the 39th Squadrons Group "Drago" was disbanded and its personnel and materiel transferred to Viterbo Airport, where they were used to form the Medium Helicopters Squadron with AB-412A helicopters. On 1 September 2001 the 26th Squadrons Group "Giove" was transferred to the 1st Air Cavalry Regiment "Antares". On 4 November 2002 the 26th Squadrons Group "Giove", 51st Squadrons Group "Leone", and Medium Helicopters Squadron were merged and formed the 26th Air Cavalry Squadrons Group "Giove" - Special Operations Helicopters Unit ( - REOS). The Giove consisted of a command, a logistic section, a maintenance squadron, and a helicopter squadron equipped with CH-47C Chinook and AB-412A helicopters, which were based at Viterbo Airport, and a detachment at Pisa-San Giusto Air Base with AB 205 helicopters. On 9 November 2014 the Giove left the 1st Army Aviation Regiment "Antares" and on 10 November 2014 the 26th Army Aviation Unit "Giove" entered the newly formed 3rd Special Operations Helicopter Regiment "Aldebaran", which was assigned to the Army Aviation Brigade. On 19 November of the same year the regiment retrieved the flag of 3rd Army Aviation Regiment "Aldebaran" from the Shrine of the Flags in the Vittoriano. On 29 January 2015 the activation ceremony was held at Viterbo. On 31 December 2015 the detachment in Pisa was disbanded and the remaining AB 205 helicopters retired. On 31 July 2019 the regiment was transferred from the Army Aviation Brigade to the Army Aviation Command. Current Structure As of 2022 the 3rd Special Operations Helicopter Regiment "Aldebaran" consists of: 3rd Special Operations Helicopter Regiment "Aldebaran"", at Viterbo Airport 26th Army Aviation Squadrons Group "Giove" 261st Medium Transport Helicopters Squadron (CH-47F ER Chinook) 262nd Combat Support Helicopters Squadron (AB-412A helicopters) 263rd Tactical Transport Helicopters Squadron (NH90A helicopters) Support Squadrons Group Command and Logistic Support Squadron Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Special Forces/Special Operation Forces Crew Formation Center and Training Squadron Forward Operating Base at Pisa Air Base Operational deployments The Aldebaran has been deployed repeatedly for international missions: Restore Hope, Somalia, 1992 War in Afghanistan (2001–present), Afghanistan, 2001-2021 Operation Ancient Babylon, Iraq, 2003–2004 Comparable Units U.S.A: 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) Australia: 171st Special Operations Aviation Squadron Canada: 427 Special Operations Aviation Squadron France: 4th Special Forces Helicopter Regiment United Kingdom: Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing References External links Italian Army Website: 3° Reggimento Elicotteri per Operazioni Speciali "Aldebaran" Special forces of Italy Helicopter units and formations Army