Indonesia has formally advanced plans to acquire the decommissioned Italian aircraft carrier ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi by approving a financing framework that combines the carrier deal with new helicopter purchases. The Ministry of National Development Planning (BAPPENAS) has cleared the use of foreign loans worth up to $450 million for the carrier itself, along with allocations of $250 million for transport helicopters and $300 million for utility helicopters. These figures highlight Jakarta’s intent to strengthen both naval and rotary-wing capabilities under a single funding umbrella.
The decision was outlined in a letter dated August 29, 2025, from Minister Rachmat Pambudy to Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin. The document confirmed the three projects as priorities eligible for international funding, with loans expected from export credit agencies, bilateral partners, or private lenders. While the letter did not directly link the helicopter purchases to the Garibaldi, accompanying planning materials indicate the aircraft would likely be operated from the carrier once acquired.
Industry proposals showcased in 2025 suggested refitting the Garibaldi for helicopter and UAV operations. At the Indodefence 2025 exhibition, an Indonesian firm displayed a model featuring a dual-island layout, alongside scale models of Turkish Bayraktar TB3 UAVs—systems Jakarta has already pursued through production agreements. Indonesia’s defense sector has partnered with Baykar and Republikorp to locally build 60 navalized TB3 drones and nine Akinci UAVs. The TB3 has proven its deck suitability in ski-jump trials aboard Turkey’s Anadolu, signaling potential compatibility with the Garibaldi.
In July 2025, a Fincantieri team visited Jakarta with naval engineers and a former carrier commander to present four refit proposals for the vessel. Although the cost and timeline of modifications have not yet been disclosed, the discussions are consistent with the growing defense cooperation between Italy and Indonesia. This collaboration also extends to the transfer of two PPA-class multipurpose combat ships, which Indonesia has renamed Brawijaya 320 and Prabu Siliwangi 321.
