Indonesia is preparing to modernize the former Italian Navy aircraft carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi following its acquisition from Italy as part of a defense cooperation initiative. The vessel, which served in the Italian Navy from 1985 until its decommissioning in 2024, was granted to Indonesia by the Italian government. According to officials, the warship is expected to arrive before the Indonesian National Armed Forces anniversary on October 5. Once delivered, Indonesia will become the second Southeast Asian country after Thailand to operate an aircraft carrier-type vessel. The Indonesian Ministry of Defense confirmed that domestic companies and shipyards will play a role in upgrading and adapting the vessel to meet the Indonesian Navy’s operational requirements. Local firms will be selected according to national procurement mechanisms, although foreign suppliers may also participate in providing specialized equipment or components that are not available within Indonesia’s domestic industry. Built by Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri, the Giuseppe Garibaldi measures about 180 meters in length and has a displacement of approximately 13,850 tons. The vessel was designed as a short take-off and vertical landing aircraft carrier capable of operating both fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. It can travel at speeds of up to 30 knots. Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has expressed interest in the vessel since his tenure as defense minister, during which he visited Italy in 2022 to discuss defense cooperation and modernization initiatives. Although the carrier was transferred as a grant, the Indonesian government has allocated significant funding for refurbishment and maintenance. The modernization program is intended to adapt the ship to the operational needs of the Indonesian Navy. Once the upgrades are completed, the vessel is expected to serve primarily as a command and headquarters ship for naval operations. Analysts believe the carrier could also support humanitarian assistance missions, disaster relief operations, and potentially drone or aviation-related missions across Indonesia’s vast maritime territory.
