On 1 August 1965, the I General Use Helicopters Unit was formed at
Viterbo Airport. On 1 September 1972, the Medium Helicopters Unit was formed at the same airport. Both units were assigned to the Office of the Inspector of Army Light Aviation.
Formation During the
1975 Army reform the army reorganized its aviation units and for the first time created aviation units above battalion level. On 1 February 1976, the 1st Army Light Aviation Grouping "Antares" was formed at Viterbo Airport and took command of the I General Use Helicopters Unit and the Medium Helicopters Unit. Both units were reorganized and the grouping consisted after its formation of the following units: •
1st Army Light Aviation Grouping "Antares", at Viterbo Airport • 11th Medium Transport Helicopters Squadrons Group "
Ercole" (former Medium Helicopters Unit) • Command and Services Squadron • 111th Medium Transport Helicopters Squadron (
CH-47C Chinook helicopters) • 112th Medium Transport Helicopters Squadron (CH-47C Chinook helicopters) • 12th Medium Transport Helicopters Squadrons Group "
Gru" (formed 12 October 1977) • Command and Services Squadron • 121st Medium Transport Helicopters Squadron (CH-47C Chinook helicopters) • 122nd Medium Transport Helicopters Squadron (CH-47C Chinook helicopters) • 51st Multirole Helicopters Squadrons Group "
Leone" (former I General Use Helicopters Unit) • Command and Services Squadron • 511th Multirole Helicopters Squadron (
AB 204B & AB 205 helicopters) • 512th Multirole Helicopters Squadron (AB 204B & AB 205 helicopters) • 513th Multirole Helicopters Squadron (AB 204B & AB 205 helicopters) • 514th Multirole Helicopters Squadron (AB 204B & AB 205 helicopters) • Aircraft Efficiency Group In total the grouping fielded 24
CH-47C Chinook helicopters and 24
AB 204B & AB 205 helicopters. Since then one
Military Order of Italy for the regiment's service with the
United Nations Transition Assistance Group in
Namibia and the
United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, one Military Order of Italy for the regiment's international operations between 1991 and 2016, one Silver Medal of Army Valor for the regiment's service after the
1980 Irpinia earthquake, and one Silver Cross of Army Merit for the regiment's service with the
United Nations Operation in Somalia I and the
United Nations Operation in Somalia II, have been awarded to the regiment. The awards were affixed to the regiment's flag. On 1 October 1999, the ACTL Squadron was transferred from the 1st Air Cavalry Regiment "Antares" to the Army Aviation Center's 28th Squadrons Group "Tucano". On the same date the "Tucano" squadrons group moved from
Rome Urbe Airport to Viterbo Airport and integrated the Army Aviation Center's Liaison and Regional Transport Planes Squadron (ACTR Squadron), which was equipped with
P180E Avanti II planes. On the same date the ITALAIR Squadron in Lebanon was transferred from the 1st Air Cavalry Regiment "Antares" to the Army Aviation Command. During the same year the 39th Squadrons Group "Drago", which was based at
Alghero–Fertilia Airport in
Sardinia, was disbanded and its personnel and materiel transferred to Viterbo Airport, where they were used to form the Medium Helicopters Squadron. The new squadron was equipped with
AB-412A helicopters and assigned to the 1st Air Cavalry Regiment "Antares". Afterwards the 1st Air Cavalry Regiment "Antares" consisted of the following units: On 3 November 2003, the Air Cavalry left the Italian Army's Cavalry Arm and became, as Army Aviation Specialty, a separate speciality of the Italian Army. Consequently, the 1st Air Cavalry Regiment "Antares" was renamed 1st Army Aviation Regiment "Antares", while the Air Cavalry Grouping was renamed Army Aviation Grouping. On 1 March 2006, the Army Aviation Grouping was reorganized and renamed
Army Aviation Brigade. == Organization ==