ATLANTIC OCEAN (March 7, 2021) F-35 test pilots U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Brad Leeman, BF-05, and British Royal Navy Lt. Cmdr. Barry Pilkington, BF-19, perform night lighting evaluation flights in F-35B short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) variants of the aircraft aboard the Italian navy aircraft carrier ITS Cavour (CVH 550). The Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 23 pilots are embarked with the F-35 Patuxent River Integrated Test Force (ITF) for sea trials on the Italian navy flagship. Cavour is in phase one of its “Ready for Operations” campaign to certify its use of the fifth-generation fighter aircraft. (U.S. Navy photo by Dane Wiedmann)