Italian aircraft carrier Cavour (C550)

Marina Militare, Built 2001-2008. Active.

Conte di Cavour is the current STOVL carrier of the Italian Navy and flagship, replacing in that role Garibaldi. CVH 55 was built at Fincantieri at La Spezia, and commissioned in March 2008, based since at Taranto. Its 232 meters flight decks ends with a ski-jump ramp for STOVL aircraft with an Hangar that can accommodate up to 12–20 aircraft depending on configuration. Notably the F35B after her 2019-2020 major refit and modernization, giving her also upgraded combat systems and sensor suites, enhanced crew facilities and power generation. But before the last refit it operated the latest AV8 Harrier II iteration and the multirole EH-100 Helicopter. The Cavour is epxected to remain in service until at least 2035, with the current Trieste assault carrier in complement, ensuring one aircraft carrier always at sea until then.

Development

Context post 1990

The end of the cold war in 1990 changed a lot for the Marina Militare, imposing drastic revisions -like in the rest of NATO countries. This did not appeared right away as late cold war program were still numerous, like the newly constructted Durand de La Penne class destroyer, which were designed as replacement for earlier ships and still relevant as AA escorts for the Garibaldi, as well as others. But in 1993, the Italian Navy published a yearly report designed to create debate about security issues, in the frame of a new and wider international scenarios in which the Marina Militare was supposed to work with. The study also aimed to foster deeper knowledge of the situation, isolating major issues, one on hans, future trends in the new geopolitical and military environment, and its current activities, identified issues, and future. Still closely involved in the NATO integrated military structure despitre the fall of the Soviet Union, there was no change to expect for traditional commitment of the Navy, but this did not prevented a peak into its long-term policy, using a New Defence Model (NDM) as benchmark, the official defense policy document. However this went anyway in a steady decrease in resources.

A famous photo: USS Harry.S.Truman, flagship of the 6th fleet (Med) with the French (Ch. De Gaulle) and Italian (Cavour) flagships.

This led to numerous decommissions, and reallocation of resources under the framework of commitments for the Italian military forces at large to perform crisis-control and humanitarian missions under U.N. mandate and NATO leadership. This resulted in the realization that 50% of Italian naval activity would consists in real operations executed in distant waters. This went with increased ship life-cycle costs as well as accelerated and unplanned wear-and-tear process. But this constant projection far from bases meant the aircraft carrier was still, and more than ever relevant, regardless of the end of the Soviet threat. In this frame, the planning of a new aircraft carrier started likely in the mid-to late 1990s (the process has not been declassified yet) so about a decade after the completion of Guiseppe Garibaldi, an important step as the first Italian through-deck carrier, and in the frame of war in the middle east and NATO involvment in the war in ex-Yugoslavia, leading to many reassessments.

Evolution: Project 156, UMPA and NUM

The previous Garibaldi in 1988

After the Garibaldi entered service in 1986, the Italian Navy planned to acquire another aircraft carrier, initially with similar characteristics but to act as flagship, with a larger deck and slightly higher displacement at 15,000 t. The project was, however, canceled after the end of the Cold War. Requirements drastically changed and Project 156 was adopted. The latter was reevaluated between 18,000 and 20,000 t, 200 meters long, 34 meters wide and also capable of operatinf 10-12 AV-8B+ and 6-8 EH-101 helicopters. But in 1995 it was decided to go instead for a 13,000 tons amphibious ships and the programme was renamed UMPA (see belolw). It was still capable of carrying four AV-8Bs and 8 EH-101s evolved as project 163/168. It was chosen with a displacement of more than 27,000 ton fully loaded.

It was agreed that the new carrier would not be a replacement, but a complement, and be larger than the Garibaldi to take in account new tasks dictated by lessons of recent deployment, and NATO commitments, meaning the ship was to be able to operate as command ship with new extended capabilities, to perform extended humanitarian work, which also imposed a set of new accomodations and equipments. The 163/168 porject was known until 1998 as the UMPA (Unita Maggiore Per Operazione Anfibe), the latter term sugesting an amphibious assault ship. It was seen as more useful than a “second Garibaldi” that already provided air cover in the new context in which the Italian Navy was, without the immediate threat of the Soviet Black sea fleet or its submarines.

What was discussed in 1995-98 was a quite versatile ship, projections making for a ship capable of various capabilities, and modular enough to swap from one to another, versus the very specialized Garibaldi. These new tasks included, in addition to predominantly airborne operations using V/STOL models and helicopters, amphibious operations, complex command, and the transportation of civilian and military personnel and heavy vehicles. The Cavour in addition was to be under the direct command of the Naval Fleet Commander. This was to be a fully fledge flagship. Projetions for specifications pointed out a ship that was at least 40-50% larger compared to the Garibaldi, which in 1980 was a small carrier comparable to the Spanish Principe de Asturias, at 10,100 t standard, 13,850 t FL.

However studies evolved into a new concept late in 1998, and the project, stll unnamed, was subsequently called the NUM (Nuova Unita Maggiore) in reference she was the largest warship ever built since WW2. Since two years the unitial UMPA had been funded to continue development. New studies showed a ship that displaced 28,000 tonnes was preferrable. This was, for the Italian Navy, still a radical, if not historic jump in capabilities. With an overall size estimated around 240m versus 200m, this means no shipyard in Italy apart Fincantieri could build the ship in its entirety.

So the builder’s choice was easy, as well as the final technical office to deliver construction plans. However a new path was chosen to see if it was practicable to build the ship in sections, in order, in the future, to undertake even larger vessels, like Trieste in 2020. The final ship was voted on by the parliament with funds provided in the 1996 budget. Construction was approved in 1998, with provisional order placed in November 2000. Construction was planned to start for FY2001 at Fincantieri, Riva Trigoso, in a joint venture with Muggiano shipyards. The latter would assemble a second half section it would build, and complete the final fitting out.

Construction

Ordered from Fincantieri on November 22, 2000, with the keel laying taking place on 17 July 2001 at Riva Trigoso where the aft section was launched on July 20, 2004, a launch that was the last one performed at the Riva Trigoso shipyard with the traditional slipway, directly into the water. The hull was transferred to the Muggiano shipyard in La Spezia to connection it to the forward section and completion of the outfitting. This modern modular approach avoids costly sizing up of existing infrastructures, only modernization, and enabled construction of much larger ships, as the Trieste showed in 2023.

On December 22, 2006, Cavour completed her first navigation trial. On March 27, 2008, the Navy performed her final acceptance testing. She entered service on June 10, 2009. The delivery of her battle ensign was done in the port of Civitavecchia, assisted by the President of the Republic Giorgio Napolitano, Minister of Defense Ignazio La Russa, Chief of the Navy Staff, Admiral Paolo La Rosa and other officials. The ensign was presented her first commander, Captain Gianluigi Reversi by the Mayor of Turin, Sergio Chiamparino, sealing her name with the city of Turin. The ensign is kept on board in a casket from the National Association of Italian Sailors of Piedmont and Valle d’Aosta. Final cost of the whole programme was €1.39 billion (2010) to compare with 428 billion (1981) lire, equivalent to €903.63 million in 2019.

Naming

Cavour (the short form) was named after Camillo Benso di Cavour by the Government after rejecting proposals such as “Luigi Einaudi” and “Andrea Doria”. It became the “Nuova Unità Maggiore” of the Italian Navy alongside the aircraft previous carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi. The name has historical significance for the Italian Navy, recognising the strong impetus that Count Cavour gave it after aftermath of Italian Unification. Her was instrumental in the expansion and professionalization of the Italian Navy (Regia Marina at the time) emerging from the fusion of disparate pre-unification navies. Cavour was previously the name of a 4st-class transport ship (1885-1894) but more famously the WW1 battleship Conte di Cavour, sunk in Taranto in 1940. The new carrier had the identification number 550, belonging previously to the cruiser Vittorio Veneto (former flagship) just decommissioned since 2006.

On December 14, 2011 in Civitavecchia, the same day as the celebrations for the 150th anniversary of Italian unification, Nerio Nesi, CEO of the Cavour Foundation of Santena (Turin) in the presence of the Chief of Staff of the Squadron and Division Admiral Donato Marzano, and commander Aurelio De Carolis, was presented with memorabilia belonging to the Count of Cavour, from the collection of the museum of the Cavour Castle of Santena, a collar with a plaque in its original case for the Supreme Order of the Most Holy Annunciation awarded to Cavour on 30 April 1856, as well as a sketch from the sculptor Count Annibale Galateri di Genola of the medallion decorating the hood of the Battleship’s battle flag as well as the royal decree of 11 October 1850 appointing Cavour as Minister of the Navy. They are now all exposed in the guest’s room on board.

Design of the class

Cavour was designed to combine fixed-wing V/STOL and helicopters for its operations as well as having extensive command and control facilities to operate at the center of an international battle group, with all NATO standard C2R and C3R systems. But it was also designed in order to carry military or civilian personnel as well as heavy vehicles and associated landing craft, already having an assault capability, or for disaster relief notably with extensive hospital facilities. It had a 134 m (440 ft), 2,800 m2 (30,000 sq ft) hangar thatcould double as vehicle hold capable, reinforced to carry up to 24 Ariete main battle tanks (54t), 50 Dardo IFV or 100+ Iveco LMV with access ramps rated to 70 tons and two elevators rated up to 30 tons.

Cavour had six landing spots and a reinforced deck to support the largest heavy transport helicopters in service withing NATO such as the American Sea Stallion and CH-54 Chinook, as well as the Italian Agusta-Westland UH-101A ASH. In addition to the vehicles, it could accomodate up to 325 marines with a supplement of 91 after some modular changes. All for a still reasonable displacement of 27,900 tons which was rated up to 30,000 tons when fully loaded. It was a good complement to the more specialized Giuseppe Garibaldi until planned decommission in 2024. One key evolution was the replacement of its 16 Harriers with 15 (originally 22) Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning IIs, bringing quite a leap in capabilities. By May 2019-20, this urged a modernization to allow their operation. The hangar could accomodate ten F-35Bs, six more on deck. To compare, the Queen Elisabeth class could carry twenty more (36), but the deck and hangar area are much larger.

Hull and general design

Cavour at Salserno

The Cavour certainly was a massive ships for Italian warship standards, at least in modern times, since, again, the Littorio class battleships remained the heaviest Italian warhsips ever built at above 45,236 t fully loaded and 40,700t standard. Italian shipyards already delivered also massive civilian ships such as the transtlantic liner SS Rex (45,800 tons). It remained the largest ships ever built in Italy compared to the 1950s Andrea Doria (29,083 GRT). The closest to Doria would be the never completed WW2 carrier Aquila (27,800 long tons fully loaded).

Anyway, Cavour was quite close at 27,100 metric tons (26,700 long tons) (30,000 MT full load), so lighter than Aquila but longer and wider at 244 meters (800 ft 6 in) LOA (versus 235.5 m) with a true beam (waterline) of 29.1 m (95 ft 6 in) (versus 30 m oa on aquila) and moulded breadth of 39 m (127 ft 11 in) at fight deck level. Her draft was greater at 8.7 m (28 ft 7 in (vs. 7.3 m). Aquila was smaller yet heavier due to its heavy duty and enormous steam tubines and boilers needed to reach her top speed of 30 knots. For two less knots (governed) Cavour had a powerplant that only represented a fraction of size and weight.

Now, design wise, she had a relatively tall and roomy hull with a partial hangar which did not meet the full lenght of the ship. This hangar was also not located directly under the flight deck, but closer to the waterline (two levels above) for better balance. There was a full utility deck above, notably hosting the CiC (see later). This hangar was 134 m (440 ft) long for 21m (69 ft) wide and 7.20 (24 ft) tall, for a total of 2,818 m2 (30,000 sq ft) of useful hangar space, or 20,290m³. The hangar had an extra 11m (36 ft) high area for maintenance. The deck had six spots for EH.101 or NH-90 helicopters.

The flight deck was rectangular witout off-set section to allow simultaneous flight-off and landings, albeit they were still possible thanks to the numerous spots and vertical landing capabilities of all aicraft on board. It represented a surface of 5,900m² (63,500 ft) and was 232.6 meters in overall lenght or 220 meters at the end of the ski-jump for an overall beam as seen above of 34.5m. The 12° inclined ski-jump was relatively short with a gradual slope and located to port, opposite the island. This left p,enty of space along the flight deck, with a useful take-off lenght for loaded VTOL aircraft of about 80m (260 ft) that could be augmented of needed, notably for the F-35.

The Cavour also had two 30t elevators. One in front of the island measured 21.6m (71 ft) for 14m (46 ft) and a second one 15m (50 ft) for 14m (46 ft) was a deck-edge lift located starboard, aft of the island. There were also tw smaller lifts to being up ammunitions and other payloads. The latter, placed starboard amidship, was quite long to provide extra accomodation as supports for the radar arrays, and not overhanging much, its point of gravity was slightly offset of the true beam though. The hull was split, with a sloped downards section to the waterline, and distinct larger upper section up to the bow, with a clipper stem, and board (full beam) transom stern. There were few rear overhanging features, but an amidship section alongside the island, and aft hangar elevator.

The island was about 70m long, narrow, with its two funnels angled outwards to starboard. There was a main deck and a two-level bridge forward, one for navigaton and one for deck operation management. A second station for deck operation was located aft. There were twp masts, one supporting the modern phased array 3D radar forward and another aft with satcome antennae and smaller sensors. A crane was located in front of the island, offset to starboard, right close to the main deck lift forward. The carrier also had a small fleet of deck handling vehicles, two tractors and a crane vehicle.

Cavour had a large crew, with optionally more men, with a regular ship complement of 1,202 with accomodation for 90 more as flagship, including 5 Flag Officers and VIPs, 486 crew but also 211 for the embarked air wing (pilots and mechanics) and 140 for C4 staff alone. There was the additional 360 troops with 90 more on option using the same accomodations as for the flagship staff. One interesting assault ship aspect of the carrier, in addition to the stern ramp to unload tanks and AFVs, was its ability to operate four LCVP, suspended under davits along the hull aft, each capable of carrying around 36 equipped personal and an Iveco jeep, so 144 on the beach in addition to the men landed by the 12 AW-101 helicopters, up to 45 men standing or a total heliborne of 270 in a first wave (6 spots only), so a grand total of 414 men in the first wave.

Each of the AW101 has a ramp and could also carry optionally light vehicles, with ATGMs and mortars notably. So based on the accomodations on board for 450, the second wave, heliborne, is likely to be mostly of supplies and extra troops to support the beachhead. A rotation by the LCVPs to the ship, hoisted by the davits, is likely to take time to bring back the wounded and return with supplies. Indeed, Cavour has no wet dock, unlike the Trieste that was recently commissioned. In addition there are two rhibs located on the forward starboard sponsoned deck. To unload the combat vehicles on the hangar, the poop ramp is located on the starboard side. When not using the LCVP the four logdgings with davits aft carried regular transfer boats.

Powerplant

Cavour making a hard turn off Naples

The Cavour like the previous Garibaldi had gas turbines, in a COGAG scheme, with two shafts with four General Electric/Avio LM2500 gas turbines providing 88,000 kW (118,000 bhp) and a complement of 6 diesel generators Wärtsila CW 12V200 13,200 kW (17,700 bhp) not only providing cruise and range but also powering evereything on board when the ship was stationary, gas turbines shut. Combined power was 135,700 hp, compared to 95,600 hp all combined for Garibaldi. This made for a top speed of 29 knots (54 km/h; 33 mph) with a max sustained speed at 85% MCR. Compared to 30 knots for Garibaldi. It is understood real figures are classified and the speed is governed. The Cavour, thanks to a fuel capacity of around 1000 tonnes (unknown) has a declared range of 7,000 nmi (13,000 km; 8,100 mi) at 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph) like the Garibaldi.

Armament

Originally, there were planned torpedo tubes for ASW warfare, but they were eliminated in favor of a navigation aid and mine-avoidance sonar. In 2012 the two main guns were changed for 76mm/62 OTO-Melara Compatto SR Strale, and for them, two SPG-76 radars were provided.

8-cell A-43 Sylver

Cavour has four 8-cell A-43 Sylver launchers, carrying the MBDA Aster 15 surface-to-air missile, located on sponsons forward starboard and port aft. In some sources, two sixteen launchers are described. But it’s just how to see the way these cells are distributed, on two spots, in four series of four vertical launchers. The Aster 15 is a recent and potent SAM comparable to American SM standard, using a booster and capable reaching 30 km, altitude 13km, at Mach 3 (1,000 m/s). This is a Franco-Italian development. More recently they should have been replaced by the Aster 30 Block 1 depending if the Sylver launchers are compatible. The latter is capable of Mach 4.5 and range 150 km, 25 km altitude. It has inertial guidance with up-link and an Active RF seeker.

OTO Melara 76/62 Strales

The two OTO Melara 76.2 mm (3 in)/62 Strales guns providing closer anti-air and anti-missile defence are located on sponsons aft starboard at the poop and centerline forward on the short deck lip passed the flying off ramp. This latest evolution of a famous family of the cold war, widely exported, has a stealthy turret, in its super rapido evolution. Empty, it weights 7.5 tonnes (17,000 lb) for a barrel length of 62 caliber: 4,724.4 mm (186.00 in). It is remote controlled and fires a 2.35 kilograms (5.2 lb) 76×636mmR shell and can evlevate to +85° at 35°/s with a rate of fire of 85 rounds/min and muzzle velocity of 915 m/s (3,000 ft/s), max range with the HE-PFF at 16,000 m, SAPOMER 20,000 m and VULCANO 40,000 m. The feed system Magazine capacity is 80 ready rounds on the Compact gun mount. However in that case the use the DART ammunition as standard on Cavour. Each mount had its own fire control system installed nearby on top of a separate bandstand. In Italian sources it is called the CIWS Davide.

OTO Melara 25/80 gun

There are three OTO Melara 25/80 gun with Oerlikon KBA 25mm in four locations around the ship. These are the latest iteration of a Swiss gun pioneered in the 1920s from a forbidden German WW1 gun. Bedrock of the short AA defence of the allies in WW2 it is still in service today around the globe in a multitude of remote controlled variants. It is manufactured under licence by Rheinmetall Italia S.p.A from 2004 and provided with its own mount by Oto-Melara and Leonardo. This 25 mm (L/87) with rotating bolt (two-piece snaplock) and hydromechanical recoil fired the standard NATO 25×137mm.

It is mostly used for last ditch anti-missile defence thanks to the latest optronic guidance, but otherwise, to deal with asymetric threats, a serious proposition for its 600 rpm ensured by a dual feed. It could be optionally manned if needed. The 20 mm is optionally complemented by a number of M2HB 50 caliber heavy machine guns on movable pintle mounts.

Passive and Active Protection

ODLS-H/ODLS OTO Melara decoy launching systems

There are two such systems located on either side of the ship. Official documentation

Elettronica Spa NETTUNO-4100 ECM System

The NETTUNO-4100 ECM System can provide naval platforms with an Active Electronic Defence using selected ECM tactics. These tactics can be equally effective against both terminal missile attacks and long range designation radar systems. More info

EW System (RESM/CESM, RECM)

Info awaited.

SCLAR-H

SCLAR-H compact rocket launcher system.

SLAT

SLAT is a launcher used for short range torpedo defense, consisting also in the RATO, CMAT, and ALERTO subsystems.

Sensors and Electronics

Note: We will not dwelve into the details of each one as many specs are classied. More to come in a later update.

Selex RAN-40L 3D L-band long-range radar
Selex ES EMPAR (SPY-790) multifunction radar
Selex ES RAN-30X/I RASS (SPS-791) surface radar
2 × SELEX ES RTN-25X Orion, fire direction radars
PAR (Precision Approach Radar) Selex ES MM/SPN-720
PALS (Precision Approach and Landing System) Telephonics AN/SPN-41A
2 × GEM Elettronica MM/SPN-753(v)10 navigation radars
Selex ES SIR-R/S IFF system
TACAN SRN-15 A
WASS SNA-2000 Mine Avoidance Sonar (Leonardo Thesan)
2 × Selex ES IRST SASS (Silent Acquisition and Surveillance System)
GEM Elettronica IRST EOSS-100
Underwater telephone

The SPY-790 EMPAR is a 3D volumetric radar capable of tracking 300 targets, with 12 targets simultaneously, on a range of over 100 km.
The SPS-798 EW is a 3D “early warning” radar capable of detecting threats at very long ranges from the ship (500 simultaneous targets at 300 km.
The SPS-791 RASS is a surveillance and surface radar capable of detecting naval vessels, very low-flying aircraft, and approaching missiles, being highly effective against sea-skimmer missiles.
The SPN-753 is a nautical search radar
The SPN-720 is capable of guiding landing aircraft and helicopters
The SPN-41 A and TACAN SRN-15 A performs precision approaches and providing information to underway aircraft;
The SNA-2000 is a hull search sonar. Helicopters can also deployed VDS and buoys.
The IR ST SASS is an infrared detector
The EWSS sustem is a radio scanner capable of analyzing the spectrum and detecting any radio emissions (and therefore any active radar)
The SLAT system is an incoming torpedo detector
The IFF SIR R/S are classic systems for positive target identification.

Air Group

As planned, the hangar can accomodate up to 16 Harrier, for a total planned of 24 aircraft of the AV-8B+ Harrier VTOL, Merlin and NH90 helicopters overall. Helicopters takes less space so in a pure assault configuration, it could in theory carry a total of c20 in the hangar, plus c22 or more on deck, all rotors folded, so up to 42. The issue here is the lack of usable spots, six for simultaneous, safe take-offs.

In its commissioned and 2010 configuration, Cavour carried eight AV-8B Harrier and 12 AW101 Merlin in SAR/ASW configuration.
By 2016, before refit, Cavour was seen operating the same, but with variations in helicopters, the NH-90 NFH, Bell 212 ASW and the specilized AW101 AEW Merlin for electric warfare.

The greatest change for the air group was the conversion to operate the F35 Lightning II, see the details in “career”.

⚙ specifications
Displacement	27,100t standard, 30,000t full load.
Dimensions	244 x 29.1/39 x 8.7 mm (800 ft 6 in x 95 ft 6 in/127 ft 11 in x 28 ft 7 in)
Propulsion	2 shaft COGAG 4 GE/Avio LM2500+ gas turbines 118k bhp, 6× Wärtsila CW 12V200 diesels (17,7k bhp)
Speed	29 knots (54 km/h; 33 mph) (Max speed 85% MCR)
Range	7,000 nmi (13,000 km; 8,100 mi) at 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph)
Armament	4×8 A-43 Sylver, 2× OTO Melara 76/62 mm, 3× OTO Melara 25/80
Active Protection	NETTUNO-4100 ECM System, EW System (RESM/CESM, RECM), 2× ODLS-H/ODLS OTO decoy
Sensors	Selex RAN-40L 3D radar, ES EMPAR, ES RAN-30X/I RASS, 2× ES RTN-25X Orion, ES MM/SPN-720, see notes
Air Group	10 × F-35B Lightning II, 12 × AgustaWestland AW101
Crew	1,202

Career of Cavour (so far)

Cavour was commissoned on June 10, 2009 after a process of design and construction of ten years. In 2010 she performed initial training, shakedown trials and fixes, then first helicopter qualifications. On December 5, 2011 she took part in the “Mare Aperto” and AMPHEX 2011 exercises. Still, her full commission only took place at the Mar Grande Naval Station, Taranto, sanctioning her full completion of any work as a flagship. There was a new ceremony by the president of the commission, Chief Inspector Admiral Alberto Gauzolino in presence of the commander Captain Aurelio De Carolis. She was declared in “full operational capability”. Fixes had been going on from 2009 with full participation of the crew and with many companies involved under the direction of Fincantieri as well as entities such as the General Directorate for Naval Armaments, Logistics Inspectorate, Naval Technical Office in Genoa.

After commission, the ship started to qualify and train its air group. The Cavour embarks nominally up to 36 aircraft of all types, part in the hangar and part parked on deck. The GRUPAER or flight group is now composed of V/STOL F-35B Lightning II fighter-bombers that replaced from 2020 the AV-8B Harrier II Plus, also deployed on the Garibaldi. Helicopters of various types are embarked: There is the SH-3D, NH-90, EH-101 both as radar platforms (AEW) for search and rescue (SAR), anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and anti-surface warfare (ASuW).

The way the deck was configured ensure minimal aircraft movement both on deck and in the hangar but for technical reasons 40 aircraft could never be operated. There is for such a group a lack of repairs and maintenance facilities in the hangar’s workshop, plus aviation gasoline and ammunition reserves. By January 2011, following cost increases and development problems, the F-35B STOVL was defined “at risk” by the US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. Cancellation of the project meant the U Government, under contract with Italy, would not have been able to replace the dated Harrier II Plus and Italy forced to downgrade the Cavour to the rank of helicopter carrier. The situation has since been unblocked and the F-35 entered service in all NATO countries choosing them (meaning anybody but France and Sweden).

But its air group was not all that mattered: The carrier was also supposed to sport a complex naval command center (MCC) with 174 workstations, all connected to five different available IT networks, as well as 12 dedicated and reconfigurable work areas. It needed long post-commission updates, new fixes, and updates since 2009. In addition there was an Hospital capacity with two operating rooms and 32 beds over 400 m² for landing operation but also disaster relief. The Cavour was unique for these dual capabilities, first designed to carry out non-military missions and able to carry a complete command post for Civil Protection and guarantee electricity, drinking water, hot meals, and medical support, as well as acting as a hub for dispatching relief supplies on for example, a crippled island after a storm or earthquake.

This is comparable to the path chosen by the French Mistral class and Spanish Juan Carlos, Turkish Anadolu. Cavour was tailored to operate a ground-based assistance center for 250 personnel, using helicopters for evacuation of the civilian population, with modular accomodations for 700 beds. The infirmary is also equipped with two fully equipped operating rooms, to operate simultaneously including in the most complex procedures with sterile rooms. There are extra accommodating for civilian medical personnel, 90 more if needed.

2018-2020 Overhaul

On 19 January 2010, Cavour sailed for Haiti for Operation White Crane, a joint operation between the Italian and Brazilian armed forces under Captain Gianluigi Reversi, in response to 2010 Haiti earthquake. That first mission allowed its civilian relief assets to play to the full for the first time, involving nearly a thousand military and civilian personnel and approximately 200 tons of supplies, and its effort was saluted by the International community.

Cavour then took part in the Navy Day celebrations in the Gulf of Naples on June 10, 2010. On February 24, 2011, Defense Minister La Russa declared she had been mobilized as part of the Italian naval effort in the Mediterranean after the situation in Libya. In 2013 Cavour she was used for a Pirelli press presentation for the new Angel GT motorcycle tires. The guests stayed overnight to ride motorcycles on the flight deck. From November 2013 she April 2014, shecompleted a circumnavigation of Africa together with the 30th Naval Group.

In November 2014, she was engaged in representation and intense training in the Adriatic for the first time and Ionian Sea. She stopped at Augusta, Trieste, Bari, Ortona to be drydocked, Tivat in Montenegro, and Dubrovnik in Croatia. From June 2015, she was the flagship of Operation Sophia (EUNAVFOR Med) until May 2016.

On December 7, 2018, Cavour was transferred to the Taranto Naval Arsenal for a major refit in order to operate the F-35 B variant replacing the Harriers. This work was first provisioned for €74 million, and went until the summer 2020. She regain her position as flagship in between.

This modernization work called for Fincantieri and Leonardo, and the shipyard’s expert workers. The flight deck structure was metallized and thickened to minimize impact of the much heavier F-35 B. By November 26, 2019 she was the largest ship to ever enter the Edgardo Ferrati dry dock in Taranto but wa smaintained ready to resume her normal activities. As of 2020 she became the only ship outside the British Queen Elizabeth-class carriers in Europe (and US aircraft carriers) to operate the F-35.

The integration took place within the Joint Strike Fighter program in the United States, in collaboration with the United Kingdom, Italy, the Netherlands, and other nations that chose this model. Thius, as soon as she wa sready, Cavout sailed for the United States on January 29, 2021, to the Naval Base in Norfolk, Virginia, on February 13, 2021.

The training campaign started on February 28, with the first landing on her deck on March 1, first step in a long and complex certification process to use the new aircraft. Four-week compatibility tests followed and integrated all aspects of operations and maintenance, strategic capability after the “Initial Operational Capability” at the end 2024. These weeks of verification back in 2021 were to determine the performance envelope when operating from the flight deck, using aircraft from the evaluation unit VX-23 detached from the US Navy’s Test Squadron.

After that phases of trials she was greenlight for operation of the F-35B, and moved to the next, with fixed-wing flying trials. On 9 March 2021, USNS John Lenthall replenished his F-35B on Cavour in the western Atlantic. On 20 March, Cavour operated alongside USS Gerald R. Ford in the Atlantic and on 26 March, returned in Norfolk to complete her F-35B trials, and leaving on 16 April with her own squadron to her homeport in Taranto on 30 April. Initial operating capability was still worked for in 2024.

In February 2022, she had interoperability training operations with USS Harry S. Truman and the Charles de Gaulle as a show the flag operation as the Russo-Ukrainian War flare up.
In June 2024, the Cavour Strike Group was active for a five-month deployment in the Indo-Pacific. On 5-6 October, she trained with the Indian Navy led by INS Vikramaditya and Cavour was escorted by INS Visakhapatnam and Alpino for this bilateral exercise in the Arabian Sea, including MiG-29K, F-35B and AV-8B Harrier II plus helicopters.

There were intense flight operations with fighters and helicopters, air combat missions, helicopter operations, search and rescue, co-ordinated weapon firings, joint manoeuvres, command and control interoperability. The Indian Air Force took part as “enemy” for defensive drills. She was in harbour from 1 to 4 October, with expert exchanges and other interactions and pre-sail planning conference.

To be updated for 2025-2026