-04-02T09:54:46","modified_gmt":"2025-04-02T08:54:46","slug":"3o-reggimento-elicotteri-per-operazioni-speciali-aldebaran","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/brigatafolgore.net\/en\/3rd-special-operations-helicopter-regiment-aldebaran\/","title":{"rendered":"3rd Special Operations Helicopter Regiment Aldebaran"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\"3rd
Tactical formation of 3rd Reos, CH-47C and UH 90A - Copyright  Italian Army<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

The 3rd Special Operations Helicopter Regiment 'Aldebaran' (3rd REOS or REOS)<\/strong> is an important and highly strategic helicopter regiment of the Italian Army qualified, within NATO, as a Special Operations Air Task Group (SOATG).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It employs three flight lines on CH47s, AB412s and NH90s to conduct operations in the Full Spectrum<\/em> of special forces' specific missions, both domestically and outside the area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The regiment is located at the Tommaso Fabbri airport in Viterbo on 10 November 2014<\/strong>the reconfiguration of the 26th Army Aviation REOS Squadron Group 'Jupiter', in order to develop an increasing operational capability to support Italian special forces and to be able to operate in new scenarios.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

History<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The 39th Air Cavalry Squadron Group 'Dragon' was born on 24 July 1964<\/strong> at Alghero-Fertilia Airport, where a Light Aircraft Section (S.A.L.) was set up to support special operations and report directly to the Special Units Regiment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In November 1989<\/strong> the unit was elevated to the rank of 'Drago' Squadron Group by taking AB412 helicopters in force, and disbanded in 2000<\/strong>. From 1 September 2001<\/strong> the 1st Air Cavalry Regiment 'Antares', aligns among its units the 26th Army Aviation Squadron Group 'Jupiter', stationed at the Pisa-San Giusto base and already framed at the Parachute Brigade 'Folgore<\/a>“.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 26th REOS 'Jupiter<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The 26th Special Operations Helicopter Unit (REOS) 'Jupiter'. was established in 2002<\/strong> from the merger of the 26th 'Giove' Squadron Group of Pisa (formerly belonging to the 'Folgore' parachute brigade), the 51st 'Leone' Squadron Group of Viterbo and the 39th 'Drago' Squadron Group of Alghero, and framed until 2012<\/strong> in the 1st AVES Regiment 'Antares'.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 26th REOS had a squadron group consisting of two flight squadrons (one operating on CH-47 helicopters and the other on AB-412 and NH-90 helicopters); in order to ensure the necessary operational and logistical autonomy, it was equipped with an O.A.I. section, a logistics section and a maintenance squadron.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this configuration, he took part in the 'Ancient Babylon' mission in Iraq from November 2003<\/strong> at March 2004<\/strong>. Since then, the REOS crews, framed within the AVES task forces, were deployed as a dedicated air component to support the Special Forces deployed in the Iraqi and Afghan theatre of operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 3rd Regiment<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The 10 November 2014<\/strong>with the establishment of the Army Special Forces Command (COMFOSE)<\/a>, the General Staff decided to upgrade the REOS to regimental level, following a specific project aimed at adapting the operational capacity to the new national and international requirements, and placed it under the COMFOSE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 19 November 2014<\/strong> assumed the war flag that had belonged until the 1998<\/strong>, the year the unit was disbanded, to the 3rd AVES 'Aldebaran' regiment in Bresso (MI) and then kept at the Vittoriano Flag Shrine. In NATO, it is qualified as a Special Operations Air Task Group. In theOctober 2016<\/strong> from COMFOSE to the Army Aviation Command, under the operational employment of the Land Operations Forces Command (COMFOTER COE).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Organisation<\/h2>\n\n\n
\n
\"3rd<\/picture>
A special forces operator fast-roping from a 3rd REOS helicopter - Copyright Aviation Report \/ Gianluca Vannicelli<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Regimental structure:<\/p>\n\n\n\n