FALENA I/2026 Concluded: the 185th RRAO Trains for Modern Warfare

The exercise “FALENA I/2026” concluded in recent days, involving the 185th Paratroopers Reconnaissance Target Acquisition Regiment “Folgore” (RRAO) in training a Special Operations Task Unit (SOTU) in a conflict scenario with opposing parties.

The activity, a Livex type, spanned two weeks with the aim of refining the planning and execution of intelligence gathering missions and kinetic operations in a complex operational context. The exercise area covered Tuscany, Emilia-Romagna, and Lombardy, confirming a broad and articulated training setup.

Special Reconnaissance, Fire Support, and Inter-unit Cooperation

During FALENA I/2026, two Operational Detachments were employed, tasked with conducting special reconnaissance within the adversary's setup and simulating the engagement of enemy air defense systems through the guidance of long-range missile indirect fire.

The activity also involved elements from the 33rd Electronic Warfare Regiment, the 4th Anti-aircraft Artillery Regiment “Peschiera”, the Railway Engineers Regiment, and the 7th Regiment “Vega”, which provided A-129 and NH-90 helicopters. The exercise thus allowed further consolidation of the relationship between Special Forces, conventional units, and specialist units of the Army.

During the activity, there was also a visit from Brigadier General Carmine Vizzuso, commander of the Army Special Forces, confirming the training value of the exercise.

The Role of the 185th RRAO in the Army Special Forces System

The 185th RRAO “Folgore” represents one of the Army's leading units in the field of special reconnaissance and target acquisition, capabilities that are increasingly relevant in contemporary operational scenarios. FALENA I/2026 confirmed this role, highlighting the regiment's ability to operate in depth, gather information, and contribute to the engagement of high-value targets.

This is a unit that, over time, has also played a significant role in the professional growth of officers destined for top positions, such as Carmine Masiello and Giovanni Iannucci. An element that contributes to placing the regiment in a particularly prominent position within the Army Special Forces.

In light of this framework, the conclusion of FALENA I/2026 confirms the centrality of the 185th RRAO in the development of national operational capabilities and the continuous integration between different components of the military instrument.