The two planes flew
together from the Cavour to a neighbouring Royal Navy carrier, Queen Elizabeth,
presently in the Mediterranean. In contrast, two US Marine F-35Bs now stationed
aboard the British ship flew to the Cavour before the US, Italian, and British
Bs did drills together.
Officially, the drill
involved F-35Bs from other countries collaborating. The sight of Italian Navy
and Air Force aircraft flying alongside one other was a significant breakthrough
after a delayed start to collaboration between the Forces.
The Italian Navy
already has three of the 15 F-35Bs that will be delivered, two of them training
in the United States. The Air Force is receiving 60 F-35As, but it will also
receive 15 Bs, which will be used in missions that need planes to take off from
short runways.
“With this action, we
are turning a new page where interoperability and the idea of Joint and
Combined synergy between armed forces are tangible truths,” the Air Force
stated in a statement.
