Italian Army Tests Drone and Counter-Drone Combat Capabilities in Field Exercise

The Italian Army has conducted its second 'Operational Drone Workshop' at the Monte Romano Training Area, carrying out a large-scale assessment of drone and counter-drone combat capabilities in a realistic battlefield environment.

The exercise was hosted by the 41st IMINT Regiment 'Cordenons', a core unit within the Combat Support Forces Command's training programme. Multiple combat units gathered to refine tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) for unmanned aerial systems (UAS), while simultaneously strengthening their ability to counter enemy drone threats.

Testing Drones in a Contested Environment

The exercise centred on integrating drones into battlefield operations while also evaluating the Army's capacity to neutralise adversarial UAS. Training scenarios encompassed intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions and offensive drone operations, with electronic warfare (EW) systems employed to detect, track, and respond to enemy drone threats.

The Italian Army stated that opposing forces were granted full tactical freedom to operate their drones during the exercise, significantly enhancing realism and presenting participants with the challenge of responding to continuously evolving aerial threats.

All UAS types currently in the Italian Army's inventory took part in the drills, including first-person view (FPV) drones—reflecting their growing importance in modern military operations.

Electronic Warfare Bolsters Counter-Drone Training

Electronic warfare capabilities played a central role in the workshop, supporting the identification and tracking of enemy drones and enabling the evaluation of counter-UAS (C-UAS) procedures under operational conditions. By combining offensive drone employment with defensive counter-drone measures, the workshop aimed to enhance the Army's ability to operate effectively in an increasingly contested airspace.

Readiness Remains a Top Priority

Lieutenant General Giovanni Gagliano, Commander of Combat Support Forces, visited the exercise site, inspected the participating units, and stated that the workshop had achieved its intended objectives. General Gagliano also underscored the critical importance of realistic training in maintaining the combat readiness and operational effectiveness of military forces across diverse operational environments.

The workshop reflects the Italian Army's ongoing commitment to expanding its drone and counter-drone capabilities and to refining the operational procedures of multiple units in preparation for potential future conflicts.

Related coverage: NATO Tests Counter-Drone Defence Systems During 'Fighter Lion' Exercise in Germany

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