Italian Army to host first FPV drone challenge in Rome

The Italian Ministry of Defence and the Italian Army will host the ‘Esercito 1659 Drone Challenge’ at the Tor di Quinto Military Hippodrome on September 19 and 20. This inaugural competition brings together elite civilian and military First Person View (FPV) drone pilots to compete in high-speed, high-precision flight courses.

The event features a Pro category, which serves as the fourth stage of the Italian FPV Drone Championship organized by the Aero Club d’Italia, and an Open category accessible to all. The competition includes 10 elite Pro pilots and 32 Open category participants, consisting of 16 civilians and 16 military personnel.

Attendees can view the races through special visors that transmit real-time onboard camera footage to large screens. The opening ceremony is expected to include appearances by Undersecretary of Defence Isabella Rauti and Army Chief of Staff General Carmine Masiello, alongside performances by the Italian Army Band and a parachute demonstration.