Historic take-off: F-35 B operates from a British aircraft carrier for the first time

For the first time in history, Italian F-35 Bs took off and operated from the British aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales. This historic milestone was achieved during the NATO exercise MedStrike 25held in the Ionian Sea between Puglia and Sicily from 5 to 11 May 2025. The event represents a major leap forward in the capacity for cooperation and interoperability between allied naval forces.

Italy participated in the operation with an impressive device: the aircraft carrier Cavour with its embarked air group consisting of 8 F-35B fighters (6 from the Navy and 2 from the Air Force) and 5 AV-8B Harrierin addition to the frigates Alpine, Bergamini, Carabinierethe destroyer Mimbellithe support vessel Volcanopatrol Handbags and the Portuguese frigate Bartolomeu Dias. A device that confirms Italy's expeditionary capability in the maritime and aeronaval spheres.

An unprecedented multinational force in the Mediterranean

The overall line-up involved as many as 21 ships, 2 submarines, 41 fighters (of which 26 fifth-generation), 19 helicopters, 10 maritime patrol aircraft and beyond 8,000 military personnel from numerous NATO countries. Alongside the British carrier group led by the HMS Prince of Wales and supported by the HMS Dauntless and the HMS RichmondUS naval units also operated (USS Truxtun, USS The Sullivans), Norway (HNOMS Amundsen, HNOMS Maud), Canada (HMCS Ville de Quebec) and Spain (Méndez Núñez).

This exercise was a crucial opportunity to sharpen the operational capabilities of the Allied carrier groups and consolidate cooperation in complex scenarios. As stated by theAdmiral Aurelio De CarolisCommander-in-Chief of the Naval Squadron and the European Maritime Force, 'this type of training is essential to meet the challenges to maritime security and ensure freedom of navigation in increasingly dynamic scenarios.

F-35 B: Allied synergy and technological superiority

The Rear Admiral Giancarlo Ciappina, commander of the Italian aircraft carrier group, highlighted how this joint deployment is a natural evolution of the capability already achieved with last year's Indo-Pacific deployment. The ability to operate continuously from allied platforms strengthens training against conventional and asymmetric threats in a rapidly changing environment.

Protagonist of the event was theF-35B, the only fifth-generation embarked aircraft currently in service in Europe. Its full integration within a multinational air-sea group highlights the centrality of air superiority in maritime power projection. The F-35B proves to be a strategic element in the defence of national and allied interests, now and in the future.

The MedStrike 25 exercise confirmed the value of the joint training as an indispensable tool for maintaining high standards of readiness and interoperability, fundamental pillars for dealing with global security threats.

Source: https://x.com/COMUKCSG/status/1920845566327545991