Until a few decades ago, the Incursion Operational Group of the Navy had as its operational theater the only eastern Adriatic Sea (the objectives were mainly ports and infrastructures in Yugoslav and Albanian territory). With the end of the Cold War, the area of employment of the department expanded to leave the Mediterranean: we remember how in the 1999 the GOI operated in East Timor in the Indian Ocean.
At the beginning of the 21st century the long operation in Afghanistan against jihadist terrorism began, which brought profound changes in the procedures within the department as well as the adoption of new equipment.
To respond to the different types of threats they face, the raiders use different weapon systems, depending on the type of mission they are engaged in.
In recent years the GOI operators prefer the Glock 17 9x19 instead of the Beretta STOCK in the same caliber as a short weapon. The Glock 41 caliber .45 AUTO is also widely used, a weapon with high stopping power.
The most used machine guns supplied, in addition to the MP-5A3 and SD3 series, are the H&K MP-7 in caliber 4,6x30 and the MP-5K 9x19, especially in escort operations.
The long guns of the department are the 416 models (obviously there are the Beretta ARX-160 rifles, also in the A "version for special forces), in caliber 5,56x45, and 417 in caliber 7,62x51, both by Heckler & Koch , can be equipped with Schmitt & Bender precision optics and laser pointers.
Each GOI raider can make changes to his weapon, to better adapt it to operational needs.
The experience gained in the various operating theaters has led the GOI to adopt a bullet with ballistic performance higher than the classic caliber 5,56x45 NATO. They have recently acquired the SIG MCX rifle 7,62x35 caliber, which has a much higher stopping power than the 5,56x45.
The sector of precision shooting is of fundamental importance - until two decades ago the special forces were the only departments, in the panorama of the Italian Armed Forces, to have qualified personnel in long-range shooting - which is well cared for within GOI .
For the shots included between the 500 and the 800 meters the semi-automatic SR-25 of the Knight's Armament, in 7,62x51 caliber, with sliding shutter is often used.
Moving on to rotating bolt-on weapons, the GOI raiders have long used the Accuracy International AW models, in 7,62x51 caliber, and AX, in 8,6x70 caliber, with tip-up stock.
In the Heavy Sniper sector - in addition to the tried-and-tested Barrett M-107 from 12,7x99 - the latest addition is the International Accuracy AW. 50, a 12,7x99 sliding shutter caliber rifle, a weapon designed for long distances (over 2.000 meters ) in anti-material function, such as radar systems, but also armored vehicles.
Particular attention is paid to precision shooting by helicopters, which certainly do not constitute a stable location. To overcome this drawback, a cushioned support has been developed which hooks onto the roof of the cabin, at the helicopter doors.
Among the team weapons, in addition to the well-known FNH MINIMI machine guns, both in caliber 5,56x45 and 7,62x51, the Heckler & Koch GMG 40x53 mm automatic grenade launcher stands out (different types of ammunition are used, such as the one with timed fuze ), one of the best weapons in its category, can be mounted not only on land vehicles, but also on the new fast boats of the Angelo Cabrini class.
The 66 mm M-72 ASMC-RC light rocket launchers produced in Norway, the evolution of the American 72 M-60 LAW, are widely used. The rocket with HE head has a delayed activation system, in order to pierce the target and then explode.
Going up in weight we find the disposable rocket launcher INSTALLAZA C90 MATADOR from 90 mm, which has a counter-system that allows its use even indoors.
Despite the technological advancement of acquired armaments, the best weapon of the GOI will always remain its high training, which places the department at the top of the world in the exclusive special forces club.
