The Italian Navy has commissioned its newest LHD ITS Trieste (L-9890) with the capability to operate helicopters and F-35B STOVL fighters.
InfoDifesa reports that the new LHD was commissioned five years after its launch in 2019. The 230 m flight deck of the ship will allow for the operation of AW-101 naval helicopters, A-129D attack helicopters, and F-35B STOVL fighter jets recently fielded on ITS Cavour aircraft carrier.
The upper deck adopts a twin-island layout to optimise aircraft operations and a ski jump for F-35B fighters.
The lower hangar can house various armoured vehicles, landing craft (LCM and Hovercraft), and amphibious vehicles (AAV-7 or BAE-Iveco ACV) in the floodable section.
The self-defence capability consists of three STRALES 76 mm naval guns with DART course-corrected ammunition against air targets (recently used against Houthi attacks), 16 SYLVER A50 VLS for Aster-15/30 or quad-packed CAMM-ER air defence missiles, and decoy launchers.
ITS Trieste is important for the Italian Navy as the second F-35B capable ship after the ITS Cavour but with fewer fighters onboard due to its nature as an LHD.
