Two specially instrumented U.S. F-35Bs from Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 23 (VX-23) at Naval Air Station Patuxent River (NAS Pax River), Maryland, landed aboard Italian aircraft carrier ITS Cavour, off the US East Coast, on Mar. 1, 2021.

The flagship of the Marina Militare (Italian Navy) had left Naval Station Norfolk (Virginia) on Feb. 28, in preparation of the four-week sea trials. During the sea trials, the F-35 Patuxent River Integrated Test Force (ITF) will verify the compatibility between the 5th generation fighter aircraft and the ITS Cavour. The trials also represent an important step towards declaring the Initial Operation Capability (IOC) of the F-35B in the Italian Navy, expected by 2024.