The live-fire exercise “Drago 1-2025”, conducted by the 185th paratrooper artillery regiment “Folgore”, has concluded at the Monteromano military shooting range.
The exercise, which takes place annually, represents for the "Yellow Devils" an important training moment aimed at consolidating and perfecting the techniques, tactics, procedures and operational capabilities typical of indirect fire support for the "Folgore" brigade within the scope of its specific employment in a military context. warfighting.
In particular, in a simulated scenario that involved the conduct of the initial phases of an airborne operation, an artillery group was deployed, consisting of a heavy mortar battery (120mm Thomson Brandt), a 70mm FH155 howitzer battery, two JFST (Joint Fire Support Team) nuclei, and a JFSE (Joint Fire Support Element) nucleus. The exercise integrated assets from the 3rd “Bondone” targeting support regiment with RAVEN APR (remotely piloted aircraft) assets that ensured observation of the “battlefield” and CH47F helicopters from the 1st AVES “Antares” regiment for the transport of mortars on the barycentric hook (sling load) and the insertions/redeployment of the observer nuclei.
The final phase was attended by the commander of the paratrooper brigade "Folgore", Brigadier General Federico Bernacca, who took the opportunity to interact and exchange views with the personnel, expressing words of appreciation towards the personnel trained for the high level of preparation achieved.
Reconstituted with headquarters in Bracciano on 1 July 2013, the 185th Paratrooper Artillery Regiment is the fire support unit of the “Folgore” paratrooper brigade which, thanks to the technical skills of its personnel in artillery shooting, contributes to making the large combat unit one of the tools available to the Italian Army to ensure the ability to respond and intervene immediately, even at short notice and in short times, through assets capable of operating on a broad spectrum in scenarios of increasing complexity.
