F-35B aboard Italian Navy Aircraft Carrier ITS Cavour for the first time

Two F-35B Lightning II jets landed aboard Italian aircraft carrier ITS Cavour on March 1st, marking a first for the Italian Navy. ===================== The Italian Navy flagship arrived at the US Navy base in Norfolk in mid-February for a series of operations alongside U.S. military assets to attain the Italian Navy’s “Ready for Operations” certification to safely land and launch F-35B aircraft. For about four weeks Cavour and her crew will test the flight deck and verify the impacts with the fifth-generation aircraft in key take-off and landing moments in different trim conditions and in relation to various factors such as winds and sea state. At the end of the test campaign, the F-35B be will be certified and qualified for operation aboard Cavour. The Italian Navy ordered a total of 15 F-35B fighter jets. The Italian Air Force has the same number on order. Future Italian Navy LHD Trieste will also be able to deploy these aircraft. It now features a ski jump similar to Cavour. Read more: ======