Italy to begin study for its first potential nuclear-powered aircraft carrier in 2026.

Italy will launch feasibility studies in 2026 for the Portaerei di Nuova Generazione, a next-generation aircraft carrier concept that could become the country’s first vessel powered by a nuclear reactor, complementing the conventionally-powered Cavour and Trieste ships already in service.

As reported by Ciro Nappi on October 20, 2025, the Italian Navy is preparing to begin design studies in 2026 for a new aircraft carrier, which could, for the first time, employ nuclear propulsion. The project, known as Portaerei di Nuova Generazione (New Generation Aircraft Carrier), could also integrate electromagnetic catapults (EMALS) and advanced cyber-protected control systems as part of a broader strategic plan extending to 2040.
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Early assessments will focus on propulsion options, including the possibility of a compact naval reactor under the Minerva nuclear research initiative, as Italy’s only active carrier, the Cavour, and its newly commissioned amphibious assault ship Trieste, remain conventionally powered. (Picture source: US Navy)

Italy will begin preliminary studies in 2026 for a new aircraft carrier known as Portaerei di Nuova Generazione (New Generation Aircraft Carrier), conceived as part of a long-term modernization program of the Marina Militare. According to initial information shared by Ciro Nappi, the vessel is expected to be nuclear-powered and may feature an Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS). Admiral Enrico Credendino, Chief of Staff of the Italian Navy, confirmed in June 2025 that the design phase of a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier is under evaluation within the Navy’s strategic plan extending to 2040. He also explained that all new Italian naval vessels will be designed to integrate unmanned systems and enhanced cyber defense capabilities. Fighter selection for the future carrier remains undecided, with speculation including the F-35C (likely produced in the Cameri facility), a future U.S. Navy carrier aircraft (the F-A/XX ?), or possibly a navalized derivative of the trinational GCAP program.

Currently, Italy operates two aircraft-capable warships: the Cavour aircraft carrier, commissioned in 2009, and the amphibious assault ship Trieste, which entered service in late 2024. Both vessels are configured for Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) operations, capable of supporting F-35B fighters and helicopters. The Trieste’s 230-meter flight deck allows it to act as an alternate carrier when required, particularly during the Cavour’s scheduled maintenance cycles. This dual-carrier configuration ensures continuous operational availability and interoperability with NATO and the United States. Italy’s naval forces are increasingly integrated with allied commands, with the destroyer Caio Duilio coordinating operations with U.S. F-16s during missions in the Red Sea, for instance. The Italian Navy has also been heavily involved in Operation Aspides, a multinational effort to counter Houthi drone attacks, where Italian ships have intercepted eight aerial threats. Admiral Credendino characterized the mission as evidence of the Italian Navy’s evolving partnership with the U.S. Navy, moving from simple coordination to full interchangeability.

The Minerva program, launched in 2023 by the Directorate of Naval Armaments, serves as Italy’s institutional framework for developing naval nuclear propulsion, and defines three distinct phases. The first focuses on feasibility studies for integrating new-generation nuclear reactors into warships. The second centers on the concept design of a nuclear-powered combat ship, and the third compares operational performance and costs between conventional and nuclear-powered vessels. The program is funded at €2.1 million and is managed by a temporary consortium led by Fincantieri, including Cetena, Ansaldo Nucleare, Rina Services, and the University of Genoa. Fincantieri’s CEO Pierroberto Folgiero has stated that the studies are exploring compact reactors of around 30 megawatts thermal output, designed with chemical safety measures enabling docking in civilian ports. Minerva’s initial phase concentrates on submarines and destroyers, while a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier remains under evaluation for future implementation. This program also benefits from Fincantieri’s participation in international nuclear research projects and partnerships aimed at reducing naval dependence on fossil fuels.

A complementary initiative, Nuclitalia, was created in May 2025 by Enel, Ansaldo Energia, and Leonardo, which respectively hold 51, 39, and 10 percent stakes. Nuclitalia’s objective is to evaluate advanced nuclear technologies applicable to both civilian and defense sectors, with initial focus on water-cooled Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). The organization’s mandate includes assessing mature reactor designs, identifying technical requirements for domestic applications, and developing partnerships for co-production and industrial scaling. Its board is chaired by Ferruccio Resta, former rector of the Politecnico di Milano, with Luca Mastrantonio, head of Enel’s Nuclear Innovation division, serving as managing director. The company operates under the oversight of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, as all three shareholders are state-controlled. For Enel, the project qualifies as a related-party transaction of limited scope, while Leonardo invoked exemption procedures due to its limited financial exposure. A technical committee will soon be established to coordinate analysis and technology selection.

Let's remember that the Italian Navy's interest in nuclear-powered ships is not new. In 1959, Admiral Ernesto Giuriati proposed the Guglielmo Marconi nuclear submarine, designed around a 3,400-ton platform using a 30-megawatt pressurized water reactor adapted from the U.S. S5W model. The reactor was to power turbines delivering 15,000 horsepower to a five-bladed propeller. Its development was assigned to the inter-service center CAMEN, created in 1962 for military nuclear research. The project was terminated in 1963 when U.S. collaboration ended, officially because of export restrictions on military nuclear technology. In reality, the suspension was linked to NATO strategic concerns after the Cuban Missile Crisis and domestic political resistance to rearmament. Italy also considered equipping the cruiser Giuseppe Garibaldi with U.S. Polaris ballistic missiles and the Vittorio Veneto with vertical launch tubes, but both projects were abandoned. The renewed exploration of nuclear propulsion therefore revives an ambition suspended six decades ago, now under different technological, strategic, and political conditions.

A nuclear-powered aircraft carrier would provide Italy with extended endurance and operational autonomy, enabling decades of continuous operation without refueling. Nuclear propulsion would eliminate reliance on maritime fuel supply chains, allowing sustained global deployments and faster repositioning during crises. It would generate sufficient electrical output to power EMALS, directed-energy defenses, and high-demand radar systems, supporting command, control, and drone operations. Admiral Credendino emphasized that intercepting inexpensive aerial threats with multi-million-dollar missiles is unsustainable, thus the Navy continues refining cost-effective gun-based air defense using Leonardo radars and Oto Melara cannons. The absence of large propulsion fuel reserves would also free internal volume for aviation fuel, munitions, and aircraft maintenance areas, allowing higher sortie rates and extended time on station.

Like current discussions in South Korea and Japan, a nuclear-powered capital ship would bring several advantages for the Italian Navy. The absence of conventional fuel storage would make space available for additional sensor arrays, ammunition magazines, and drone control facilities. With the country’s participation in missions such as Operation Aspides in the Red Sea and the monitoring of Russian naval activity in the Mediterranean, a nuclear-powered carrier would ensure continuous readiness and greater interoperability with allied navies, such as France. Current naval plans anticipate future personnel increases and continued modernization of Italy’s air and sea assets, including the integration of new destroyers, submarines, and frigates under programs like DDX and FREMM EVO. As feasibility studies progress from 2026 onward, the Portaerei di Nuova Generazione could position Italy among the few capable of designing and operating nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, joining nations such as France, the United States, and China.

Written by Jérôme Brahy

Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.