Lockheed Martin F-35 planes of the Italian Air Force and the "Cavour" aircraft carrier will participate in a joint military exercise with armed forces of Japan and Australia in 2024. This is a move that is part of the Italian strategy to strengthen cooperation with Tokyo, a Rome industrial partner in the development of a new generation war aircraft.

It was stated by the Italian Defense Minister, Guido Crosetto, on the sidelines of a press conference organized for the presentation of the "Villaggio Italia - world tour of the 'Amerigo Vespucci'" initiative today. Having set sail in July 2023 from the Italian port of Genoa, in 11 months the maritime unit of the Italian Navy has already reached 15 of the 31 scheduled countries, and starting from the next arrival in Los Angeles, an exhibition stand will be set up in the ports.

Crosetto added that other exercises with the Japanese air force are planned for 2025. Finally, he also recalled the industrial cooperation with Japan and the United Kingdom as part of the Global Combat Air Program (Gcap), the development platform for a sixth generation military aircraft which should see the light of day by 2035.