Italian Navy’s aircraft carrier Cavour to begin qualification trials for F-35B in few weeks

Italian Cavour United States F35B qualification
Italian Navy’s aircraft carrier Cavour to begin qualification trials for F-35B in few weeks.

The Italian Navy's aircraft carrier Cavour (C-550) will soon reach the United States to begin a series of activities aimed at qualifying the flight deck, equipment and personnel to be able to board the Lockheed Martin F-35B STOVL aircraft.

Cavour's mission was confirmed by Captain Gianfranco Vizzini, Naval Attaché at the Italian Embassy in Washington, during the Surface Navy Association (SNA) 2021, on 11 January 2021.

According to Vizzini, "the major issue for 2021 is the ITS Cavour, our major carrier, that will be deployed here in the United States for what we have called ‘Ready for Operation Campaign’ that consists to achieve the qualification and to conduct joint and combined maritime operations by embarking F-35 Bravo air assets."

Following the arrival of the ship at Naval Base in Norfolk, Virginia, scheduled for mid-February, she will be involved in 6 weeks of activities including flight deck qualification and aircraft operations management with the support of a Marine Corps detachment. The F-35Bs used for these activities will be provided by the Marines or the Joint Program Office. 

The Italian Navy will receive a total of 15 F-35B fighters, the next of which will be delivered in April 2021 and will become the first Lightning II to be embarked on the Cavour.

Written by Matteo Sanzani

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