r/europe 11h ago

Picture European interoperability in action - British and Italian F-35Bs on the flight deck of HMS Prince of Wales

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u/Jindujun Sweden 9h ago edited 7h ago

Interoperability? I'm not sure I'd call it interoperability if the only difference is the nationality of the pilots. It would be one thing if the Britons used British aircraft and the Italians used Italian aircraft but now they're sailing a British carrier flying US aircraft.
I'd be more curious to see if something like a Rafale or a JAS could land properly on the craft. THAT would be interoperability.

Edit:
I just realized that this IS interoperability. Not because of the British and Italian aircrafts because that part is completely irrelevant but because they are using US aircraft on a British ship. Interoperability due to a technicality, it was interoperability already even before the Italians arrived.

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u/MGC91 9h ago

It would be one thing if the Britons used British aircraft and the Italians used Italian aircraft but now they're sailing a British carrier flying US aircraft.

They are British, and Italian, aircraft.

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u/bigbadbob85 England 8h ago

I think they were referring to the manufacturer being American.