The first Helicopters for Special Operations Unit was formed on 4^th November 2002 at the "Fabbri" airport in Viterbo, after the transformation of the 51^st "Lion" Squadrons Group and the merger of the 39^th "Dragon" Squadrons Group of Alghero; it was named the 26^th "Jupiter" Squadrons Group that until 9^th November 2014 was part of the 1^st "Antares" Regiment.

The 26^th "Jupiter" Squadrons Group is organized into two air Squadrons, on three lines of  helicopters: CH-47C, AB-412 and NH-90 that have to support the Special Operations. The Group has been the first Unit of the Army Aviation to participate in the "Ancient Babylon" mission in Iraq, from November 2003 to March 2004. Later pilots, technicians and on-board​ machine-gunner on CH-47C , AB-412 and NH-90 have been employed in the Aviation Battalion in Afghanistan and in the "Leonte" mission in Lebanon.