A nuclear-powered aircraft carrier for Italy

In an interview published by Corriere della Sera on 8 June 2025, the Chief of Staff of the Italian Navy, Admiral Enrico Credendino, confirmed that the service has outlined a long-term investment plan extending to 2040, which includes the potential development of a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier.

“The Navy has a budget plan up to 2040, and a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier is being considered…”
(Corriere della Sera, 8 June 2025)

This marks the first time that an official and public reference has been made to the possibility of the Italian Navy acquiring a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. Until now, discussions have primarily focused on upgrading existing assets, without ever formally including this option.

The idea of equipping the Italian Navy with nuclear-powered vessels is not entirely new: technical and industrial assessments have circulated for some time. However, this is the first time an explicit reference has been made to a carrier using this type of propulsion. Admiral Credendino’s statement therefore signals a shift in posture and a public opening toward an option previously confined to internal analyses.

Italy’s current aircraft carrier, ITS Cavour (CVH 550), entered service in 2009 and is expected to remain at the core of Italy’s naval aviation capability for at least another decade. According to current forecasts, Cavour will still be in active service by 2040 and far from retirement.

Planning a new aircraft carrier—especially one larger and powered by nuclear energy—raises two fundamental issues:

• Dimensional constraints: Cavour was designed within size limits compatible with the Navigable Channel of Taranto. A larger ship, as would be necessary to accommodate nuclear propulsion and a larger air wing, would likely be unable to transit through that channel.
• Type of embarked aircraft: Cavour operates F‑35Bs with Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) capabilities. A future “conventional” aircraft carrier equipped with catapults and arresting gear would require different aircraft—namely, CATOBAR-type fighters. This would have significant implications for training, logistics, and interoperability. Considering the distant time horizon, no such aircraft is currently in development, unless the future GCAP fighter—a multinational project in which Italy is a partner—eventually includes a carrier-based variant (which is not currently planned).

Such transformations would also require significant infrastructure upgrades, including the construction of new bases, specialized maintenance facilities, and investment in advanced launch systems.

It is also worth noting that this project would rely on SRM-type naval reactors, which are not yet operational. Therefore, while the prospect of a true nuclear-powered aircraft carrier for Italy cannot be ruled out, the 2040 timeline appears overly optimistic. A more realistic scenario would place its entry into service in the following decade, making such a project more feasible from both a technical and industrial standpoint.