New Delhi, May 12 -- The introduction of a new generation weapon system inevitably imposes radical change on those who adopt it-especially when that system effectively "skips" a generation, as in the case of the Italian Navy's Carrier Air Group (GRUPAER). For several years, the Air Group has successfully sustained two clearly distinct flight lines: the AV-8B Harrier II Plus-now approaching the end of its operational life, yet still fully capable of performing Close Air Support (CAS) and reconnaissance missions- and the F-35B, the short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) multirole fifth generation fighter. Recent media reports indicate that the US Marine Corps may retire its AV-8B+ fleet by the end of 2026, potentially accelerating the It...