Italian, Indian Navy conduct historic joint exercise

Italian and Indian Navy fighter aircraft fly over aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya.

The Italian Navy's flagship aircraft carrier ITS Cavour conducted historic joint operations with the Indian Navy's aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya, marking the first such exercise between Italy and India. Conducted off the coast of Goa from October 1 to 6, the drills included complex air combat missions and coordinated weapons firings.

The Italian Carrier Strike Group, which includes eight F-35B fighters and seven AV-8B Harrier II Plus jump jets, trained alongside the Indian Navy's MiG-29K fighters and the Indian Air Force's Su-30MKI and Rafale fighters. The collaboration is part of the inaugural Indo-Pacific deployment of ITS Cavour, aimed at enhancing interoperability and strengthening naval ties between Italy and India.

The aircraft carrier ITS Cavour is now on her return leg of her historic first deployment to the Indo-Pacific. Since departing Taranto on June 1, the Italian Navy's flagship made port calls in Japan, and took part in training exercises with the U.S. Navy and Royal Australian Navy, including the multilateral Pitch Black-24 – the largest such aerial drills in the region.

The Italian carrier has been accompanied by the multi-mission frigate ITS Alpino and the multi-purpose patrol boat ITS Montecuccoli. The Italian Navy carrier strike group (CSG) consists of about 1,200 personnel, and 19 aerial assets – including eight F-35B fifth-generation multirole fighters (two of which belong to the Italian Air Force), seven AV-8B Harrier II Plus jets, three NH-90 helicopters, and one EH-101 helicopter.

Written by Matteo Sanzani

Images: Italian Navy