Summary and Key Points: China may have the largest navy by number of vessels, but it operates only two aircraft carriers, with a third, the Type 003 Fujian, undergoing trials.
-These carriers have mostly stayed near Chinese waters without notable overseas missions. In contrast, the significantly smaller Italian Navy's flagship carrier, ITS Cavour, has embarked on a five-month deployment to the Indo-Pacific, operating with regional partners and allies, including joint exercises with the U.S. Navy and various European navies.
-This deployment highlights Italy's global naval reach and contrasts with China's more regionally focused carrier operations.
China may now have the largest navy in the world in terms of the number of vessels, but it only has two operational aircraft carriers. Its third flattop, the Type 003 Fujian, is currently undergoing sea trials. More importantly, China’s carriers have largely operated close to its territorial waters and have made no notable overseas deployments.
That latter fact stood out as the significantly smaller Italian Navy’s flagship aircraft carrier ITS Cavour arrived this month in the Indo-Pacific region. Cavour sailed as part of a five-month deployment where it will operate alongside multiple regional partners. The Italian Short Takeoff Vertical Landing carrier—escorted by the Bergamini-class frigate ITS Alpino (F-594)—departed the southern port of Taranto on June 1.
During the deployment, the carrier will be escorted by additional allied and partner vessels. Already the warship has operated with the Spanish Navy’s Santa Maria-class frigate Numancia and the French Navy’s La Fayette-class frigate Aconit, as well as the Greek Navy’s Elli-class frigate Themistocles and Rouseen-class fast attack boat Vlachakos. While in the Red Sea, Cavour integrated with the U.S. Navy’s Nimitz-class supercarrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) and the Arleigh Burke-class frigates USS Laboon (DDG-58) and USS Cole (DDG-67).
“The Italian aircraft carrier Cavour continues her journey towards the Far East. The vessel is now in Singapore. Meanwhile, information has been released about the number of aircraft on board and its upcoming commitments,” social media account @ItaMilRader posted on X.
ITS Cavour and its escorts will continue to operate in the region, including a planned August port visit to Japan. The flagship of the Italian Navy embarked an air group that included F-35B Lightning II and AV-8B Harrier II fixed-wing aircraft, alongside NH90 helicopters.
“The (Cavour) Carrier Strike Group is the most versatile and flexible tool to project power and influence on a global scale, offering a wide range of options of intervention to the political decision maker,” said Italian Navy chief of staff Adm. Enrico Credendino in a statement to Naval News. “Today is also fundamental to control the sea and to keep the sea line of communications open. The [Carrier Strike Group] is also an instrument of reassurance for the alliance and deterrence to the enemy. The acquisition for the Italian Navy of the 5th generation aircraft is a step more in the Italian defense capabilities. We will reach IOC (initial operating capability) during our deployment in the Indo-Pacific region and this would be a really important step.”
During the deployment, Cavour will take part in joint exercises with Vietnam, Indonesia, and Singapore. The Italian flagship is the most recent European carrier to make the global trek to the Indo-Pacific, following the UK’s deployment of the Royal Navy’s flagship carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth to the Far East two years ago.
Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: Editor@nationalinterest.org.
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