Italy making its Pitch Black debut.
Aeronautica Militare and Marina Militare deploy to Australia for the very first time in support of Italy’s Indo-Pacific deployment.
Article: Jaryd Stock
Images: Jaryd Stock, Daniel Vorbach, Ryan Imeson, RAAF, Marina Militare
In an historic first, the Marina Militare (Italian Navy) flagship, the aircraft carrier ITS Cavour, arrived in Australia to participate in Exercise Pitch Black, representing a significant milestone for Italy’s naval operations in the Indo-Pacific during its planned six-month deployment to the region.
The Cavour, measuring 244m long and with thirteen advanced aircraft embarked onboard, including the F-35B Lightning II and AV-8B/TAV-8B Harrier II Plus from the Gruppo Aerei Imbarcati ‘Wolves’, underscores Italy’s commitment to enhancing its military capabilities and strengthening international partnerships.
Having departed Italy on June 30th the aircraft carrier and her Carrier Strike Group (CSG) stopped in Qatar, Maldives and Singapore, the deployment also coincided with Aeronautica Militare’s (Italian Air Force) air task group that deployed to Darwin for the exercise.
The Italian Air Forces detachment included four F-2000 Eurofighters, six F-35A and two F-35Bs Lightning II aircraft alongside one G550 CAEW (Conformal Airborne Early Warning) aircraft operating from RAAF Base Darwin and one KC-767A tanker operating from RAAF Base Amberley.
During the initial part of deployment, the CSG sailed from the Mediterranean up to the Suez Canal with the Numancia Spanish frigate and the French Navy’s Aconit, Forbin and Somme (flagship of the Standing NATO Maritime Group 2) ships the first in its 29-year history with an aircraft carrier.
Commanding Officer of ITS Cavour Captain (CAPT) Milos Argenton highlighted the strategic importance of Italy’s participation in Pitch Black.
“This is the first time that Italy has joined Exercise Pitch Black and the first time an aircraft carrier has participated,” CAPT Argenton said.
“The Cavour has travelled across the Atlantic and around Africa, but this is the first time it has travelled into the Indo-Pacific region.
“It is a multi-capable ship that accommodates over 600 people, thirteen jets and two NH-90 helicopters.”
Underlining the significance of this deployment for Italy’s national interests and economic ties in the IndoPacific, the Italian Navy also brought the ITS Alpino frigate with an embarked NH-90 onboard for the duration of Pitch Black as apart of its Carrier Strike Group.
Carrier Strike Group Commander from the Italian Navy, Rear Admiral (RADM) Giancarlo Ciappina, said Pitch Black was important for Italy.
“Exercise Pitch Black is a milestone as we declare our initial operational aircraft capability, working alongside Australia. Learning to fly and work together is a massive achievement,” RADM Ciappina said.
“Being a part of this exercise is already a great success. By bringing partner nations together, we grow our mutual knowledge, relationships and friendships.”
With personnel deployed in Darwin, the Italian Navy aims to enhance operational readiness and expand collaborative efforts with allied forces, including the Royal Australian Air Force and Royal Australian Navy.
Pitch Black also gave the crew onboard the aircraft carrier another rare opportunity to work closely with the U.S. Marine Corps conducting air operations onboard the Cavour off the coast of Darwin.
Marine Rotational Force-Darwin’s Air Combat Element consisting of MV-22 Ospreys from Medium Tilt-Rotor squadron VMM-268 ‘Red Dragons’ operated onboard the Cavour making it the first time the Kaneohe Bay based unit operated from the ship. The Osprey squadron conducted deck landing qualifications onboard the carrier.
Image: Marina Militare
Captain Dario Castelli, responsible for Cavour’s Air Wing operations, said the Italian Navy was aiming to increase its sortie generation rate and enhance interoperability with international partners.
“Exercise Pitch Black … is the largest aerial exercise the Italian Navy has ever participated in,” he said.
Naval forces from various nations converge in Australia to engage in joint training and this operational exercise.
“Exercise Pitch Black is a huge opportunity for us to explore with many international partners, allies and friends,” RADM Ciappina said.
“I feel very honoured to represent Italy, the Italian Navy and the crews of the Carrier Strike Group.
“We are here ready to train together and grow our knowledge with our partner nations.”
The Aeronautica Militare (Italian Air Force) Brigadier General Filippo Nannelli, detachment commander for this years iteration of Pitch Black, said his people were excited to be in Australia for the event.
“We are looking forward to the chance to collaborate and work with so many international partners from this area of the globe, far from our homeland,” Brigadier General Nannelli said.
“The most challenging part of the transit to Australia was the logistic footprint of our deployment. It required a lot of effort from our men and women to ensure we arrived here with so many aircraft,” Brigadier General Nanelli said.
“Exercise Pitch Black is one of the biggest exercises where we are working together to create interoperability among partners,” Brigadier General Nannelli said.
“It is up to 20 nations working and flying together, sharing knowledge and exchanging experience to make up a solid bond and relationship to work together to safeguard security on a global scale.”
“We have also been working closely with RAAF No.75 Squadron from Tindal as we operate F-35’s they also operate F-35’s and so we have been able to work with them on things like spare parts.”
“Its been a long cooperative process working with the Australians working with the F-35 community since last autumn, and we are sharing knowledge and experience for example we can share a mission data file with them because we are both, along with our allies that fly the F-35, are apart of the wider F-35 community.”
At the conclusion of Pitch Black 2024, Italian Air Force aircraft and personnel relocated to Misawa, Japan to join forces with the Japan Air Self-Defense Force for Exercise Rising Sun 2024.
The ITS Cavour Carrier Strike Group have also sailed to Japan to train with the U.S. Navy’s aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln CSG and then alongside its Japan Maritime Self Defence Force’s counterparts and is expected to train along side one of Japans Izumo class carriers.
The ITS Cavour is expected to return to Italy in early November.
Jaryd picked up a camera at a young age and has never looked back. He now combines photography and writing to highlight "Downunder" aviation; especially U.S. DoD units. Jaryd uses Nikon cameras and lenses.