🇮🇹 Italian Navy explores Bayraktar for its Cavour

 

The Italian Navy is reportedly exploring the use of the Bayraktar TB3 as a carrier-based UAV, with the Cavour emerging as a potential operating platform. While no formal acquisition has been announced, the concept aligns with the Navy’s growing interest in expanding its unmanned capabilities at sea.

The TB3 has been designed for ship-based operations, featuring folding wings and short take-off capability, making it compatible with carriers without catapult systems. This places it within a niche segment of naval UAVs suited to platforms like the Cavour or the LHD Trieste.

A key factor behind the credibility of this option is the existing cooperation between Baykar and Leonardo. Any potential acquisition would likely be framed within this industrial partnership, allowing for the integration of Italian systems and aligning the platform more closely with European requirements.

At this stage, the TB3 should be understood as one of several possible options rather than a confirmed program. However, the combination of operational fit and industrial cooperation makes it a plausible candidate as the Italian Navy continues to define its future unmanned aviation capability.

F-35B begins 'ski-jump' trials for carrier operations

The F-35 has begun ground-based trials of the 'ski-jump' technique for launching the aircraft from the decks of aircraft carriers, the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced on 23 June.
In the test, an F-35 of the STOVL variant, took off from NAS Patuxent River in Maryland using a ramp that shares the same dimensions as those fitted to the Royal Navy’s now-decommissioned Invincible-class carriers.
Wilson said the test on 19 June re-proved the concept developed by the UK to launch its Sea Harrier jets from the decks of its through-deck cruiser carriers in the late For the F-35B, the 'ski-jump' will be used to launch jets from the decks of the Queen Elizabeth and Prince of Wales carriers being built for the UK Royal Navy, and may be adopted by other customers such as Italy.
janes

Maintenance of Italian aircraft carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi completed ahead of schedule

Italian aircraft carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi will soon rejoin the navy after its maintenance was completed months ahead of schedule.
The carrier was schedule to be delivered back to service in March next year. Work and testing will now be completed in November.
ilsole24ore

Italian Navy begins Camcopter S-100 evaluation

The Italian Navy has commenced technical evaluations of the Camcopter S-100 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) aboard the San Giusto Landing Helicopter Dock..
The Italian Navy became the first European customer for Camcopter when it selected the UAV in February 2014. One system, consisting of two aircraft and a control station, has been leased to the Italian Navy to meet ISR requirements of vessels at sea.
According to the navy, trials have so far evaluated the UAV’s ability to integrate with ship’s systems, to take-off and land from the ship’s deck; and the capabilities of the system’s sensors. Tests have also measured the noise and the radar and optical visibility to determine detection parameters of detection.
The Italian Navy plans to operate the UAV as an extension of the host vessel’s sensor suite, to broaden the effective horizons of its ISR assets, and provide greater standoff range when approaching potential threats in the vicinity.
shephardmedia

Schiebel to lease S-100 Camcopter VTUAV to Italian Navy

The Italian Navy has agreed a lease with Schiebel for the Camcopter S-100 vertical take-off unmanned air vehicle (VTUAV). The contract, will enable the navy to conduct an extended operational evaluation of the system.
The lease contract, which is expected to become effective with at the end of March 2014, includes loan of a control station and two air vehicles, for training Navy personnel.
The lease contract was developed following the successful demonstration of the Camcopter on board the navy's Artigliere-class frigate Bersagliere.
janes

Schiebel CAMCOPTER S-100 Wins Italian Navy Contract

The Italian Navy has selected the CAMCOPTER S-100 unmanned air system (UAS) to provide support for its fleet.
The CAMCOPTER S-100 has already proven efficient to the Italian Navy as it was the first UAS ever to fly from an Italian ship, the ITS Bersagliere, a Soldati-class frigate, in April 2012.
Camcopter S-100 mountsa Wescam MX-10 and a Shine Micro Automatic Identification System, and has the capability to collect time-critical data during uninterrupted periods of up to six hours, and can hover, which provides decision makers with a flexible unique means of collecting and disseminating information. Additionally, the S-100 will be mounted with a Schiebel-designed harpoon system, which supports takeoff and landing in conditions up to Sea State 5.
seapowermagazine

Italy Plans €6B Ship Buy

The Italian Navy has secured funding for 10 large ships it plans to build rapidly over the next decade as the bulk of the current fleet goes out of service.
Italy’s 2014 state budget, approved in late December, contains a €5.8 billion funding package for the new vessels, mainly a new multipurpose ship conceived by Navy planners to fight wars as well as handle humanitarian relief operations.
The work will likely go to Italian shipyard Fincantieri.
Construction of the first vessel would take two years, with a launch in three, delivery in four and entry into service in five years.
The amphibious ship would replace one of three aging landing platform dock vessels and make good on a procurement plan for such a vessel that has been on standby for a number of years.
The Navt needs the new ships to be finalized as soon as possible, since 50 of the Navy’s 60 vessels will go out of service in the next decade.
The Navy received a large amount of funds for fleet renewal in the 1970s, it is no coincidence that many ships are heading out of service around the same time, making a second round of large investment essential.
The baseline design offers two cannons — a 127mm gun in the bow and a 76mm gun at the stern — along with a hangar for two NH90 helicopters, the option of carrying containers or small boats on deck, and a varying number of launch cells for the Aster 30 missile. Some of the vessels could mount the Scalp Naval missile, or the Tomahawk cruise missile.
defensenews

Italian Navy Receives First NH90 NFH in Full Operational Capability

The Italian Navy has taken delivery of its first NH90 NFH helicopter in Full Operational Capability configuration. The helicopter will be assigned to the 5th Helicopter Squadron of the Italian Navy.
The Italian Navy has ordered 56 NH90s, 46 of which in the NFH variant.
The five previously delivered Step A (MOC, Meaningful Operation Capability) helicopters will begin to be retrofitted to bring them to the final configuration.
aviation.ca

FRC East delivers first Italian AV-8

Col. Mitchell A. Bauman, Fleet Readiness Center East Commanding Officer, stands with the first Italian Navy AV-8 to undergo planned maintenance and modification work at the facility. FRC East recently completed the extensive aircraft upgrades in 201 days—19 days earlier than projected and more than $275,000 under estimated costs. RADM Paolo Treu, Commander of Italian Naval Aviation, expressed his thanks to FRC East, writing, “Please convey my deepest admiration and appreciation to your ‘artisans’…they did a fantastic job.” The next Italian Harrier to be modified should arrive at FRC East by early January 2013.
navair.navy

Philippines Navy Deal for Italian Warships Nearing Completion

Negotiation for the acquisition of two warships from Italy may be completed within the year.


defense-studies

Italia se replantea la compra del F-35B de despegue y aterrizaje vertical/ Italian Air Force rethinks about F-35B

Italia no comprará el F-35B (STVOL), hasta que no disponga de la versión de despegue y aterriazaje convencional.
Las dudas sobre el F-35, vienen tras el rechazo de Reino Unido a esta versión y por las dudas sobre el coste final que se han levantado en Estados Unidos.
La Fuerza Aérea tiene previsto adquir F-35B para sustituir a sus AMX y 69 F-35 de despegue convencional para sustituir al Tornado.
De momento la fuerza aérea mantiene estos planes pero se sugiere una reducción en el número de F-35B.
La Armada Italiana pretende comprar 22 aviones de despegue y aterrizaje vertical para sustituir a sus AV8 Harrier, que deberían operar desde su nuevo portaavioines Cavour.
defensenews
_______________________________
Italy may reconsider its planned order of STOVL Joint Strike Fighters for its Air Force and has scrapped a plan to take delivery of the STOVL variant before the conventional JSF.
The doubts over the Air Force's purchase STOVL JSFs and the decision to push back planned delivery of the aircraft were prompted by the UK pull out from the program, fears over costs and doubts raised over the aircraft's future in the U.S.
The Air Force has envisaged buying 40 STOVL JSFs to replace its AMX fighter bombers, alongside 69 conventional JSFs to replace its Tornado aircraft.
Currently, the Air Force retains the STOVL variant as a firm requirement, suggesting one alternative scenario could be a reduction in the STOVL order by the Air Force, as opposed to an outright cut.
The Italian navy is meanwhile seeking to buy 22 STOVL aircraft to replace the AV8s due to fly from its new carrier the Cavour.
defensenews

Primeros AW101 de la Marina Italiana en Afganistán/ Italian navy deploys first AW101s to Afghanistan

La fuerza de maniobra italiana "Group Shark", compuesta por tres helicópteros AgustaWestland AW101 para apoyo a fuerzas especiales, ha sido ya desplegada en Afganistán, siendo el primer servicio de combate para el modelo en servicio con la Marina Militare.
flightglobal
______________________________
The Italian navy's "Task Group Shark" deployment of three AgustaWestland AW101 amphibious and special forces support helicopters has arrived in Afghanistan, representing the service's first combat deployment with the type.
flightglobal

EL PORTAAVIONES ITALIANO CAVOUR SE PREPARA PARA RECIBIR AL F-35

Entre el 18 y el 22 de octubre el portaaviones italiano Cavour ha realizado un encuentro con diferentes sectores encaminados a preparar la llegada del F-35B Joint Strike Fighter, de los cuales la Marina Italiana planea adquirir 22 unidades de la versión F-35B STOVL, entre 2014 y 2021.
cavok

Italia despliega helicópteros AW-101 en Afganistán/ Italian Navy AW-101s Start Afghanistan Mission

Tres helicópteros AW-101 de la Marina Italiana, llegarán a Afganistan el próximo 13 de Octubre, para una estancia de 12 meses. Serán transportados por un C-17 de la USAF, y estarán basados en Herat, desde donde realizarán misiones de vigilancia, patrulla, escolta a convoys y evacuación.
Están equipados con visión nocturna y medidas de protección.
Hasta ahora la Marina Italiana venía utilizando en Afganistán helicópteros AB212 y AB214.
Por otra parte, debido al reciente atentado contra tropas italianas, donde murieron cuatro soldados, el ministro de defensa ha solicitado al parlamento que los aviones AMX de la Fuerza Aérea Italiana, sean autorizados a lanzar bombas, ya que hasta ahora solo pueden realizar misiones de reconocimiento.
(leer más)
___________________________________________________________
Three Italian Navy AW-101 helicopters will arrive in Afghanistan by Oct. 13 to start a 12 month tour.
The helicopters, which are being flown to Afghanistan by a U.S. Air Force C-17, will be based with Italian forces in Herat and undertake surveillance, patrol, convoy support, deterrent and medevac missions.
Equipped with night-vision and self-protection systems, the helicopters will be accompanied by a 67-strong group of crew and maintenance staff.
Previously, the Italian Navy has deployed AB212 helicopters to Afghanistan to rotate with Air Force AB214s.
Separately in Afghanistan, an IED explosion on Oct 9 near Farah killed four Italian soldiers riding in an Italian Lince vehicle.
In response, Italian defense minister Ignazio La Russa said he would confer with the Italian parliament this week on whether to allow Italian aircraft in Afghanistan to carry bombs. Italian AMX fighters now flying in the country are only permitted to carry out surveillance missions.
(read more)

Italia tendrá nuevos buques anfibios/ Italy To Get New Amphibious Ships

La Armada italiana ha recibido la aprobación para la adqusición de dos buques de 20.000 tm de asalto anfibio (LHD), con la posibilidad de un tercero configurado para portaaeronaves (LHA). La primera unidad está prevista para 2014.
Los LHD sustituirán a los buques clase San Giorgio de desembarco (LPD), comisionados en 1987 y 1988. El LHA sustituiría al portaaviones Garibaldi, que actualmente se dedica a misiones anfibias y portahelicópteros, ahora que el portaaeronaves Cavour está en servicio.
Los nuevos LHD medirán 190 metros de eslora y un dique seco para cuatro lanchas de desembarco, con un hangar para seis helicópteros de tipo medio. La cubiera de vuelo tendrá seis puntos de toma y tendrá dos ascensores.
Podrá transportas hasta 760 infantes de marina, además de la dotación del buque, que es de 200 marinos.
AVIATION WEEK
_______________________________________
The Italian navy has received the go-ahead to procure two 20,000-ton amphibious assault ships (LHDs), with the possibility of a third ship, configured with extensive aviation facilities (LHA).
The preliminary LHD project is funded and will take 12 months for completion. It will be followed by a project definition phase requiring eight months and leading to a contract. Delivery of the first ship comes within 30 months after that. If everything goes to plan, the first LHD arrives in late 2014.
LHDs will replace two 8,000-ton San Giorgio-class LPDs, commissioned in 1987 and 1988. The LHA will eventually replace the carrier Garibaldi, which is being dedicated to amphibious and helicopter roles now that the Cavour carrier is in service.
The new LHDs will be 190 meters (623 ft.) long, feature a well dock that holds four LCACs (landing craft air cushions), and have a hangar with dedicated maintenance area where six medium-heavy helicopters can be recovered. The flight deck will provide six landing spots and be served by two elevators, one at the stern, the other forward of the island. It will thus be possible to launch air-assault operations, lifting a reinforced rifle company with each wave and rapidly moving personnel and equipment to the deck. Helicopter capacity will be 12-15, depending on mix.
Capabilities also include four smaller LCVP (landing craft, vehicle, personnel) vessels and two motorboats, all in dedicated spaces with cranes under the port flight deck.
The LHD can accommodate 760 troops, including an aviation detachment and staff personnel, in addition to a ship’s crew of only 200, a result of shipboard automation.
AVIATION WEEK

Marina Italiana desplegará AW101 en Afganistán/ Italian navy to deploy AW101s to Afghanistan

Italia desplegará tres AgustaWestland AW101 a Afganistán en octubre. Los aparatos procederán de Escuadrón de Helicópteros número 1, con base en Luni. Los pilotos se han entrenado utilizando simuladores de la Royal Air Force con datos de Afganistán. Anteriormente la Marina Italiana desplegó Agusta-Bell AB212 y Sikorksy SH-3D Sea King a Afganistán, pero por el tipo de misiones a realizarm el AW101 es mas adecuado.
___________________________________________________________
Italy will deploy three of its AgustaWestland AW101 amphibious support helicopters to Afghanistan in October for a 12-month tour of duty. The "Task Group Shark" detachment will involve aircraft from the navy's 1st Helicopter Squadron at Luni, plus 55 personnel and an aeromedical evacuation team, assigned to the International Security Assistance Force's Regional Command West structure. Pilots are being prepared for operations by using an Afghan database on simulators for the UK Royal Air Force's AW101 Merlins in the UK.
The navy has previously deployed Agusta-Bell AB212s and Sikorksy SH-3D Sea Kings to Afghanistan, but the high terrain and medical evacuation mission demands mean a more capable aircraft is required.