RescEU CBRN-DSIM-IT: una capacità europea a guida italiana per la gestione di emergenze complesse di tipo CBRN

The rescEU CBRN-DSIM-IT project is an Italian-led European initiative designed to strengthen the response capacity of the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism in the field of Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear emergencies. The project is operationally coordinated by the Italian National Fire and Rescue Service, with coordination, administrative and scientific support from ENEA, and with the contribution of a highly specialized national consortium.

The initiative brings together institutions, agencies and industrial partners with advanced expertise in chemistry, biology, radiological and nuclear risk, emergency management, special vehicle design, mobile laboratories and innovative training technologies. This multidisciplinary structure is one of the project’s distinctive features: CBRN emergencies cannot be addressed by a single discipline, but require the integration of operational coordination, scientific analysis, public health, environmental monitoring, logistics and security.

The project has been developed through a European Commission grant of approximately EUR 27 million, over a three-year implementation period. Its main objective is to create a new high-technology CBRN response capacity, able to complement and go beyond existing national assets, filling a strategic gap in the response to High-Impact Low-Probability events, as is the case for certain CBRN scenarios, especially when such events have cross-border, transnational or European relevance.

These are the so-called “black swan” scenarios: rare, complex and difficult-to-predict events that may have severe consequences for the population, the environment, critical infrastructure and public security. For this reason, the black swan has been chosen as the symbolic reference of the fleet: a reminder that preparedness for complex emergencies must also be able to include the unexpected and manage uncertainty.

In practical terms, in order to create the capability required to respond to such complex emergencies, the project has been structured around several objectives. The first is the creation of a fleet of 11 high-technology special vehicles and laboratories; the second is the preparation of a base where the fleet can be maintained and from which its mobilization can be coordinated in the event of a mission; the third is the creation of a training programme for the operators of the capacity; and finally, the organization of testing phases for the entire response system, including the deployment of the capacity during the Milano-Cortina 2026 Olympic Games.

A significant element of the project is the creation of digital twins of the vehicles developed, together with the use of virtual and augmented reality simulation technologies (XR) at the Calvarina Base, in the province of Verona, operated by project partner SAFE. These technologies are intended to simulate training scenarios that would be very difficult and costly to reproduce in real life.

Further information

• The fleet of special vehicles and mobile laboratories
• The DSM and DORM special vehicles
• The BIO-LAB and CHEM-LAB mobile laboratories
• The rescEU capacity at the 2026 Winter Olympics

The fleet of special vehicles and mobile laboratories

The creation of a capacity to respond to complex emergencies involving hazardous Nuclear, Radiological, Chemical and Biological substances — known in Italy as NBCR events and internationally as CBRN events — requires the availability of vehicles and mobile laboratories equipped with a wide range of technological capabilities and functional requirements.

The Fire and Rescue Service team leading the rescEU CBRN-DSIM-IT project designed a fleet composed of 11 vehicles, each dedicated to one or more of the many functions required in an emergency theatre, taking into account that such a theatre may be located in a foreign and distant country.

The design of the most complex vehicles and laboratories required several months of planning and verification. Their development required additional time for construction by partner companies Tomassini Style and RI Group, as well as for the procurement of instruments and equipment.

The design philosophy behind the fleet was to create vehicles capable of fulfilling the primary operational functions expressed by the DSIM acronym: Detection, Sampling, Identification and Monitoring of CBRN substances. These functions are accompanied by directly related capabilities, such as responder decontamination, medical support and diagnostics for potential victims, as well as supporting functions including communications, logistics, sustainment and hygiene for personnel on mission.

The fleet, developed on the basis of studies conducted by the Fire and Rescue Service and supported by the specific expertise of the project partners, has the following characteristics.

The special vehicles and laboratories are:

• named through a three- or four-letter acronym identifying the function they perform when deployed in an NBCR/CBRN mission, with the sole exception of the lead vehicle of the fleet, which, in addition to the acronym DSM, also includes the wording “Mission Control”, thereby combining communication functions with Detection, Sampling and Monitoring;
• divided into three subgroups according to their position in relation to a CBRN scenario, characterized by areas with different levels of danger: a first series of vehicles operating close to or within the red/hazard area; a second series of laboratories for the identification of hazardous substances outside the danger area; and a third series of vehicles for setting up the base camp for meals, accommodation and personnel support in a safe area away from the danger zone;
• integrated from a communications perspective through the DSM vehicle, which acts as the communications hub, also connecting with the fleet’s base in Italy and with other central structures of the National Fire and Rescue Service during missions abroad.

Below is the complete list of vehicles and laboratories:

• DSM – Detection Sampling and Monitoring plus Mission Control
• RAS – Rapid Assessment and Sampling (QUAD)
• VEX – Vanguard Expeditionary X-Link (DEFENDER)
• DECO – Decontamination Operations Container
• SANI – Screening and Assistance Node
• CHEM-LAB – Chemical Mobile Laboratory
• BIO-LAB – Biological Mobile Laboratory
• R²N-LAB – Radiological, Radiochemical & Nuclear Mobile Laboratory
• DORM – Deployment Operations Rest Module
• LOG – Logistics Operations Gateway
• BUS – Boarding Unit for Specialists

Below is a brief presentation of the first four vehicles and laboratories of the rescEU CBRN-DSIM-IT capacity.

The DSM and DORM special vehicles

These two vehicles were fully conceived and designed by the Italian National Fire and Rescue Service, building on operational experience gained abroad and on evidence collected through previous projects focused on technologies supporting emergency response, with specific applications to CBRN scenarios.

From a logistical point of view, the two vehicles share similar characteristics. They are semi-trailers approximately 13 metres long and 4 metres high, equipped with two expandable side volumes, approximately 8 metres long and 1.5 metres wide, allowing the internal working surface to be increased once the vehicle has been positioned in the scenario.

The two vehicles were custom-built by Tomassini Style, located on Lake Trasimeno in the province of Perugia, first shaping the external structure and then fitting out the interiors and installing the equipment. The specialist instruments were installed by specialized suppliers and by expert personnel from the National Fire and Rescue Service and the rescEU design group.

The DSM special vehicle

The special vehicle known as “DSM plus Mission Control” or DSM + Mission CTRL is the lead vehicle of the fleet and is therefore pivotal for the critical functions required during an NBCR/CBRN mission.

The DSM – Detection Sampling and Monitoring is the real brain of the fleet. Divided into three functional sections, it hosts, in its first section, the Server Area: a highly reliable and secure mobile data centre designed to operate in telecommunications-hostile environments and ensure continuity in the reception and transmission of data and radio communications.

Advanced computing and simulation infrastructure

• Multi-node cluster architecture: ensures redundancy, automatic backup systems, disaster recovery and continuous data synchronization with a mirror backup site located at the Fire and Rescue Service facility in Via Corelli, Milan.
• Predictive mathematical modelling: the server integrates the professional NVIDIA RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell graphics card, one of the most powerful GPUs available for parallel computing. This GPU processes wind, temperature and humidity data from the vehicle’s integrated weather station, calculating in real time the spatial and temporal propagation of hazardous substances.
• Augmented reality visualization: the simulation output is transmitted to Apple Vision Pro headsets, allowing the Team Leader to visualize the current scenario and its possible evolution over time and space, and to make appropriate operational decisions.

The second section is the Control Room, equipped with five operator stations interconnected through high-speed LAN and Wi-Fi networks. From here, personnel can monitor, distribute and dynamically manage video streams, analytical data and operational information across the displays and video walls of the control room.

External communications are ensured through a multi-layer structure integrating dual satellite mesh connections, multi-operator 5G networks, a VoIP telephone exchange and a UHF radio bridge. This combination allows communications to remain operational even in areas completely lacking traditional connectivity or in scenarios characterized by severe infrastructure degradation.

The third section, dedicated to Detection & Sampling, contains field instrumentation and integrates two important sensor systems installed externally on the roof of the vehicle:

• Bruker RAPID Plus – Remote Chemical Detection: an FTIR spectrometer performing 360-degree environmental scans, capable of identifying and quantifying clouds of hazardous chemical substances from several kilometres away.
• IBAC 2 – Real-Time Biological Detection: an automated bio-aerosol sensor that continuously monitors the air, triggering immediate alarms in case of anomalies or the presence of biological threats such as spores, toxins or viruses.

The DSM special vehicle entered operation for the first time at San Siro Stadium in Milan, monitoring CBRN risks during the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.

The DORM special vehicle

The DORM vehicle, whose acronym stands for Deployment Operations Rest Module, also recalls the simple concept of a dormitory. It is a mobile vehicle designed to allow personnel to rest and maintain hygiene during missions that may last one, two or several weeks.

The DORM special vehicle is equipped with the following comforts for personnel deployed on mission:

• bunk beds for a total of 16 sleeping places, plus two additional beds in the tractor unit;
• dining table with benches for 18 seats;
• separate male and female bathrooms, each equipped with a shower;
• a weather-resistant, air-conditioned and heated community tent set up in front of the truck;
• kitchen with appliances, hob and microwave;
• tableware, sheets, towels and spare items for a two-week period;
• water reserve with tank, wastewater bladders and clean/dirty water loading and unloading systems;
• communication reception system from the DSM vehicle via Wi-Fi and satellite.

The DORM special vehicle entered operation for the first time in the camping area of the INTERSCHUTZ International Emergency Services Fair in Hanover, Germany.

The BIO-LAB and CHEM-LAB mobile laboratories

The mobile laboratories of the rescEU fleet were conceived to perform the identification of chemical, biological and radiological agents in any phase or form. The rescEU fleet includes three laboratories with technical specifications designed by the Italian National Fire and Rescue Service.

The fundamental characteristics of the laboratories include:

• a 40-foot ISO structure built entirely in aluminium, with dimensions, corner fittings and external profiles designed for transport by aircraft and helicopters. The laboratories can operate on the ground or on the semi-trailer, in which case access is provided by a dedicated stair system;
• an internal ventilation and air-handling system with pressure differentials compliant with the specifications of high-safety laboratories, in particular for Biosafety Level 3 biological laboratories;
• internal and external safety systems such as interlocks, pass-boxes, eyewash stations and showers, together with the ability to switch pressure from negative to positive in the event of external aggressive agents;
• telecommunications, video intercom and internal camera systems continuously connected to the DSM vehicle.

The laboratories of the Italian rescEU fleet are equipped with the most modern laboratory instruments and identification systems for chemical, biological and radiological-nuclear agents, in compliance with the specifications required by the European Commission for the rescEU capacity.

The CHEM-LAB and BIO-LAB mobile laboratories entered operation for the first time at the goods control area and at the Milan Provincial Fire Command, respectively, for the monitoring of CBRN risks during the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.

The R²N-LAB is expected to enter operation by the end of September 2026.

The rescEU fleet at the Milano-Cortina 2026 Olympics

During the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics, the rescEU capacity took part in the opening phase and preparatory phases of the event by positioning fleet vehicles at strategic sites in the city of Milan for the purpose of monitoring NBCR/CBRN risks.

The configuration adopted by the vehicles and laboratories during the three-week Olympic period is known as pre-positioning: preventive deployment and monitoring with resources ready to intervene in case of emergency.

In particular, the following vehicles were mobilized at the following locations: the DSM at San Siro Stadium and at the Main Media Centre; the Mobile Chemical Laboratory at the city access control point for heavy goods vehicles and event suppliers; and the Mobile Biological Laboratory at the site of the Milan Provincial Fire Command.

During the Paralympics, and in particular on the opening day at the Arena di Verona, the rescEU fleet — including the DSM, DORM, CHEM-LAB and BIO-LAB — was mobilized in showcase configuration and presented to citizens and visitors who had come to the city for the Olympic event. In addition, training sessions and tabletop exercises were carried out, simulating the mobilization of the fleet in the presence of the local civil protection system and a wide range of international guests invited for the occasion.Inizio modulo