Italian F-35B Lightning II jets have embarked on HMS Prince of Wales during Exercise Neptune Strike 2025, marking another milestone in UK-Italy cooperation and NATO’s integrated carrier aviation.
Combined Carrier Operations
Imagery shared by the Royal Navy and NATO shows Italian F-35Bs operating from the carrier as part of Carrier Strike Group 25’s eight-month Operation Highmast deployment from the Atlantic to the Indo-Pacific.
Personnel and Deployment Scale
The deployment includes 4,500 British personnel, among them 600 aviation specialists, 900 soldiers, and roughly 2,500 sailors and Royal Marines. The mission maintains a long-range British presence while integrating European allies into extended operations.
Italy’s F-35B Program
Italy plans a fleet of 90 F-35s, including 30 F-35Bs, approved in 2012 and reaffirmed in 2017. Deliveries began between 2015 and 2018, with program costs reported at approximately €14 billion. The STOVL jets are shared between the Italian Navy and Air Force under a rare dual-service arrangement.
Capabilities on the Flight Deck
Italian F-35Bs bring the same stealth profile, AN/APG-81 radar, EOTS system, and AN/ASQ-239 EW suite as their British counterparts. With a combat radius of 450–500 nautical miles, they can execute a wide range of missions in contested environments.
HMS Prince of Wales Features
The 65,000-ton carrier can embark up to 36 F-35Bs, supported by dual islands, large hangar space, and high sortie rates. The Italian aircraft now join an air wing of roughly two dozen British F-35Bs for integrated STOVL operations.
STOVL Performance of the F-35B
The F-35B is the only fighter combining stealth, supersonic speed, and short take-off/vertical landing capability. Its F135 engine and LiftFan system support vertical lift, while the internal weapons bay accommodates air-to-air and air-to-ground payloads.
NATO Interoperability
Neptune Strike evaluates multinational convergence in equipment, communications, and operational practices. Italian and British F-35Bs conduct maritime strike, air defense, and land-attack missions while feeding NATO command networks via Link 16.
Strategic Significance
The presence of Italian and British F-35Bs on a single deck sends a regional message of unity. In the Mediterranean, it reaffirms Europe’s ability to project carrier-based air power. In the Indo-Pacific, it signals an enduring European presence and commitment to NATO burden-sharing.
