Participating in the 2011 military intervention in Libya after the transfer of authority to NATO and the decision to participate in strike air-ground operations, the Italian government assigned under NATO command four Italian Navy AV-8B plus (from Garibaldi) in addition to Italian air force aircraft. As of 24 March, the Italian Navy was engaged in Operation Unified Protector with the light aircraft carrier "Garibaldi", the "Maestrale"-class frigate and the auxiliary ship . Additionally the and "Maestrale"-class frigate were patrolling off the Sicilian coast in an air-defence role. In total, until the end of the mission in Libya, the eight Italian Navy AV-8Bs flying from the carrier "Giuseppe Garibaldi" dropped 160 guided bombs during 1221 flight hours.