A joint exercise, involving both the Italian Navy aircraft carrier ITS Cavour and the HMS Queen Elizabeth, was carried out in the central Mediterranean Sea in November 2021. It was a milestone for Italian Air Force as their F-35B landed for the first time on ITS Cavour's deck. Adding to the success, Italian F-35Bs also landed on HMS Queen Elizabeth, the first European NATO partner to operate the fifth generation aircraft from the UK aircraft carrier. Finally, two U.S. Marine Corps F-35Bs deployed aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth operated from the flight deck on the Italian aircraft carrier for the first time once again showcasing the interoperability of the jet. The UK Carrier Strike Group Commander emphasized that "the fact that U.S., Italian and UK F-35Bs are able to fly to and from one another’s flight decks offers tactical agility and strategic advantage to NATO." (Read more...)