Italy Army

The Italian Army is commanded by the Chief of the Army General Staff, headquartered in Rome. Operational units report through the Operational Land Forces Command, which oversees tactical formations and specialized functional commands. Operational echelons include the NATO Rapid Deployable Corps Italy, Division Acqui, Multinational Division South, and the Alpine Troops Command. Ground combat forces consist of eleven active maneuver brigades: the 132nd Armored Brigade Ariete, Cavalry Brigade Pozzuolo del Friuli, Paratroopers Brigade Folgore, Airmobile Brigade Friuli, Alpine Brigades Julia and Taurinense, Bersaglieri Brigade Garibaldi, and Mechanized Brigades Sassari, Aosta, Pinerolo, and Granatieri di Sardegna. Operational support functions are managed through specialized commands for field artillery, anti-aircraft artillery, combat engineers, signals, tactical intelligence, special forces, and army aviation.

Armored units field Ariete main battle tanks alongside Centauro and Centauro II 8x8 wheeled anti-tank vehicles. Mechanized infantry formations are equipped with Dardo tracked infantry fighting vehicles and VBM Freccia 8x8 armored infantry fighting vehicles, supported by VTLM Lince tactical vehicles and Puma armored personnel carriers. Field artillery units operate Panzerhaubitze 2000 self-propelled howitzers, FH70 towed howitzers, and M270A1 Multiple Launch Rocket Systems. Air defense capabilities rely on SAMP/T medium-range surface-to-air missile batteries, Skyguard-Aspide systems, and Stinger man-portable air defense missiles. Army aviation operates AH-129 Mangusta attack helicopters, NH90 transport helicopters, CH-47F Chinook heavy-lift helicopters, and light utility fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft.

Primary operational deployments involve multinational commitments under NATO, United Nations, and European Union mandates. Italian forces maintain deployments within the NATO Kosovo Force in Regional Command West and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon. Ground forces also contribute to NATO forward presence activities in Eastern Europe, international advisory and assistance missions in Iraq and Africa, and domestic security tasks under Operation Safe Streets to assist civilian law enforcement in major cities.

Force modernization focuses on heavy combat capabilities and digital battlefield integration. Modernization programs include upgrading existing Ariete main battle tanks to the C2 standard alongside the acquisition of Leopard 2A8 main battle tanks. The Army Armoured Combat System program utilizes the Lynx platform to replace the Dardo infantry fighting vehicle fleet. Air defense and artillery enhancements involve the integration of HIMARS rocket artillery systems and Skynex short-range air defense batteries. Army aviation is transitioning from the AH-129 attack helicopter to the AW249 Fenice combat helicopter, while infantry upgrades concentrate on fielding the Individual Combat System.