Technical discussion. Last week, Rear Admiral Giancarlo Ciappina, Commander of Italian Naval Air Forces, joined retired US Navy Admiral James G. Foggo, dean at the Center for Maritime Strategy think tank in Arlington, Virginia, on his “Maritime Nation” podcast.
- Their conversation focused on Italian aircraft carrier Cavour operations, spotlighting Italy’s bold projection of power far from home and what it means for the global maritime order.
Decoding the news. Italy’s deployment aimed to reinforce its role in maritime geopolitics, recognising that events in the Pacific directly impact the Mediterranean.
- Ciappina described a vision of a “global Mediterranean,” where oceans are increasingly interconnected.
- As he put it, “The Indo-Pacific is now growing and growing in importance… We discuss the global Mediterranean because we see continuity… in all the oceans.”
The Cavour is a game-changer. The aircraft carrier is now fully certified to operate the F-35B, making Italy the only EU nation with a fifth-generation carrier air wing.
- The upgrades position Italy above many regional peers.
- Additional enhancements include compatibility with the US MV-22 Osprey and a readiness cycle that allows it to deploy in less than 24 hours, supported by the Grottaglie airbase.
- Ciappina described the carrier as one of three pillars of the Italian Navy’s high-end capabilities, along with its amphibious assault group and special forces.
International cooperation at scale. Italy’s Indo-Pacific mission emphasised joint training and strategic alignment.
- In Australia, the Cavour group became the first carrier group to participate in Pitch Black, with the air wing divided between land-based F-35Bs and shipborne AV-8Bs.
- In Japan, Italy partnered on carrier operations with the JMSDF, exchanging knowledge about F-35B integration.
- In India, the Italian ship conducted the country’s first-ever bilateral exercises with the Navy and Air Force, operating alongside MiG-29Ks, Rafales, and Su-30s.
Plug-and-play. The carrier group also trained with the US Navy’s Eisenhower and Lincoln, French forces, and others across the Red Sea, Indian Ocean, and Western Pacific, demonstrating “plug-and-play” interoperability using shared C2 systems and live-fire exercises.
- The ability to integrate seamlessly with allied escorts, including tactical command over French and US vessels, suggested a future in which Italy could lead multinational carrier strike groups.
Global Italy. The Cavour deployment marked a turning point in Italy’s strategic maritime posture.
- It showcased operational credibility and global ambition and strengthened ties with key allies from the Indo-Pacific to NATO.
- The message to partners was unmistakable: Italy is ready to lead.
- Ciappina emphasised that while his mission is military readiness, the political signal was clear: “Our job as military officers is to prepare ships to fight… we now see the possibility of real interchangeability with allies,” he said.
