The Italian flagship that doubles as a heavy vehicle transport

Countries & Cities · Published 12 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Launched in 2004, the Cavour is much more than a simple flight deck. This versatile vessel can transition from launching advanced F-35B fighters to acting as a massive warehouse for main battle tanks and heavy military equipment.

The Cavour serves as the flagship of the Italian Navy, a role it has held since its commissioning on 27 March 2008. Named in honor of Camillo Benso, Count of Cavour—the statesman who drove the expansion of the Italian Navy following Italy's unification—the ship was designed for extreme multi-role versatility. Beyond its primary role in fixed-wing and helicopter air operations, the ship's 2,800 m2 hangar space can function as a significant vehicle hold.

The logistics of the Cavour are impressive: the hangar can accommodate up to 24 main battle tanks, typically the Ariete model, or a much larger fleet of lighter vehicles, including 50 Dardo IFVs and over 100 Iveco LMVs. To facilitate this, the ship features aft access ramps rated for 70 tons and two elevators capable of lifting 30 tons for aircraft. While its standard displacement is 27,900 tons, the vessel can exceed 30,000 tons when at full military capacity.

The carrier's capabilities have evolved through significant modernization. Following a major upgrade completed in May 2020, the Cavour became capable of supporting the Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II. This transition involved intensive flight trials in the United States in early 2021, working alongside the US Navy's VX-23 squadron. Looking toward the future, the Italian Navy announced plans in March 2026 to integrate the Turkish-developed Bayraktar TB3 unmanned combat aerial vehicle, which features folding wings for short-take-off operations.

The ship's history is marked by both humanitarian and commercial milestones. In January 2010, it deployed to Haiti as part of Operation White Crane to provide earthquake relief. In a more unusual chapter, the active warship was used in 2013 for a Pirelli press event, where guests stayed overnight and rode motorcycles across the flight deck.

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