The Italian Air Force’s mission in the Indo-Pacific has entered its fourth phase. Two Italian Air Force F-35Bs, along with a small contingent of around 40 personnel, have been embarked on the Italian Navy’s aircraft carrier Cavour for joint training far from Italy. The training takes place both near the coast, in what is known as a Green-water environment, and in the open sea, a Blue-water environment.
“During the Pitch Black ’24 exercise in Australia“, explained the Commander of the F-35 Flight Group from the Indo-Pacific RAV, “the Italian Air Force and Navy’s F-35Bs had the opportunity to consolidate their integration in a multi-domain and multinational exercise context, in an expeditionary land-based scenario. Embarking the F-35Bs on the Cavour aircraft carrier during the Indo-Pacific deployment allows this integration process to continue in a sea-based scenario within the Carrier Strike Group. Even though this is not a new experience for Air Force personnel, they perfectly integrate with Navy personnel across all specialized onboard sectors, ensuring the achievement of the set objectives.”
With this exercise, the Italian Air Force and Navy are advancing the concept of interoperability and the development of joint capabilities, representing another step forward in the integration of the fifth-generation F-35B multirole aircraft, featuring STOVL (Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing) capabilities. The exercise highlights the F-35B’s versatility and capabilities.
The Italian Air Force’s air campaign in the Indo-Pacific, which began on June 30, 2024, included participation in the international exercise Pitch Black 24 in Australia, from July 12 to August 2, 2024, and Rising Sun 2024, from August 6 to 9, 2024, alongside the Japan Air Self Defence Force. Most of the assets and personnel returned to Italy after more than 40 days of operations, during which over 270 sorties and more than 350 flight hours were completed, both day and night.
In addition to the specific objectives of the exercises, operating in the eastern hemisphere allowed the Italian Air Force to train its expeditionary technical and logistical capabilities. This included the ability to deploy a Large Force Package (LFP) and demonstrate the capacity to operate effectively, delivering significant results in a short timeframe and over long distances from their home base, in defense of national interests wherever they may be.
This is not the first time that the Italian Air Force’s F-35Bs have operated from the Italian aircraft carrier Cavour. As early as 2021, the stealth fighters of both armed forces worked in full synergy to develop the national sea-based projection capability and capitalize on the potential offered by the new fifth-generation aircraft.
This integration will also enable more synergistic training for crews and an exchange of experiences and tactics, all aimed at enhancing the sea-based projection capability of the F-35 air component and its value in an expeditionary context.