Last Sunday, the Italian Carrier Strike Group (CSG), consisting of the aircraft carrier Cavour (C550) and the frigate Alpino (F 594), arrived at the island of Guam, a significant U.S. naval and air base in the Pacific Ocean.
The two Italian units are en route from Australia to Japan, where they will participate in RIMPAC 2024, the world’s largest international maritime exercise. RIMPAC is primarily organized by the U.S. Navy with the collaboration of other participating nations’ navies.
A third unit, the Multi Purpose Combat Ship Montecuccoli (P432), will also join them, coming from Italy via the Atlantic and the Panama Canal.
Notably, as the Cavour entered the port of Guam, its flight deck was lined with 6 AV-8B+ and 5 F-35B aircraft (in addition to two helicopters), an impressive air contingent for the Italian carrier, which we are not accustomed to seeing on its deck.