The refuelings took place over the Gulf of Aden as the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group (CSG) conducted a Multi-Large Deck Event (MLDE) with the Italian Navy’s ITS Cavour CSG.
Two U.S. Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet, belonging to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 151 and 14, carried out aerial refueling with four Italian F-35B Lightning II and four AV-8B+ Harrier II jets attached to ITS Cavour Carrier Strike Group, on Oct. 18, 2024. Although the Italians had practiced refueling from Super Hornets during Neptune Strike 2022, this was the first time a “package” of eight Italian aircraft were refueled by the U.S. Navy tankers.
The AAR (Air-to-Air Refueling) took place over the Gulf of Aden, in the 5th Fleet AOR (Area Of Responsibility), within the context of the second Multi-Large Deck Event (MLDE) between the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group (CSG) and Italian Navy’s ITS Cavour CSG. This exercise provided both naval forces, with over 7,500 U.S. and Italian Sailors and Marines, the opportunity to enhance their interoperability through integrated planning, cross-deck exchanges, communications drills, a fast-roping exercise, and a coordinated air defense drill.
The USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group and the ITS Cavour Carrier Strike Group had conducted the first-ever bilateral MLDE in the Indo-Pacific on Aug. 9, 2024.
Rear Adm. Adan Cruz, commander of Carrier Strike Group 3, emphasized the importance of these collaborations in a public release.
“The opportunity to exercise our interoperability with our Cavour CSG counterparts for the second time during our deployment highlights the strategic advantage that stems from our strong alliances. We’ve taken every opportunity to fly and sail together, deepening our operational capacity in international waters.”
The event also allowed for relationship-building between the two commanders. Rear Adm. Giancarlo Ciappina, commander of the Cavour Carrier Strike Group, hosted Cruz aboard ITS Cavour to further solidify their working relationship. This is what the Italian officer said:
“We are proud to work once again alongside the Lincoln Carrier Strike Group, building on our first interaction in the Pacific Ocean two months ago. This has been another valuable opportunity to train together, exchange knowledge, and highlight the versatility and flexibility of our navies operating globally. We remain committed to ensuring maritime communication lines are open and safe, strengthening our bonds and cooperation.”
The exercise kicked off after a virtual conference between Cruz and Ciappina to ensure all systems were ready. Leadership from both CSGs participated in personnel exchanges, with key members of the Abraham Lincoln CSG touring ITS Cavour and vice versa. Ships, including USS O’Kane and ITS Raimondo Montecuccoli, conducted joint live-fire exercises, and explosive ordnance disposal teams from both countries exchanged expertise and participated in fast-roping drills. The event culminated in a complex air defense exercise, integrating tactical aircraft from both strike groups.
Rear Adm. Cruz expressed his appreciation for the collaboration: “It is an honor to once again work jointly with our NATO Allies. I am grateful to Rear Adm. Ciappina and the entire crew of ITS Cavour for their gracious hospitality. Our continuous training together pushes our interoperability forward.”
Ciappina also reflected on the importance of these exercises. “I am very grateful to Adm. Cruz and the whole crew of the Abraham Lincoln CSG for their professionalism during these challenging times for global peace and stability. Their dedication and commitment to shared values reaffirm the strength of our alliances on a global scale.”
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The Abraham Lincoln CSG continues to operate in key areas, prepared to carry out a range of missions from combat operations to collaborative maritime security efforts with allies. The group remains poised to deter threats, defend critical interests, and, if necessary, respond decisively to protect the international rules-based order.
Participating assets
Participating in the MLDE event were vessels from both nations, including the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), the USS Frank E. Petersen, Jr. (DDG 121), and the Italian aircraft carrier ITS Cavour (CVH 550). The exercise also featured a variety of aircraft, including F/A-18E and F Super Hornets, EA-18G Growlers, F-35C Lightning IIs from the U.S., and Italian F-35Bs and AV-8B Harrier IIs.
Notably, both the Italian Navy’s and Air Force’s F-35Bs are embarked on ITS Cavour aircraft carrier and took part to the MLDE’s events, including the “buddy-buddy” refueling. In fact, the ItAF deployed the F-35B from the 32° Stormo (Wing) on the ITS Cavour after the completion of the Rising Sun 2024 exercise with the Japan Air Self-Defence Force (JASDF) and the return to Italy of all the remaining aircraft. The Italian Navy declared the Initial Operational Capability (IOC) of the embarked F-35 component on Aug. 28, 2024.
Unfortunately, no official photo of the aerial refueling of the four AV-8B Harriers has been released yet.
Cavour’s Indo-Pacific Journey
The Cavour Carrier Strike Group (CSG) set sail from Italy in June, shortly after successfully completing its operational certification during the Mare Aperto 2024 multi-domain exercise. The mission aimed to evaluate and validate the air component’s readiness, with the objective of reaching Initial Operational Capability by the mission’s conclusion.
After crossing the Indian Ocean, the CSG arrived in Australia for one of the deployment’s key highlights: the biennial Pitch Black exercise. The 2024 edition was the largest in the event’s 43-year history, involving 21 nations, over 140 aircraft, and around 4,435 personnel.
This year marked the first time an aircraft carrier participated in the exercise, with ITS Cavour playing a central role. The deployment also facilitated cooperation with the U.S. Marine Corps’ Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 268 (Reinforced), whose MV-22 Osprey tiltrotors performed deck landing qualifications on Cavour.
After Pitch Black, the Cavour CSG headed to Japan, where it teamed up with the USS Lincoln for the Multi-Large Deck Event. Following a logistics stop in Guam, the CSG proceeded to conduct joint exercises with Japan’s Carrier Aviation Component.
The Italian aircraft carrier is currently on her way back to Italy, where it plans to arrive next month.
