Indonesia approves $450 million loan to acquire ex-Italian aircraft carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi.

Indonesia approved a $450M loan to buy Italy’s retired carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi and fund new helicopters, boosting its naval aviation plans.

According to Zona Militar on September 19, 2025, Indonesia has taken a formal step toward acquiring the decommissioned Italian aircraft carrier ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi by approving a financing plan that combines carrier acquisition with new helicopter procurement. The Ministry of National Development Planning (BAPPENAS) 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.
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The aircraft carrier in question, the Giuseppe Garibaldi (C-551), served in the Italian Navy from 1985 until its retirement in October 2024. (Picture source: Italian Navy)

These allocations were confirmed in a letter dated August 29, 2025, from Minister Rachmat Pambudy to Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, which also included the three projects in the list of priorities eligible for international funding. The loans may come from export credit agencies, bilateral creditors, or private lenders, providing flexibility in structuring external finance. While the correspondence does not explicitly state that the helicopters are linked to the carrier, planning documents suggest they would likely embark from the platform if the transfer is finalized.

Proposals presented to Indonesia in 2025 described adapting the Garibaldi for helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles. At Indodefence 2025, a local firm exhibited a concept model with two islands and scale models of Turkish Bayraktar TB3 UAVs, which Indonesia has expressed interest in acquiring. Indonesia’s defense industry has signed agreements with Baykar and Republikorp for the local production of 60 navalized TB3 drones and nine Akinci UAVs. The TB3 has completed ski-jump takeoff trials aboard the Turkish carrier Anadolu, suggesting a compatibility with Garibaldi’s deck layout. A Fincantieri delegation visited Jakarta in July 2025 with specialists, including a former commanding officer and engineers, to present four proposed work areas for the ship’s refit. Specifics of modifications, costs, and duration have not been released, but discussions align with Indonesia’s broader cooperation with Italy, which also includes two PPA multipurpose combat ships, renamed Brawijaya 320 and Prabu Siliwangi 321.

The financing approval occurs against a backdrop of Indonesia’s Minimum Essential Force program and wider maritime modernization. The package 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. Indonesia’s navy plans call for operating at least four amphibious helicopter carriers, and PT PAL has put forward proposals to construct such vessels domestically in collaboration with partners such as Fincantieri or Hyundai Heavy Industries. Analysts point to risks observed in Thailand’s carrier program with HTMS Chakri Naruebet, where budget and sustainment issues limited operational utility. Whether Indonesia proceeds with the Garibaldi, pursues indigenous carriers, or combines both approaches will depend on financial, industrial, and logistical assessments. The BAPPENAS decision sets funding parameters and enables negotiations, but contracts, refit details, and embarkation plans remain pending.

The ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi was commissioned into the Italian Navy in 1985 and placed in reserve on 1 October 2024 after the entry into service of the landing helicopter dock ITS Trieste. It was the first Italian ship with a full-length flight deck and originally classified as an aircraft-carrying cruiser, designed for anti-submarine warfare. Built by Fincantieri at Monfalcone, its development included legislative changes in 1989 that enabled fixed-wing STOVL aircraft operations. The ship underwent a modernization in 2003 that removed Otomat Mk 2 anti-ship missiles to enlarge deck space and improve communications, and a further overhaul in 2013 that upgraded propulsion, flight support, and C4I systems. Technical data lists a full-load displacement of 14,150 tons, a length of 180.2 meters, a beam of 33.4 meters, and four LM2500 turbines producing 81,000 horsepower, giving more than 30 knots speed and 7,000 nautical miles of endurance at 20 knots.

The Italian aircraft carrier participated in Operation Allied Force in 1999 over Kosovo, deploying air assets to support strike missions; in 2001, it operated in the Indian Ocean for Operation Enduring Freedom, conducting hundreds of sorties. During Operation Unified Protector in 2011 over Libya, it launched more than 1,200 flight hours and precision strikes. The ship also served as flagship during Operation Sophia in the Mediterranean, contributing to counter-trafficking and search-and-rescue missions. Beyond combat roles, it supported maritime security operations and hosted political meetings such as the 2016 Italy–France–Germany trilateral near Ventotene. In July 2024, its deck was used for a demonstration in which a Ferrari SF90 reached 152 km/h, an event that underscored its status prior to retirement.

The carrier is fitted with systems that reflect its period of construction and later updates. Its 174-meter flight deck 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. Typical air groups included AV-8B Harrier II fighters and SH-3D or AW101 helicopters, allowing for anti-submarine warfare, transport, and strike roles. The defensive suite includes two Aspide SAM launchers, three Oto Melara 40 mm DARDO CIWS for close protection, and two triple torpedo tubes. 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. The Otomat Mk 2 anti-ship missiles were removed in 2003, leaving the ship more focused on aviation operations and command-and-control functions.

Written by Jérôme Brahy

Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.