Two US carriers, Italian naval forces join in US 6th Fleet exercises

The USS Gerald R Ford carrier strike group participated in a dual-carrier exercise in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. (Janes/Michael Fabey)

Ships, aircraft, and personnel from the USS Gerald R Ford (CVN 78) Carrier Strike Group (CSG 12) and the USS Dwight D Eisenhower (CVN 69) Carrier Strike Group (CSG 2) trained on high-value unit defence, ballistic missile defence, replenishments-at-sea, cross-deck flight operations, and maritime security operations in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea in early November, US Navy (USN) officials confirmed on 3 November.

US 6th Fleet Command and Control ship USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20) and Italian Navy frigates ITS Virginio Fasan (F 591) and ITS Carlo Margottini (F 592) also participated in the exercises, USN officials confirmed.

Fasan and Margottini participated to exercise NATO alliance integration, USN officials said. Fasan had also participated in Exercise ‘Composite Unit Training' with the Eisenhower CSG earlier in 2023.

“The seamless integration of naval and air commands between us and our partners helps build a theatre-wide common tactical picture to make us a more ready and postured force,” Rear Admiral Marc Miguez, commander of CSG 2, said in a statement.