Key Points and Summary – Indonesia is moving to acquire Italy’s retired aircraft carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi, approving a $450 million loan tied to the ship and new helicopters.
-The plan fits Jakarta’s Minimum Essential Force roadmap and hints at a versatile “floating air hub” for anti-submarine work, UAV ops, maritime patrol, and disaster relief—roles that match Indonesia’s vast archipelago.
-Italian builder Fincantieri says the ship has 15–20 years of life after a tailored refit; a helicopter-carrier conversion is on the table. With a ski-jump deck and space for up to 18 aircraft, the Garibaldi would boost presence at sea while offering high-value, non-combat utility.
-Indonesia is on the path to acquire the Giuseppe Garibaldi, an Italian aircraft carrier that was decommissioned last year, Army Recognition reported this week.
A New Aircraft Carrier Could Be Headed to Asia
The Indonesian government approved a $450 million loan to purchase the carrier and fund new helicopters. Indonesia’s Ministry of National Development Planning has “authorized the use of foreign loans for the carrier, with a ceiling of $450 million, alongside up to $250 million for new transport helicopters and up to $300 million for utility helicopters,” according to Army Recognition.
Documents cited by the report clarified that the helicopters “would likely embark from the platform if the transfer is finalized.”
The effort is part of Indonesia’s Minimum Essential Force program, and the purchase “signals intent to create a mobile aviation hub for anti-submarine operations, disaster relief, maritime patrol, and UAV integration, while offering potential for non-combat missions such as humanitarian aid and surveillance.”
Naval News reported in June that Indonesia was eyeing the Italian carrier. Indonesian firm Republikorp showed up at the Indodefence exhibition in Jakarta with a model that featured an aircraft carrier called “Giuseppe Garibaldi,” along with Bayraktar TB3 drones and fighter jets. Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri, also exhibiting at the same conference, confirmed to a Naval News reporter that the Indonesian Navy had expressed interest in the carrier.
“The Giuseppe Garibaldi is in good condition and has approximately 15 to 20 years of remaining operational life,” Mauro Manzini, director of sales for Fincantieri’s naval business unit, told Naval News in June. “The vessel can be transferred following a refit process tailored to the Indonesian Navy’s specific requirements.”
In July, Janes reported that Fincantieri proposed the Giuseppe Garibaldi be converted into a helicopter carrier for Indonesia.
“The proposal, which covers four main areas of work, was laid out in a series of presentations over two days from 15 to 16 July in Jakarta,” sources told the outlet at the time. “An attendance list that was also provided to Janes indicates that the former commanding officer of the carrier, Marco Guerriero, and its former chief engineering officer, Nicola Tria, were also part of the delegation sent by Fincantieri over the two days.”
About the Carrier
Named for the 19th-century general and revolutionary, Giuseppe Garibaldi is an Antisubmarine Warfare aircraft carrier in the Garibaldi-class. Per SeaForces.org, the carrier was laid down in 1981, launched in 1983, and commissioned in 1985. After more than 40 years in service, the carrier was decommissioned on Oct. 1, 2024.
The Giuseppe Garibaldi was the flagship of the Italian Navy until 2009, when it was replaced in that role by the Cavour.
ITS Cavour Aircraft Carrier. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
The carrier participated in a few different military engagements, according to Sea Forces. During the Kosovo War in 1999, Harrier AV-8B II+ fighters took off from the Giuseppe Garibaldi, carrying out 30 sorties.
Following the 9/11 attacks in 2001, the carrier joined Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. The carrier “was engaged as the command ship of GRUPNAVIT I, 1 Italian Shipping Group, which also included Zeffiro, the patrol team, and the airman supplier in Etna.” The Harrier unit carried out 288 missions during that conflict.
In 2011, the Giuseppe Garibaldi participated under NATO command in the military intervention in Libya. Italian Navy AV-8Bs taking off from the carrier dropped 160 guided bombs.
According to Army Recognition, the carrier features a 174-meter flight deck, which includes “a 4-degree ski-jump ramp to improve STOVL takeoff performance, while the hangar and deck accommodate up to 18 aircraft depending on mission configuration.”
In addition, “electronic systems consist of radars for long-range air and surface detection, electronic warfare jamming systems, and tactical data links such as Link 11, 14, and 16 for fleet integration.”
About the Author:
Stephen Silver is an award-winning journalist, essayist, and film critic, and contributor to the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Broad Street Review, and Splice Today. The co-founder of the Philadelphia Film Critics Circle, Stephen lives in suburban Philadelphia with his wife and two sons. For over a decade, Stephen has authored thousands of articles that focus on politics, national security, technology, and the economy. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) at @StephenSilver, and subscribe to his Substack newsletter.
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