Squadrone Carabinieri Eliportato “Cacciatori” Collar Badge
Modern Italian Carabinieri special-operations unit insignia.
Images
Specifications
| General Information | |
|---|---|
| Type | Collar / breast badge (distinctive unit insignia) |
| Country | Italy |
| Service Branch | Arma dei Carabinieri |
| Unit | Squadrone Carabinieri Eliportato “Cacciatori” |
| Era | Late 20th–21st century |
| Material | Enameled metal badge with gold-tone edge on black backing |
| Obverse | Colored shield with helicopter, eagle/raptor and Carabinieri-style weapons motif, unit inscription around the border. |
| Reverse | Standard uniform attachment (pin or prongs), unmarked / modern manufacture. |
| Provenance | Modern Carabinieri insignia acquired by the collector for research and display. |
Historical Background
The Squadrone Carabinieri Eliportato “Cacciatori” units are elite formations within the Italian national gendarmerie. Created in the early 1990s, they were designed to operate in rugged terrain and high-risk environments, combining military light infantry skills with the investigative and arrest powers of the Carabinieri.
Using helicopters for rapid insertion and extraction, the Cacciatori squadrons specialize in tracking and capturing dangerous fugitives, disrupting organized-crime networks, and supporting anti-kidnapping and counter-terrorism operations. Their nickname, “Cacciatori” (“Hunters”), reflects this emphasis on pursuing targets in remote and difficult areas rather than conducting routine patrols.
Today these squadrons are among the most respected units in the Carabinieri, frequently working alongside other special intervention and army units during major security operations in Italy.
Insignia Symbolism
The badge’s shield shape follows Italian heraldic tradition and symbolizes defense and protection. The colored fields echo the Carabinieri’s service colors, visually linking the squadron to the wider corps.
A helicopter in flight distinguishes the unit as a heliborne squadron, while the eagle or raptor represents vigilance, speed, and dominance of difficult terrain from above. Weapons and flaming-grenade motifs recall the classic Carabinieri emblem and emphasize the unit’s combat capabilities. The surrounding inscription identifies the formation as a helicopter-borne “hunter” squadron within the Carabinieri.
Identification & Collector Notes
- Modern production Carabinieri badge for a special heliborne “Cacciatori” unit.
- Design and construction are consistent with contemporary official Italian insignia.
- Appealing to collectors of modern special forces, police, and anti-mafia memorabilia.
- Works well displayed alongside Carabinieri belts, cartridge pouches, or documentation about Cacciatori operations in Calabria, Sardinia, and other regions.