Italian Navy’s Historic Pitch Black Participation in the Indo-Pacific

The Italian Navy has made a historic move by deploying the aircraft carrier Cavour to the Indo-Pacific for the Pitch Black Exercise in Australia.

The 2024 edition of this multinational exercise, as announced by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), promises to be the largest and most significant in its 43-year history.

It will feature 140 aircraft and 4,500 personnel from 20 nations, with several countries, including Spain, participating for the first time.

This deployment includes the Cavour aircraft carrier, its embarked air group, and an escort group of frigates and patrol vessels.

This marks the first time these Italian units have been sent to the Indo-Pacific region. The Cavour and its escorts arrived in Darwin on July 10, following a journey through the Atlantic and around Africa.

The Cavour Carrier Strike Group includes the frigate Alpino (F 594) and the patrol vessel Raimondo Montecuccoli (P 432). The Spanish Navy’s frigate Numancia (F-83) also joins as part of the allied forces.

Pitch Black 2024, until August 2, sees Cavour’s air group in drills with Australia’s Air and Navy forces for better interoperability.

The group features F-35B and AV-8B Harrier II Plus jets, both VTOL, and NH90 helicopters.

This is significant as the Italian Navy aims to achieve initial operational capability for these new aircraft during the exercise.

Following Pitch Black, Cavour will sail to Japan for further combined activities with the Japanese Self-Defense Forces and the United States Seventh Fleet.

This deployment highlights Italy’s strategic shift towards the Indo-Pacific and its commitment to international military cooperation.

Background – Italian Navy’s Historic Pitch Black Participation in the Indo-Pacific

Pitch Black 2024 is a major multinational military drill led by the Royal Australian Air Force with 20 nations.

It focuses on air combat and maneuvers to enhance interoperability, demonstrate collective defense, and strengthen Indo-Pacific alliances.

This exercise shows increasing security alliances and military readiness around China, potentially shifting regional power and impacting China’s strategies.