Chief of the Italian Navy Admiral Enrico Credendino has stated that the F-35Bs of the carrier ITS Cavour (C550) have reached initial operational capability.
The Italian Navy has gotten one step closer to a modern combat aircraft capability for its aircraft carrier ITS Cavour after 2600 flight hours of F-35Bs. Compared to Harrier aircraft, the F-35B offers stealth, speed, and network-centric warfare advantages.
The U.S. and U.K. have replaced their Harrier STOVL aircraft for LHA ships and aircraft carriers with F-35B as well. F-35B as the STOVL variant of the F-35 family, features downward thrust vectoring for its engine and three lift fans (one behind the cockpit, one redirecting towards wing roots) for short takeoff from LHDs, LHAs, and non-catapult aircraft carriers.
The aircraft lands vertically by fully tilting the engine nozzle down. Due to the presence of lift fans, F-35B can only use the GAU-22 Gatling gun with an under-fuselage gun pod.
Besides the differences, the F-35B functions very similarly to the F-35A and F-35C variants, which have common avionics and weapons.
