ATLANTIC OCEAN (March 7, 2021) F-35 test pilots U.S. Marine Maj. Brad Leeman, BF-05, and British Royal Navy Lt. Cmdr. Barry Pilkington, BF-19, performs night lighting evaluation flights in F-35B short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) variants of the jet aboard the Italian 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 here. 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)