Recently, the Italian Navy released the "2024 Construction and Development Report" (hereinafter referred to as the report), which systematically elaborates on the strategic measures implemented by the Italian Navy around national interests in the context of the complex global maritime security environment. The report points out that the Italian Navy is guided by a "dynamic presence" and enhances its intervention capabilities in key waters such as the Red Sea, Arctic, and Indo Pacific region through strengthening combat readiness deployment, upgrading equipment systems, and deepening international cooperation. The report on promoting capacity building in multiple fields summarizes the achievements of the Italian Navy's construction in 2024 from the dimensions of power projection, equipment upgrading, and technology research and development. The intensity of combat readiness deployment is relatively high. Due to the ongoing conflicts in Europe and the spillover effects of the Gaza situation, the Italian Navy aims to maintain a high-intensity combat readiness state by being present wherever needed. Over the past year, nearly half of the Italian Navy's combat forces have been deployed. In the waters of the Red Sea, military actions are taken to ensure the safety of domestic merchant shipping in response to missile and artillery system threats. In the Indo Pacific region, the "Cavour" aircraft carrier battle group collaborates with allied naval forces to enhance strategic delivery capabilities. In the Arctic region, the "Alliance" oceanographic survey ship arrived at the 82 ° N latitude area to carry out tasks such as marine environmental reconnaissance. Breakthrough in key combat capabilities. In 2024, the carrier based aircraft F-35B of the "Cavour" aircraft carrier will achieve initial operational capability, making Italy the third NATO member state after the United States and the United Kingdom to deploy fifth generation carrier based aircraft for carrier battle groups. The F-35B is capable of carrying out various tasks in the future, from air defense to ground strikes, marking a new stage in the Italian Navy's aviation combat capabilities. The scale of the joint exercise has reached a new high. In 2024, the Italian Navy will organize the largest ever joint military exercise, "Polaris 2024". 50 ships, 6 submarines, 63 fighter jets, and over 10000 personnel from 26 countries participated in the exercise. The exercise covers joint operations, amphibious attacks, maritime control and denial, reflecting the Italian Navy's organizational and coordination capabilities in large-scale joint exercises. Technological innovation focuses on emerging fields. In response to emerging threats, the Italian Navy will launch the "Naval Innovation Compass" program in 2024, collaborating with industry and research institutions to focus on new concept weapons, next-generation sensors, unmanned combat equipment, underwater detection and protection, artificial intelligence technology, and other fields, promoting the development of related technologies. The underwater safety guarantee system is becoming increasingly perfect. Ensuring the safety of critical underwater infrastructure is a national security priority for Italy. In 2024, the Italian Navy will establish a key underwater infrastructure security center, integrating multi-channel data from commercial partners into a comprehensive monitoring and command system. At the same time, Italy plans to build a national underwater center, accelerate the research and development of unmanned underwater systems, advanced sensors, underwater communication networks, and a new generation of command and control systems, and strengthen underwater safety protection capabilities. According to recent statements from Italian Navy officials, the focus of future development will be on two major areas: the construction of nuclear powered aircraft carriers and submarines, and the systematization of unmanned combat forces. The plans for nuclear powered aircraft carriers and submarines continue to advance. With the retirement of the light aircraft carrier Garibaldi in October 2024, the Italian Navy currently only has one conventional powered aircraft carrier, the Cavour. Italian Navy Chief of Staff Kredendino revealed that Italy plans to build its first nuclear powered aircraft carrier by 2040. This will make Italy the second European country after France to have a nuclear powered aircraft carrier. Nuclear powered aircraft carriers have obvious advantages in range and fuel supply, but the research and maintenance costs are high, and it is widely believed that the plan faces dual challenges in technology and funding. In terms of carrier based aircraft selection, foreign media analysis suggests that Italy may purchase American made F-35C fighter jets. This move can reduce logistics support costs - the Italian Navy has already installed F-35B fighter jets, and future purchases of F-35C can share some maintenance systems. In addition, Italy plans to build several nuclear submarines and incorporate some of them into aircraft carrier battle groups. The deployment of unmanned combat forces is accelerating. Kredendino stated that the Italian Navy plans to deploy multiple types of drones by 2040. Foreign media speculate that Türkiye's Baika TB-3 UAV and the US General Atomics' Mojave UAV may be selected by Italy. The TB-3 drone has completed dozens of takeoff and ammunition delivery tests, achieved autonomous takeoff and landing with the help of artificial intelligence systems, and will be put into mass production by the end of 2024. Its selection advantage lies in: it has entered mass production and can shorten the assembly cycle; Italy and Türkiye have cooperation precedents in the field of defense industry, reducing the difficulty of technology integration; The autonomous takeoff and landing technology is suitable for the Mediterranean and Red Sea water environments, and meets Italy's maritime monitoring needs in North Africa and the Middle East. The "Mojave" drone is based on the MQ-1C "Grey Eagle" drone and has completed takeoff and landing tests on the British aircraft carrier "Queen Elizabeth" and the South Korean amphibious assault ship "Dokdo", with the ability to deploy quickly in harsh environments. Foreign media analysis suggests that as a member of NATO, Italy may value the advantage of integrating the "Mojave" drone with NATO's maritime combat command system. In addition, the takeoff and landing tests of the "Mojave" drone on multiple ships have verified its technical reliability and can reduce deployment risks. Analysts point out that the Italian Navy is accelerating its transformation towards a modern navy that is "responsive and technologically advanced" through multidimensional capacity building. The planning of nuclear powered aircraft carriers and unmanned combat forces reflects its forward-looking layout for future naval warfare. The improvement of joint exercises and underwater security systems further enhances its regional deterrence capability. However, the high cost and technological complexity of nuclear powered aircraft carriers, as well as the practical effectiveness verification of unmanned combat equipment, will also pose challenges to their future development. (New Society)