TRIESTE – The Italian Navy is aiming to introduce TB3 drones on board the aircraft carrier Cavour, strengthening its embarked air capabilities. The news was reported by the Naval News website and stems from statements by the Chief of Staff of the Navy, Admiral Enrico Berutti Bergotto, during a Senate hearing on 25 March.
A key point concerns Leonardo’s role. The Bayraktar TB3 system, developed by Turkey’s Baykar, will in fact be acquired through the Italian group thanks to an industrial agreement between the two companies. The cooperation is also taking shape through the joint venture LBA Systems, created to facilitate technological integration and access to European markets. The TB3 is a short take-off drone designed to operate from naval units such as the aircraft carrier Cavour. Compared with the earlier TB2, it introduces changes for maritime use: folding wings, reinforced landing gear and systems adapted to the naval environment.
With this move, Italy is on course to become the first European operator of the TB3. The system is intended for surveillance, reconnaissance and light attack missions, with the ability to deploy guided munitions. Integration on board Cavour marks a further evolution of the Navy’s air component, which already operates short take-off and vertical landing F-35B fighters. The introduction of fixed-wing drones extends the operational range and makes it possible to pair crewed assets with unmanned platforms.
The programme fits into a broader framework for the development of unmanned systems. The Navy already uses ScanEagle UAVs on FREMM frigates and has also recently acquired vertical take-off systems with offensive capabilities, able to release loitering munitions. No timeline or acquisition numbers have been indicated, but the direction is clear: to build a more flexible embarked air component, based on integration between crewed aircraft and drones.
