Facing the year 2026, the Italian Navy would take an important step in the framework of its modernization by launching the studies and analyses to equip itself with a new aircraft carrier, which for the moment is known as “Portaerei di Nuova Generazione” (translatable to New Generation Aircraft Carrier). According to the first indications slipped by local sources, it will be a design equipped with a nuclear propulsion system, and that, in turn, will stand out for incorporating an advanced electromagnetic catapult system (EMALS).
The novelty in question is in line with what was expressed months ago by the Chief of Staff of the Marina Militare, Admiral Enrico Credendino. Just as we reported in June, the institution’s plans outlined a scenario in which a new nuclear aircraft carrier would be available by the decade of the 2040s, which, if materialized, would make it the third nation to have a ship of these characteristics; the other two being the U.S. and France. At that time, said authority affirmed: “The Navy has a budget project from here to 2040. They are considering a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, also drones of all kinds and devices to deal with the threat of cyber warfare.”
In line with the latter, it is worth recalling that Rome has a record defense budget for 2025, which is around 31.2 billion euros and of which about 3 million were allocated for the development of new naval technologies among which the studies for the future aircraft carrier in question would be found. Additional estimates from specialized media suggest that in 2026 another million euros will be added for this, while in 2027 another 2 million extra.
Along with these issues, it is important to highlight that although the ship’s design is not confirmed, both Fincantieri and Nuclitalia (a company in which Enel, Ansaldo Nucleare and Leonardo participate) and the University of Genoa are currently working on the development of compact reactors that could equip the future flagship of the Marina Militare. We are talking about work framed within the so-called Minerva program, launched by the Italian Ministry of Defense in 2023 with the aim of studying the viability of incorporating this type of propulsion systems into warships.
Finally, it is useful to highlight that it has also not been defined what the fighter would be with which the future Italian aircraft carrier will be equipped, this being one of the main doubts in the analyses of the moment. As of today, Italy has an embarked wing for its aircraft carrier ITS Cavour that has the F-35B stealth fighters from Lockheed Martin as its main asset, which are operated by both the Navy and the country’s Air Force. It is not clear, however, if these will reach the aforementioned goal of 2040 as the main alternative, or if on the contrary the GCAP program will provide a more viable candidate by then; based on the declarations of Admiral Credendino himself, it also remains to be elucidated which drones will be added to equip the ship.
*Images used for illustrative purposes.
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