Italian Senate approves free transfer of Giuseppe Garibaldi aircraft carrier to Indonesia.

The Italian Senate has approved the free transfer of the aircraft carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi to Indonesia, enabling the Indonesian Navy to expand its maritime aviation and command capabilities through the acquisition of a former Italian Navy flagship.

The decision follows a ministerial decree initiated in February 2026 and overseen by the Italian Ministry of Defence, with implementation scheduled through the end of the year. By authorizing the free cession of the decommissioned carrier, Indonesia could soon improve its naval reach and operational flexibility across its archipelagic territory, with a potential future integration of unmanned aerial systems.

Read also: Italy’s former aircraft carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi could join Indonesian Navy by October 2026

The Senate’s approval allows the Italian government to legally proceed with the transfer of the Giuseppe Garibaldi to Indonesia under Article 311 of the military code, which requires a binding parliamentary opinion before any free transfer of military equipment. (Picture source: Italian Navy)

On March 24, 2026, the Italian Senate approved the ministerial decree allowing Italy to proceed with the transfer of the aircraft carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi to Indonesia. The ministerial decree, initiated on February 19, 2026, and expected to be completed by December 2026, follows a standard procedure requiring parliamentary review for the disposal of military equipment no longer in service, with a temporary extension granted before the final vote. The transfer is structured as a free cession to the Indonesian Navy rather than a sale, placing it within the legal category of assistance involving obsolete defensive equipment.

The Ministry of Defence oversees the process, supported by the Defence Staff, which assessed operational status, lifecycle limits, and cost implications. Parliamentary debate included both support and opposition, with some concerns raised regarding procedural transparency, although these did not prevent approval. The timeline indicates a phased implementation extending through 2026, including administrative, technical, and logistical steps. Indonesia’s request for decommissioned naval units emerged through bilateral exchanges starting in 2021, when Indonesian authorities identified the acquisition of second-hand vessels from Italy as a cost-effective way to expand maritime capabilities.

In March 2025, Indonesian authorities began evaluating the Giuseppe Garibaldi as a potential drone carrier based on agreements signed with Türkiye for the local production of 60 TB3 naval unmanned aerial vehicles and nine Akinci systems. By August 29, 2025, the Indonesian government approved a financing structure including up to $450 million for the acquisition of the vessel, alongside $250 million for transport helicopters and $300 million for utility helicopters intended to operate from the ship. In mid-2025, a Fincantieri delegation visited Jakarta and presented four areas of potential refit, while Indonesian companies such as Republikorp and PT PAL explored domestic modification options.

On February 13, 2026, the Indonesian Navy Chief of Staff confirmed that negotiations were ongoing with both Fincantieri and the Italian Navy, with no final contract or price disclosed, while indicating a possible delivery before October 5, 2026. The transfer of the Giuseppe Garibaldi to Indonesia is governed by Article 311 of the Italian military code, which permits the free transfer of military equipment declared obsolete for technical reasons, provided it is defensive in nature and no longer operational. The law requires that such transfers receive binding approval from parliamentary committees and that recipient countries meet eligibility criteria, including classification as developing countries or participation in established cooperation frameworks.

Indonesia meets these conditions, but the same framework also limits transfers to equipment without active offensive capability. Previous applications of this law include transfers of vehicles and equipment to countries such as Somalia, Niger, and Moldova, indicating a consistent policy approach. The Garibaldi qualifies due to its removal from active service and the non-functional status of its weapons systems. Built at the Monfalcone shipyard and commissioned in 1985, the Giuseppe Garibaldi was the first aircraft carrier in Italian service and operated continuously for over four decades.

The ship deployed in Somalia in 1994 and 1995, supporting amphibious operations and UN missions, and later in the Adriatic during the 1999 Kosovo crisis, providing air and maritime support. Between November 2001 and March 2002, it operated in support of missions linked to Afghanistan, remaining at sea for 87 consecutive days and covering approximately 20,000 nautical miles while launching AV-8B jets for strike and support missions. In 2006, it participated in operations related to Lebanon, including amphibious landings involving about 1,000 personnel. In 2011, it contributed to operations enforcing maritime embargoes and no-fly zones during the Libyan war. The vessel also served as a flagship in EU and NATO missions, including Operation Sophia and multiple large-scale exercises such as Mare Aperto and Cold Response. 

The Giuseppe Garibaldi has a length of 180.2 meters, a beam of 30.4 meters, and a draft of 6.7 meters, with a displacement ranging between 10,100 and 14,150 tons depending on load conditions. Propulsion is provided by four GE-Avio LM2500 gas turbines delivering 60,400 kW through two shafts, enabling a maximum speed of 30 knots and a range of 7,000 nautical miles. Electrical power is generated by six diesel generators supported by an emergency unit, ensuring redundancy for onboard systems. The original armament included anti-ship missile launchers, surface-to-air missile systems, torpedo tubes, and naval guns, alongside a flight deck and hangar supporting fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters.

The crew complement was about 570 personnel, with a focus on command and control capabilities, aeronaval coordination, and support for joint operations. As a light carrier, the air wing of the Garibaldi typically included up to 16 to 18 aircraft, most commonly around 8 to 12 AV-8B Harrier II fighters supported by 4 to 6 SH-3D or AW101 helicopters, with about 12 aircraft in the hangar and up to 6 positioned on the flight deck, depending on mission configuration. The Garibaldi was placed in reserve on December 31, 2024, after more than forty years of service. The decision was driven by technical obsolescence affecting key systems, including command and control architecture, self-defense systems, and compatibility with modern aircraft and networked operations.

Structural aging and increasing maintenance requirements further reduced operational efficiency despite previous upgrades. For the Italian Navy, the ship no longer meets current operational standards for multi-domain naval operations, prompting the development of the LHD Trieste. Its classification as obsolete for technical reasons is a prerequisite for transfer under existing legislation. Maintaining it in service would require significant investment, whereas its placement in reserve allowed for evaluation of disposal options, including transfer or dismantling. The economic rationale for the free transfer is based on cost avoidance, with the vessel valued at €54,022,426.67 and annual maintenance costs estimated at €5 million, primarily covering energy, security, and minimal upkeep.

Retaining the Garibaldi in reserve would generate ongoing expenses without operational benefit, while dismantling would require at least 24 months and cost about €18.7 million. Additional costs could arise if no commercial buyer is found for scrapping, increasing financial exposure. The transfer to Indonesia eliminates these costs while avoiding the logistical complexity of dismantling. The ship will be delivered without operational offensive systems, as its weapons are no longer functional, and will retain only systems necessary for navigation, safety, and onboard living conditions.

As the operation does not create new expenditures for the Italian defense budget, the financial analysis, therefore, supports the transfer as the most cost-efficient option. The future role of the vessel within the Indonesian Navy is expected to be limited at first to command, training, and support functions, due to its configuration and technological limitations. The transfer supports Indonesia’s objective of expanding maritime capabilities within budget constraints across a territory composed of more than 17,000 islands. The Indonesian Navy is structured into three fleet commands covering western, central, and eastern maritime zones, with a total naval personnel strength of about 65,000 within a broader armed forces structure of roughly 395,000 personnel.

Budget constraints limit the pace of modernization, leading to a mixed fleet combining new acquisitions and refurbished vessels. Cooperation with Italy has been facilitated by existing agreements, which include the acquisition of two former Italian Navy PPA-class vessels, renamed KRI Brawijaya 320 and KRI Prabu Siliwangi 321, alongside the signing of a Letter of Intent concerning the potential supply of M-346F Block 20 advanced training and light combat aircraft to the Indonesian Air Force.

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, Ukraine, 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.