Conte di Cavour

The Cavour, formerly Andrea Doria, aircraft carrier was ordered in 2000 by the Italian Navy to provide improved land attack capability over current Giuseppe Garibaldi aircraft carrier. The ship construction began in 2001 at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Riva Trigoso (Genoa), the launch occurred on 20 July 2004, and commissioning by the Italian Navy is planned by 2007. The Cavour has been designed to operate both fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft with capability for almost 8 and 12 respectively on the flight deck. AV-8B, NH90 and EH101 aircraft will operate from her deck. Beyond 2010, the F-35B V/STOL stealth fighter might replace AV-8Bs onboard this ship due to Italy involvement in the JSF project and Italian Navy officials claims. The F-35B acquisition and deployment has not been confirmed yet. Up to 1,210 people can be carried aboard this ship: 451 crew, 203 aircrew, 140 amphibious task force, 325 Marines of San Marco Battalion and 91 additional troops if required. The ship range will be 7,000 nautical miles cruising at 16 knots with an endurance of 18 days. The cargo capacity will allow transport of 50 LVTP-7 or VCC-80 Dardo armored vehicles, up to 24 Ariete MBTs, or up to 100 lightweight armored vehicles. The Cavour also provide a secondary amphibious assault capability in addition to its attack aircraft wing for air operations. The SAAM system (SAAM-IT) employing a 32-cell Sylver VLS, the Empar radar system, the RASS 30X/I surface radar, the RAN 40 L 3D long-range radar and the ASTER 15 missile will counter any possible airborne threat such as aircraft and anti-ship missiles. The RASS 30X/I radar is specially suitable for interception of sea-skimming missiles. Stealth characteristics will enhance ship's survivability.

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