MARINA MILITARE ITALIANA VERSO PORTAEREI NUCLEARE ? LE PAROLE DELL' AMMIRAGLIO CREDENDINO

In June, Admiral Enrico Credendino confirmed to Corriere della Sera that a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier is among the options being considered by the Navy, part of its strategic planning for 2040. The goal is to respond to increasingly complex scenarios, with new threats, increased energy demand, and the growing use of drones and high-energy weapons. The project is part of the creation of Nuclitalia, which Rid had already discussed in May, a new company founded by Enel, Ansaldo Energia, and Leonardo to develop advanced nuclear technologies, and the Minerva program, launched by the Ministry of Defense to evaluate the use of nuclear energy aboard military vessels. At the heart of this program are the so-called SMRs, small, water-cooled modular reactors, designed by Fincantieri for naval use. The goal is to provide Italy with a naval platform with extended energy autonomy, capable of powering systems such as electromagnetic catapults, laser weapons, and high-power radar, ensuring extended operations in remote areas such as the Indo-Pacific or the Arctic. Fincantieri is analyzing the integration of 30 megawatt thermal reactors, compatible with civilian infrastructure. The first phase of the program involves a comparison of traditional and nuclear-powered ships in terms of operational performance. Crendino indicated that initial studies are focused on submarines and destroyers, but the aircraft carrier option remains on the table for the future. The choice of nuclear propulsion would offer a theoretical autonomy of decades, reduce logistical dependence, free up internal space for jet fuel and ammunition, and improve overall operational efficiency. Italy currently operates the aircraft carrier Cavour and the LHD Trieste. A future nuclear-powered aircraft carrier would increase the speed of intervention and the ability to remain in place in critical scenarios. It would also strengthen Italy's role in NATO naval groups and long-range joint operations, offering greater strategic flexibility and less dependence on fossil fuels.