The ship was then recommissioned as a testing platform for new weapons systems, including Aster, finally retiring in 2008.

Commissioned on 28 April 1968, Carabiniere served with the 1º Gruppo Navale d'Altura based at La Spezia.

[7] On 1 April 1992, the ship was decommissioned and re-equipped as a testing platform for a new generation of Italian naval weapons such as Aster and MILAS.

[8] The gas turbine, Menon mortar, variable depth sonar and five 76 mm mounts, along with two fire control radars, were removed.

[9] The most obvious change was the installation of a large antenna midships for the EMPAR radar (also known as AN/SPY-790) which used the space previously occupied by the gas turbine exhaust.

[11] Carabiniere re-entered service on 31 December 1994 as a dedicated test ship but retained the penant designation of a frigate.