Cavour-class

The Cavour was ordered on 22 November 2000 and constructed by Fincantieri. The vessel was laid down in July 2001 and launched in July 2004. It was commissioned in March 2008 and reached full operational capability in June 2009. Serving as the flagship of the Italian Navy, the ship was named in honor of Camillo Benso, Count of Cavour.

The ship is designed for V/STOL fixed-wing and helicopter operations, command and control, and the transport of military personnel and heavy vehicles. The hangar is configured to function as a vehicle hold for main battle tanks and infantry fighting vehicles, supported by aft access ramps and aircraft elevators. The vessel also operates as a landing platform helicopter. Modernization completed in May 2020 enabled the integration of F-35B Lightning II aircraft. Shipboard systems include long-range 3D radar, multifunction radar, and mine avoidance sonar. The carrier's air wing consists of a mix of F-35B fighters and AgustaWestland AW101 helicopters. Defensive systems include surface-to-air missiles and several calibers of naval guns.

The carrier’s first mission took place in January 2010 during Operation White Crane, providing relief following the earthquake in Haiti. In 2013, the ship was used for a commercial press presentation involving motorcycle testing on the flight deck. In February 2021, the ship deployed to the United States to conduct F-35B integration trials with the US Navy’s VX-23 squadron. These trials included operations alongside the USS Gerald R. Ford. In February 2022, the ship participated in interoperability training with the carriers Harry S. Truman and Charles de Gaulle in the Mediterranean. The Cavour Strike Group began a five-month deployment to the Indo-Pacific in June 2024. This deployment included a bilateral maritime exercise with the Indian Navy in October 2024, involving large-force engagements and coordinated weapon firings in the Arabian Sea.