Italian aircraft carrier Cavour

The ship is designed to combine fixed-wing V/STOL and helicopter air operations, command and control operations, and the transport of military or civil personnel and heavy vehicles. The 134 m (440 ft), 2,800 m² (30,000 sq ft) hangar space can double as a vehicle hold capable of holding up to 24 main battle tanks (typically Ariete) or many more lighter vehicles (50 Dardo IFV, 100+ Iveco LMV), and is fitted aft with access ramps rated to 70 tons, as well as two elevators rated up to 30 tons for aircraft. Cavour can also operate as landing platform helicopter, accommodating heavy transport helicopters (AgustaWestland UH-101A ASH) and 325 marines (91 more, on option).^[8] The Cavour has a displacement of 27,900 tons but can reach more than 30,000 tons at full military capacity.^[2]

It complemented the Italian Navy's other aircraft carrier, the Giuseppe Garibaldi, before the older ship was decommissioned in 2024.

The Italian Navy will replace its 16 Harriers with 15 (originally 22) Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning IIs.^[9] By May 2020, the modernization to allow Cavour to support the F-35B was completed, and the carrier was ready for subsequent integration trials.^[10] Cavour will have room for ten F-35Bs in the hangar, and six more parked on deck.^[9]

The ship was named in honor of Camillo Benso, Count of Cavour (after proposals such as Luigi Einaudi and Andrea Doria were discarded) and became the NUM (New Major Unit) of the Italian Navy, joining the aircraft carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi. Its name holds historical significance for the Italian Navy, as a tribute to the strong impetus that Count of Cavour gave to the expansion and development of the Italian Navy, born from the fusion of the pre-unification navies, in the aftermath of Italy's unification.

Cavour was laid down by Fincantieri in June 2001, and was launched from the Riva Trigoso shipyard at Sestri Levante, on 20 July 2004.^[11] Sea trials began in December 2006, and she was officially commissioned on 27 March 2008. Full operational capability (FOC) was reached on 10 June 2009.

On 19 January 2010, Cavour was dispatched to Haiti as part of Operation White Crane, Italy's operation for 2010 Haiti earthquake relief.^[12] This was the first mission of the aircraft carrier, where it supplemented international efforts to provide relief for the victims of the 2010 Haiti earthquake.^[13]

It was reported that modernization works on Cavour has been completed. In May 2020, it was announced the Italian aircraft carrier would undertake a preparatory training before sailing to the U.S. where the ship would conduct trials with the F-35B STOVL.^[10] In February 2021, Cavour deployed to the United States for its initial period of flying trials with the F-35B. This saw the ship engage in four weeks of verification to determine the performance envelope of the aircraft when operating from the flight deck, using a pair of aircraft from VX-23, the US Navy's Test and Evaluation Squadron. Once these trials were completed, and the ship was passed for operation of the F-35B, it would move to the next phase of fixed-wing flying trials, which would see Italy's own aircraft begin operating from the carrier.^[14] On 9 March 2021, USNS John Lenthall replenished her in the western Atlantic Ocean.^[15] Then on 20 March, she operated alongside USS Gerald R. Ford in the Atlantic Ocean.^[16] On 26 March, she was in Norfolk, Virginia when the F-35B trial was completed.^[17] She left Norfolk on 16 April and returned to homeport Taranto on 30 April.^[18] Initial operating capability for the F-35s is expected for 2024.^[19]

In February 2022, she was part of interoperability training operations with the American carrier Harry S. Truman and the French carrier Charles de Gaulle in the lead up to the Russo-Ukrainian War.^[20]

In June 2024, the Cavour Strike Group began a five-month deployment to the Indo-Pacific.^[21] On 5 and 6 October, carrier strike groups of the Indian Navy and the Italian Navy led by INS Vikramaditya and Cavour and accompanied by INS Visakhapatnam and Alpino participated in a bilateral maritime exercise in the Arabian Sea. The exercise included aircraft like MiG-29K, F-35B and AV-8B Harrier II and integral helicopters. Operations in the sea phase included intense flight operations with fighter jets and helicopters for combined large force engagements, air combat missions, helicopter operations and search and rescue missions as well as co-ordinated weapon firings and joint manoeuvres to enhance joint operations, command and control capabilities and interoperability. The exercise also saw the participation of the Indian Air Force. During the harbour phase from 1 to 4 October, the exercise saw subject matter expert exchanges and other key interactions as well as a pre-sail planning conference.^[22][23][24]

• List of naval ship classes in service
• Italian landing helicopter dock Trieste
• Italian Naval Aviation

• Cosentino, Michael (2014). "Cavour: A Multi-Role Aircraft Carrier for the Italian Navy". In Jordan, John (ed.). Warship 2014. London: Conway. pp. 93–111. ISBN 978-1-84486-236-8.

• Aircraft Carrier Cavour Marina Militare website