Old Harriers and new choppers unleashed. Welcome aboard the Cavour aircraft carrier during “blue water ops”. January 27, 2012
Posted by David Cenciotti in Aircraft Carriers.Tags: AW-101, Caio Duilio, Cavour, F-35, Italian aircraft carrier Cavour (550), Italian Navy, Joint Strike Fighter, Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, Marina Militare, McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II, NH-90, STOVL
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On Jan. 25, along with the ambassadors of NATO members, EU, Middle East and Mediterranean partners, The Aviationist has had the opportunity to visit the Cavour aircraft carrier during “blue water ops” off Civitavecchia port.
The event was jointly organized by the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to showcase one of the most important assets of the Italian Defense, one of the few European aircraft carriers that is not only important for military operations, but it is also a versatile platform that made its operative debut during the Haiti relief mission.
The Cavour symbolizes “a variety of possible uses that make it cost-effective” said Adm. Luigi Binelli Mantelli, future Chief of Staff of the Italian Navy.
Along with the F-35 program, the Italian Navy flagship was recently targeted by potential budget cuts as a consequence of the country’s financial crisis. However, “the AV-8B will fly until 2020, when they will be replaced by the F-35B. The MoD Di Paola has confirmed the project will continue. We don’t know how many aircraft we will get. The Air Force will get the majority, but even the Italian Navy will receive its planes” Binelli Mantelli said.
According to the Admiral, the F-35, is mainly an Air Force project, since the service needs the plane for its future. However, the Navy has joined the program and the future STOVL (Short Take Off Vertical Landing) variant of the Joint Strike Fighter, that was removed from probation one year earlier than expected, will serve as a force multiplier and complement the capabilities of the ship, capabilities that were showed to the ambassadors, diplomats and media during a tactical event involving the AV-8B+ Harrier (both single and double seat), AW-101 and NH-90 helicopters, the San Marco Regiment special forces and the Caio Duilio, a radar-evading Anti-Air Warfare destroyer.
Giovanni Maduli took the following images for The Aviationist.
On board a modern stealth Anti-Air Warfare destroyer September 29, 2011
Posted by David Cenciotti in Italian Navy.Tags: AAW, Anti-Air Warfare, Caio Duilio, Common New Generation Frigate, EMPAR, Italian Navy, Libya, PAAMS, Principal Anti Air Missile System, stealth
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According to the US DoD, the term “Anti-Air Warfare” is used to indicate the action required to destroy or reduce to an acceptable level the enemy air and missile threat. It includes measures such as the use of manned interceptors, bombers, AAA and guns, SAM (Surface-to-Air Missile) and air-to-air missiles and electronic attack needed to destroy the incoming threat or to reduce its effectiveness.
Do you remember the missile that exploded 2 km from the frigate “Bersagliere” 15 miles off Libya, on Aug 3? Or the the four Scud missiles fired in the Sirte area towards Misratah and intercepted before they were due to impact on the city by missiles fired by a USN cruiser operating in the Gulf of Sirte? These episodes show that vessels can be targeted (even by accident) by missiles and that the presence of AAW warships is extremely important in current maritime operations.
The “Caio Duilio” is a brand new Anti-Air Warfare destroyer belonging to the Horizon Common New Generation Frigate (CNGF) programme, which involves cooperation between Italy and France for the construction of two vessels for the fleet of each national Navy. The ship was taken on charge by the Marina Militare (Italian Navy) on Apr. 3, 2009 and is equipped with a Sylver vertical launcher for 48 Aster 15 and 30 missiles, autonomous Command and Control capabilities, LRR S-1850 M long range radar, and PAAMS (Principal Anti Air Missile System) based on Windows 2000 software with an EMPAR multi-function radar. Interestingly, it was designed with straight lines that give the unit some stealth (low observability) capabilities.
In 2009, during the Armed Forces Days, the Italian Navy offered guided tours of the ship at Civitavecchia harbour with some interesting photo opportunities. Images below were taken by Maduli during that visit.
The ship is named after Gaius Duilius a Roman politician and admiral involved in the First Punic War, who lived in the 3rd century BC and gave the Ancient Rome the dominion of the sea.
On Sept. 22, 2011, at Gaeta, the “Caio Duilio” AAW frigate received the battle flag, which marked its official entry into the fleet. The ceremony was attended by the Italian Joint Chief of Staff, Gen. Biagio Abrate; by the Italian Navy Chief of Staff, Adm. Bruno Branciforte; by the Mayor of Rome, Gianni Alemanno; and by the ship commander, Capt. Paolo Pezzutti.
The first ship of the same class, the “Andrea Doria” has been already employed in the enforcement of the maritime embargo in Libya and in anti-piracy operations.
Giovanni Maduli attended the ceremony at Gaeta and boarded once again the “Caio Duilio” AAW destroyer to take the following pictures.
Italian Armed Forces Day 04-08.11.09 November 9, 2009
Posted by David Cenciotti in Armed Forces Day, Italian Air Force, Italian Navy, Military Aviation.Tags: AB-212, Aeronautica Militare, aircraft carrier, AMI, Caio Duilio, Carabinieri, Cavour, Civitavecchia harbour, CNGF, Esercito Italiano, flight clothing, flight gear, Guardia Costiera, Guardia di Finanza, Horizon Common New Generation Frigate, ItAF, Italian Air Force, Italian Army, Italian Navy, Marina Militare, PAAMS, Principal Anti Air Missile System
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The Italian Armed Forces celebrated the 91st Anniversary since the end of WWI with a series of events involving bases, airports and military installation all around the country. As happened in 2008, Circus Maximus (Circo Massimo) in Rome hosted an exhibition with equipment belonging to the Aeronautica Militare (Italian Air Force), Marina Militare (Italian Navy) and Guardia Costiera (Coast Guard), Esercito Italiano (Italian Army), Guardia di Finanza (Custom Police) and Carabinieri (Military Police). As the following pictures I took there on Nov. 7 show, aircraft, helicopters and much more (including flight gear) was displayed in each Armed Forces’ booths.
As happened last year (read http://cencio4.wordpress.com/2008/11/29/on-board-the-cavour-aircraft-carrier/) the second and largest Italian aircraft carrier Cavour was again in Civitavecchia harbour and could be visited by anybody who wanted to “embark”. Unfortunately, there were few photo opportunities, since unlike 2008, the aircraft inside the hangar could not be photographed. On the other side, many images could be taken on board the “Caio Duilio” (D554), that was next to the Cavour. The “Caio Duilio” is a brand new Anti-Air Warfare destroyer belonging to the Horizon Common New Generation Frigate (CNGF). The ship was taken on charge by the Marina Militare on Apr. 3, 2009 and it is equipped with a Sylver vertical launcher for 48 Aster 15 and 30 missiles, autonomous Command and Control capabilities, LRR S-1850 M long range radar, and PAAMS (Principal Anti Air Missile System) based on Windows 2000 software with an EMPAR multi-function radar. Interestingly, the ship was designed with straight lines that give the unit stealth (low observability) capabilities. The following pictures were taken by Giovanni Maduli.
