The Italian and US fifth-generation aircraft operated from the Italian ship Cavour and the British ship Queen Elizabeth. The important event took place on Sunday, November 21, in the central Mediterranean.
International exercise which saw the involvement of
Cavour aircraft carrier of the Naval Fleet and F-35B aircraft of the Naval Fleet and the Air Force, together with a British naval group led by
aircraft carrier Queen Elizabeth, on which F-35B aircraft of the
US Marine Corps.
The event took place in the presence of the
Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, accompanied on this occasion by
Chief of Staff of the Navy, Admiral of the Fleet Enrico Credendino and from
Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Air Chief Marshal Luca Goretti.
The air activity aboard the Cavour aircraft carrier, carried out in full synergy between MarinaeAeronautica, represents a milestone in the development of the national maritime projection capability of the potential offered by the new fifth-generation aircraft, the
F-35B.
The’
Admiral Cavo Dragone, Complimenting the personnel of the Navy and the Air Force involved in the activity, he highlighted how “
in addition to the excellent capabilities already achieved byF-35AFor the Air Force, both in operational and real-world scenarios, today’s exercise represents a strong boost in the process of developing the national air projection capability from the sea, with the integration of fifth-generation inter-service multi-role aircraft, allowing our country to be the only one capable of ensuring such contribution within the European Union.“. In conclusion, “
The synergies between the Navy and the Air Force in the use of F-35B aircraft on board the aircraft carrier will also be achieved in ground operations, operating jointly in operational situations where suitable landing strips for conventional aircraft are not available.“.
“
For the Milian Air Force, the ability to deploy on aircraft carriers is an element that amplifies and complements the expeditionary capability of the Armed Forces.“, he stated
Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Air Chief Marshal Luca Goretti. “
Activities of this kind, within the Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) capability, allow for training to operate in operational environments and on short runways, and demonstrate how the new 5th-generation aircraft, thanks to its versatility of use, is a fundamental asset for the Armed Forces and for Defense in ensuring the projection of forces in crisis areas. “.
In the interaction with the British aircraft carrier, thanks to the high level of
Interoperability Having achieved this, two Italian F-35B aircraft are on board the Queen Elizabeth, and simultaneously two F-35B aircraft of the US Marine Corps are on board the Italian ship Cavour. The interaction also saw further training activity in flight involving F-35B aircraft launched from the two carriers, which carried out a challenging combat air mission. In addition to the success of the joint activities carried out by the Navy and Air Force aircraft aboard the Cavour, today’s interaction with the British carrier group allowed for the successful testing of
joint technical and operational procedures Aim to achieve full interoperability between the two Navies. For the Aeronautica Militare, as mentioned, the event constituted a further step within the numerous training activities that the Armed Forces have organized, or in which it has participated in recent months to implement the
Capacity expeditionary and test the ability to project, with very short notice, an adequate force package to an area of interest even far from the homeland and in a semi-permissive environment. This, for example, was the goal of the exercise “
Proof of Concept Expeditionary“A event conceived to synthesize the main and unique projection capabilities of the forces that the Air Force is able to express today in service of the Defense and the country, which was held in July 2020 on the island of Pantelleria.
With the activity carried out, a new page opens where interoperability and the concept of synergy are key.
Joint and CombinedWithin the Armed Forces, concrete efforts are made in accordance with the specificities of the role to create an effective military instrument at the service of the country and the collective interests, including at the international level.
