A VX-23 F-35B aircraft landed on Italy’s aircraft carrier ITS Cavour. The Italian Navy (Marina Militare) released the first shots of aircraft taking part in the certification of the compatibility between aircraft and Italy’s aircraft carrier ITS Cavour. The aircraft belongs to US Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 23 (VX-23) at Naval Air Station Patuxent River (NAS Pax River), Maryland.
The trials represent an essential step towards declaring the Initial Operation Capability (IOC) of the F-35B in the Italian Navy, expected by 2024.
The Italian Navy Cavour aircraft was in overhaul and repair until May 2020 in Arsenale Militare Marittimo (Maritime Military Arsenal) of Taranto, Italy. The 27,000-ton ship had entered the Arsenal in December 2018. It was modernised to accommodate and operate the F-35B Lightning II aircraft.
