Ladder Ladder 2017: Special Forces simulate the release of hostages in hostile territory

(To Greater Defense)
14/10/17

The most important exercise of the year for the sector of the Defense Special Forces had as its theme the fight against the terrorist threat, staging the release and recovery of hostages in hostile territory.

During the simulation the Interforze Command for Special Forces Operations (COFS) has deployed the full spectrum of the capabilities of the sector. The release of the hostages took place through the infiltration of Special Forces from the sea with the nocturnal air raid of an assault boat, the use of dogs and the deployment of a "Forward Arming and Refueling Point" (FARP) of the helicopter component.

This edition saw, in addition to the participation of the four raiding departments - 9th "Col Moschin" paratrooper assault regiment of the Army, Incursion Operational Group of the Navy, 17 ° Stormo incursori of the Italian Air Force and the Special Intervention Group of the Carabinieri - also the units of the Army Special Operations Forces: 4th Alpine Parachute Regiment Cleaning and 185 ° Regiment Acquiring Objectives.

The flight activities were supported by special operations oriented assemblies and crews, coming from the 3 ° Special Operations Helicopters Regiment of the Army, from the elixalto department of the Navy, from the 9 ° Stormo and from airplanes of the 46 ° air brigade of the Air Force.

"The Special Forces are the testimony of an evolved, synchronized and cutting-edge inter-force instrument that represents, in a constantly evolving world terrorist scenario, a bulwark and a resource at the service of national security at home and abroad.", Said General Claudio Graziano - Chief of Defense Staff, on which the COFS depends - after having witnessed a phase of the 'Gazza Ladra' exercise, underlining how the units of the sector are the maximum expression of personnel selection specialized and at the forefront in terms of means and materials of the four Armed Forces.