Today's Italian Navy

[designeraccd]

Another, newer photo of TRIESTE. She looks pretty close to launching??

I "see" a new model that will need building soon!! DFO

[designeraccd]

Hhmmm, very ready for launch...like today, 25 May, '19!! Sure looks like the start of a ski-jump on port side near bow??? More F-35B $ale$ for L-M???? DFO

[Little h]

NavyLookout Retweeted Michele Florio

NavyLookout on Twitter
‏ @NavyLookout
4m4 minutes ago

This twin island thing is catching on

Michele Florio
‏ @MicheleFlorio04

The moment of the launching of the LHD Trieste (L 9890) @ItalianNavy at the shipyard of Castellamare di Stabia Napoli @FincantieriMG @Quirinale @MinisteroDifesa @Eli_Trenta @WarshipsIFR @Saturn5_ @D__Mitch @podernaval @Capt_Navy @RID_Difesa @USNavy @CavasShips @seawaves_mag

[designeraccd]

or.........s s s s ssplash!!! DFO

[Pelican]

As ever I'm a bit late catching up but it seems Italy may be cutting back on their F35s due their financial situation:

On May 25th the Italian Navy launched a new aircraft carrier, the L9890 Trieste, to supplement the two existing carriers in its fleet. The warship was laid down on February 20th, 2018, and is expected to replace the carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi in the early 2020s. While the new 32,000 ton warship was initially expected to deploy F-35B vertical landing capable stealth fighters, Rome’s suspension of orders for the F-35 and reported plans to terminate participation in the program has placed the warship’s future in serious doubt. The Trieste, like its lighter 13,800 ton predecessor the Garibaldi, has neither a catapult launch system nor an adequate deck to accommodate conventional carrier based fighters such as the F-18 Hornet or Rafale M, which combined with its lack of arresting gear restricts it to deploying specialised short takeoff vertical landing capable jets. The Garibaldi currently deploys the American AV-8B Harrier II fourth generation fighter developed by McDonnell Douglas, a platform which dates back to 1981 and is currently being phased out of service by its primary operator, the U.S. Marine Corps, in favour of the fifth generation F-35B.
With the Italian Navy having already invested over €1 billion in the new aircraft carrier, whether the Italian government will approve an acquisition of F-35 fighters for its decks remains to be seen. Acquisition of a small contingent of the F-35B fighters, while still terminating plans for further F-35A orders for the Italian Air Force, remains a possibility given the unique capabilities of the specialised vertical landing capable jet. Britain is currently the only state which plans to exclusively deploy the B variant of the F-35, but Italy's circumstances could lead it to follow suit. The F-35B is currently the most costly fighter jet in production the world and the only fighter in production with vertical landing capabilities, making it far more difficult to substitute than the cheaper F-35A. While vertical landing capable fighters are reportedly being developed for similar but larger carriers in the Russian and Chinese Navies which could be compatible with the warship Trieste, and Italy's ties to these states have warmed since the election of the Democratic Party in 2018, the country's longstanding NATO membership and need to maintain good relations with its European and North American allies makes such an acquisition highly unlikely. The Italian Air Force currently has 9 F-35A fighters in service out of 28 ordered, with a further 30 F-35B jets planned of which it has yet to order or receive any.

See - https://militarywatchmagazine.com/artic ... R1ZDz7QvEk

Some earlier info I dug out, apols for any dupes.
Italy's Trieste and the F35B, note this is a bit old - https://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-b ... W9ObwgEWSQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sazv60zN02c
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEATacuOjqk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pX67EH1njOo
https://www.defensenews.com/air/2018/11 ... apability/
Additionally USAF:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nij4JcgUpkU

[Brian James]

LHD ITS Trieste prior to launch.

[designeraccd]

Maybe the Italian Navy could afford the 16-F-35Bs that the Turks have on order, if these aircraft + the F-35s they have on order don't get delivered due to Erdowan's increasingly dictatorial regime?? Polish those knee high boots for goose stepping!!!

Sanctions can really CUT. DFO

[Brian James]

Flagship ITS Cavour.

[designeraccd]

One can hope that those "old" Harriers can be kept flight worthy, both for the CAVOUR and maybe the new TRIESTE, too??? DFO

[Brian James]

FREMM Multi-Purpose Frigate ITS Carlo Bergamini pictured in May 2019.