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Indonesia's Ministry of National Development Planning (BAPPENAS) has approved a $450 million foreign loan ceiling to acquire Italy's decommissioned aircraft carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi, marking the Southeast Asian nation's most concrete step toward establishing carrier aviation capabilities.
The approval, detailed in an Aug. 29 letter from Minister Rachmat Pambudy to Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, includes additional allocations of up to $250 million for transport helicopters and $300 million for utility helicopters, according to Zona Militar's reporting.
The financing can be secured through export credit agencies, bilateral creditors or private lenders, providing Indonesia flexibility in structuring the acquisition. The Giuseppe Garibaldi, which Italy retired in October 2024 after nearly 40 years of service, represents Indonesia's entry into carrier operations as part of its Minimum Essential Force program.
Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri presented a formal proposal in July 2025 during a Jakarta delegation visit that included former commanding officers and engineers.
The presentation outlined four main work areas for converting the vessel into a drone carrier, though specific modification details, timelines and final costs remain undisclosed.
"The ship is in good condition and can serve for another 15-20 years," Fincantieri representatives stated at the Indodefence 2025 trade show in Jakarta, where the potential acquisition first gained public attention.
Indonesia's carrier ambitions align with its expanding defense partnership with Türkiye.
The nation has signed agreements with Turkish manufacturer Baykar and local firm Republikorp for 60 navalized Bayraktar TB3 drones and 9 Akinci unmanned aerial vehicles.
At Indodefence 2025, Republikorp displayed a concept model featuring a dual-island carrier design, along with scale models of Turkish drones.
The Bayraktar TB3 has completed over 100 sorties from Türkiye's TCG Anadolu, including armed missions, demonstrating compatibility with ski-jump deck configurations like the Garibaldi's.
Giuseppe Garibaldi brings substantial operational heritage to Indonesia's navy. Commissioned in 1985 as Italy's first full-deck aircraft carrier, the 180-meter vessel participated in NATO operations, including Operation Allied Force over Kosovo in 1999 and Operation Unified Protector in Libya in 2011, where it logged more than 1,200 flight hours.
The carrier features a 174-meter flight deck with a 4-degree ski-jump ramp, accommodating up to 18 aircraft depending on configuration. Throughout its service, it operated AV-8B Harrier II fighters and various helicopter models, including SH-3D and AW101 platforms.
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