Dear colleagues,
As part of the ongoing activities within the framework of the EU CBRN Centre of Excellence Project 100 – Strengthening of Front Line Biosafety and Biosecurity Measures in South East and Eastern European Region, the delegation of experts participating in the Joint Activity, coordinated by the CBRNe Master Courses of the University of Rome Tor Vergata and the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, visited the prestigious 7th CBRN Regiment “Cremona” on 18 March 2025.
The 7th CBRN Regiment “Cremona”, based in Civitavecchia, is a specialized unit of the Italian Army dedicated to nuclear, biological, and chemical defense. Established on 31 December 1998 as a transformation of the historic 7th Field Heavy Artillery Regiment, the regiment includes a Command Unit, a Command Company, and an NBC Battalion composed of five companies, four of which are homologous.
During the visit, the delegation was warmly received by Regiment Commander Col. Dario De Masi, who provided a comprehensive introduction to the mission and structure of the regiment. The visit, coordinated by Lt. Col. Davide Levanto with the support of Capt. Augusto Carducci, Capt. Francesco Campana, and the full operational team of the regiment, offered participants a rare opportunity to explore advanced CBRN defense capabilities through direct field experience.
The afternoon activities featured:
-
A guided tour of mobile laboratories equipped for rapid response in contaminated environments;
-
Demonstrations and observation of cutting-edge detection instrumentation used by the Italian Army;
-
A live decontamination exercise, showcasing field procedures for CBRN incident response;
-
A practical test and live demonstration of ‘Atomo’, the robotic dog, an innovative, remotely controlled device developed to support military operations in hazardous and contaminated environments.
‘Atomo’ represents a remarkable leap forward in CBRN safety and technology. This robotic system is capable of entering contaminated zones to gather crucial real-time data, reducing risk for military personnel and enhancing mission safety.
The demonstration of ‘Atomo’ emphasized the Italian Armed Forces' commitment to technological advancement and to ensuring the protection of operators in complex CBRN scenarios.
The event also served as an excellent opportunity for mutual knowledge exchange and professional networking between the international experts of Project 100 and the highly trained personnel of the 7th Regiment.
A special word of gratitude is extended to Maj. Daniel Del Gaudio, who served as the liaison officer between the 7th CBRN Regiment “Cremona” and the University of Rome Tor Vergata, facilitating the organization of this meaningful and impactful visit.
This hands-on experience reinforced the overarching goals of Project 100, particularly in relation to:
-
Enhancing frontline biosafety and biosecurity response capabilities;
-
Sharing best practices and EU institutional experience;
-
Strengthening regional networks of CBRN experts and response agencies.
STAY TUNED!
Write a comment