F-35B Landed Aboard Italian Navy Aircraft Carrier ITS Cavour For The First Time

Two F-35B Lighting II jets landed aboard Italian aircraft carrier ITS Cavour (CVH 550) on March 1st, marking a first for the Italian Navy.

Italian Navy press release:

Departed on February 28 from the base of the US Navy’s Second Fleet in Norfolk, the Cavour ship has started the “hot” phase of the “Ready for Operations” campaign. The first landing of a US Marine Corps F-35B aircraft on the deck of the Navy aircraft carrier represents a fundamental step in the long and complex certification process for the use of the new aircraft.

The completion of the “Sea Trials” phase of sea trials, which will last in the Atlantic Ocean for about four weeks, will allow the flagship of the Naval Team to test the flight deck and verify the impacts with the fifth-generation aircraft in key take-off and landing moments in different trim conditions and in relation to various factors such as winds and the state of the sea, to arrive at the final certification of “Ready for Operations”. 

Italian Army received next batch of VTLM 2 NEC Lince 2

82nd Infantry Regiment "Torino", Italian Army received next batch of VTLM 2 NEC Lince 2 multipurpose armored vehicles. the latest vehicles arrived from the IVECO Defence and these LMVs have NEC (Network-Enabled Capability);

The Lince-2 was unveiled in Eurosatory 2016. It weighs over 8,100 kg with an enhanced suspension system, ensuring the comfort of the passengers and drivers utilizing the vehicle.

The vehicle has now automatic drivetrain management, tire central inflation system, and electronic stability program. The engine as well is turbocharged with diesel, creating 220hp with an 8-speed automatic transmission with torque converter and 2-ration transfer case which is permanent.

Its ‘standard’ road speed is 90 km/hr but with the ‘battle switch’, it can run up to 110 km/hr.

The crew protection have also been improved. The V-shape hul of the vehicle and the suspended seats are just two of numerous features that are added in the latest model.