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British and Italian F-35 jets operate from each other’s carriers
The final major workout of the UK Carrier Strike Group’s 2025 deployment once again underscored the striking power and versatility of the F-35 stealth fighter – as British and Italian jets swapped places.
In the last major setpiece exercise of the carrier group’s mission, Italian F-35s called HMS Prince of Wales their home – with RAF and Fleet Air Arm jets doing the same from ITS Cavour.
Falcon Strike 25 in the central Mediterranean was the latest exercise to underscore the ability of nations which fly the F-35B to operate them from each other’s carriers.
Earlier in the Carrier Strike Group’s Highmast deployment, the UK force has worked with US and Japanese F-35Bs.
Jets from both 617 Squadron (The Dambusters) and 809 Naval Air Squadron (The Immortals) joined the Cavour – which is roughly half the size of HMS Prince of Wales and operates up to ten F-35s alongside a dozen AW101 helicopters (the Italian variant of the Merlin).
“It was an awesome opportunity and privilege to be welcomed aboard and operate UK jets from the Cavour,” said Commander Nick Smith, 809’s Commanding Officer, in a Royal Navy news release.
“The activity is hugely important to prove the true interoperability that is available between F-35 partners who, with shared common procedures and tactics, can effortlessly operate together from one another’s platforms.
“It also sounds a powerful message of NATO’s capability to project fifth-generation combat air power at a time and place of its choosing, whether that be a land base or a range of maritime platforms operated by member states.”
British, Italian and US Marine Corps F-35 jets operating together
His words were echoed by his counterpart in command of The Dambusters, Lieutenant Colonel Mike Carty RM.
“This is a powerful demonstration of how seamlessly NATO forces can operate as one team, proving that when we work together, we present a capable, credible, and united front against any threat,” he added. “This sends a clear message to any would-be aggressor about our unity and resolve.”
One British F-35B pilot was given the job of ‘paddles’ (aka ‘batman’) on the Cavour – officially Landing Signal Officer – safely guiding returning jets on to the deck of the Italian carrier.
“The language of controlling aircraft in the carrier environment is equal, the procedures and practices are aligned and an Italian Landing Signal Officer could just as easily control F-35s aboard HMS Prince of Wales as I can control aircraft aboard an Italian carrier,” ‘Paddles’ explained.
“With European militaries shrinking and the ever increasing threat from our adversaries, the interoperability between NATO allies is more crucial than ever.”
When airborne, the F-35s came under the direction of fighter controllers (nicknamed ‘Freddies’ in the Royal Navy), whose job it is to tactically handle the fifth-generation fighters – directing them on to targets and acting as the vital, seamless link with the carrier group ships.
The variety and complexity of the workout with the Italian, US Marine Corps and UK F-35s – plus some Italian AV-8B Harrier IIs thrown in for good measure – plus air-to-air refuelling and airborne early warning aircraft played out against a detailed real-world scenario tested everyone involved in Falcon Strike.
The Lightning
The RAF F-35B Lightning is a stealth aircraft operating alongside the Typhoon. A multi-role machine, Lightning is capable of conducting air-to-surface, electronic warfare, intelligence gathering and air-to-air missions simultaneously.
The Lightning has advanced sensors, mission systems and low- observable technology, otherwise known as stealth, that allows it to operate undetected in hostile environments. Using the integrated sensors, the pilot is provided with unprecedented situational awareness of the battle space.
The pilot is then able to share this information with other platforms using secure data links, or use this information to employ its weapons or electronic attack capability. Lightning is a short take-off and vertical landing aircraft that can operate from aircraft carriers and in austere environments. 617 Squadron reformed as the first front-line Lightning squadron in 2018, comprising RN and RAF personnel, followed by 207 Squadron – the Operational Conversion unit – in 2019. Lightning achieved its Initial Operational Capability (IOC) in December 2018 and became IOC (Maritime) in December 2020.
HMS Prince of wales
HMS Prince of wales is a Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier and it is one of the most powerful surface warships ever constructed in the UK.
Her flight deck is 70 metres wide and 280 metres long – enough space for three football pitches – and she holds 45 days’ worth of food in stores.
She will have a crew complement (minimum crew) of around 700, increasing to around 1,600 with aircraft onboard.
HMS Prince of Wales’ size and scope is awe-inspiring – she can embark 36 F-35B and four Merlin Helicopters.
HMS Prince of Wales’ crew will have an expansive range of skills, so she will be able to meet the widest range of tasks around the world, including:
- Humanitarian relief, saving lives across the seven seas
- High intensity warfighting
- Fighting terrorism
Photo credit: Crown Copyright
