The latter is currently involved in the operational projection campaign in the Indo-Pacific region as the core platform of the Italy’s Carrier Strike Group (IT CSG) including the Alpino FREMM frigate, alongside the Montecuccoli Multi-purpose Combat Ship (MCS), involved in a global operational projection campaign.
“Following the results obtained by the (IT) Carrier Strike Group and the achievement of the objectives of the embarked air component, today we can declare the achievement of the Initial Operational Capability (IOC) of the 5th generation (fighter) national (joint) expeditionary sea-based capability”, announced Admiral Enrico Credendino, the Italian Navy Chief of Staff aboard the Cavour aircraft carrier, moored at the Yokosuka Naval Base in Japan, as part of the operational projection campaign in the Indo-Pacific of the IT CSG.
The Initial Operational Capability of the F-35B component – obtained after over 2600 flight hours – certifies “the ability to generate, through the 5th generation aircraft embarked on the Cavour aircraft carrier, offensive and defensive missions to counter air threats, engage land and naval targets and suppress enemy air defences, projecting itself with the Carrier Strike Group into remote areas and in complete logistical autonomy”, said a press statement released by the Italian Navy on 28 August.
The F-35B component embarked on the Cavour aircraft carrier, “which achieved this significant milestone” during the Indo-Pacific operational campaign, is today composed of six F-35Bs from the Navy’s Gruppo Aerei Imbarcati (GRUPAER) unit (also including the AV-8B+ Harrier IIs, alongside the F-35Bs) and two belonging to the 32° Stormo (32nd Wing) of the Italian Air Force with flying and maintenance personnel, the latter embarked after the Exercise Pitch Black in Northern Australia.
The Marina Militare and the Aeronautica Militare “have achieved a growing synergy in recent years, culminating in this Indo-Pacific projection campaign, which has allowed the acceleration the process of developing a national (expeditionary) capability of absolute value for Italy’s Defence, which further increases its readiness and ability to contribute effectively, together with allies, to global security and stability, wherever necessary”, highlighted the press statement. The latter remarks the IOC achievement by the joint sea-based 5th generation aircraft component, including the Italian Air Force contribution.
“With the IOC (achievement), the Maritime Component of Italy’s Defence takes a significant step forward in expressing the ability to project forces from the sea even in operational theatres far from the usual gravitational basins, for extended periods of time, pursuing complete interoperability and interchangeability in joint operations with allies and partners: one of the main objectives of the Carrier Strike Group campaign in the Indo-Pacific.”
Admiral Enrico Credendino, the Italian Navy Chief of Staff
“Our country is the only one in the European Union to be able to express a Carrier Strike Group with 5th generation assets and – together with the USA and the UK – constitutes the very small nucleus of NATO allies with this capability. In this light, the (IT) Carrier Strike Group with the F-35Bs is a concrete expression of Italy’s rank as a medium regional power with a strong maritime connotation, and represents a tool of reassurance for allies or deterrence against potential adversaries: a versatile and flexible device to project and be influential wherever necessary,” continued his statement, adding that “with the achievement of the Initial Operational Capability it will be possible to promote new opportunities for interoperability and interchangeability among the Allies, thus giving further depth to international cooperation.”
Naval News Comments: IT CSG and F-35B
After transiting the Indian Ocean from the Mediterranean basin, the IT CSG has reached Darwin in Northern Australia for participating to the Exercise Pitch Black. The 2024 edition was the largest since its establishment, with personnel and unit of 20 nations including over 140 aircraft, and the first featuring the participation of an aircraft carrier: the Italian Navy’s Cavour with its embarked flight group including F-35Bs and AV-8B+ Harrier IIs in addition to two helicopters, being escorted by the Alpino ASW frigate with one helicopter.
After the embarked flight and carrier group participation in Exercise Pitch Black, mainly with the aircraft operating from land but also from the sea, having the opportunity to interact with US Marine Corps’ Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 268 (Reinforced) and conducting deck landing qualifications with their MV-22 Osprey tiltrotors from Cavour carrier, the IT CSG left Australia with the current eight F-35Bs component including six Navy’s GRUPAER and two Air Force’s 32nd Wing aircraft in addition to the component of seven AV-8B+ Harrier IIs including a two-seat aircraft.
Before reaching Guam for a logistical stop, the IT CSG has conducted the first-ever bilateral Multi-Large Deck Event with the US Navy Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group in the Indo-Pacific, “an opportunity to engage in joint operations including enhanced maritime communication operations, air warfare operations and cross-deck flight operations to strengthen maritime integrated-at-sea operations and combat readiness,” said the press statement.
On its way to Japan, the IT CSG has integrated the Montecuccoli Multi-Purpose Combat Ship on 16 August. The latter was coming from Hawaii, after participating to the multinational Exercise RIMPAC and Pacific Dragon 24. The IT CSG was then composed of three ships for a total of around 1,200 personnel and 15 aircraft including the two Italian Air Force’s F-35Bs and four helicopters. The latter include two NH90s respectively the ASuW/ASW (SH90) and amphibious support (MH90) versions on board the Cavour carrier, an SH90 on board the Alpino frigate and an MPH101 on the Montecuccoli MCS. In addition to the crews and flying operators, the IT CSG also includes personnel coming from the San Marco Marine Brigade (Brigata Marina San Marco), the Divers Operational Group (Gruppo Operativo Subacquei) of the COMSUBIN Command, Italian Air Force’s personnel, in addition to two UK Royal Navy’s officers integrated in the carrier staff.
On 22 August, the Cavour aircraft carrier and the Alpino frigate have reached the Yokosuka Naval Base in Japan welcomed by Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) representatives and personnel. During the visit, the Cavour carrier was the theatre of meetings between Italian and Japanese military personnel, as well as both Defence Ministries’ procurement agencies and industrial representatives, the latter in occasion of the two-country Defense Industry Forum and the 6th edition of the “Joint Working Group meeting on defence and technology cooperation”. The IT CSG left the Yokosuka Naval Base on 27 August to conduct at-sea training, operations and exchanges with Japanese Self-Defence Forces – but also embarking MSDF and Air Self-Defence Force liaison officers on the Cavour carrier to watch carrier-based F-35B operations -, US and European Navies’ ships and personnel, the latter also conducting global deployments in the Indo-Pacific region.
Both the IT CSG ships and the Italian Navy Amerigo Vespucci cadet training tall ship, also docked in Tokyo from 25 to 30 August, as part of her global tour, were visited by the Italian Defence Minister, Guido Crosetto. The Montecuccoli MCS is planned to make a port call at White Beach naval base in Okinawa from 30 August to 2 September.
