Indonesia is moving forward with plans to refurbish and upgrade the aircraft carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi after receiving the vessel from Italy as part of a defense cooperation arrangement. The ship, which was retired from Italian Navy service in 2024, is scheduled to arrive in Indonesia before the country’s armed forces anniversary celebrations in October. Once operational, Indonesia will join Thailand as the only Southeast Asian nations operating aircraft carriers. The Indonesian government plans to involve domestic shipyards and defense companies in the modernization process. Officials stated that local firms will be selected through established procurement procedures, although foreign partners may still supply certain specialized technologies or equipment not available within Indonesia’s defense industry. The Giuseppe Garibaldi was originally built by Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri and served for nearly four decades in the Italian Navy. The vessel is approximately 180 meters long and displaces about 13,850 tons. Designed as a short take-off and vertical landing carrier, the ship can operate both helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft while traveling at speeds of up to 30 knots. Indonesia’s interest in the warship dates back to discussions held during President Prabowo Subianto’s tenure as defense minister, including a visit to Italy in 2022 focused on defense modernization cooperation. Although Italy transferred the vessel as a grant, Indonesia has allocated a significant budget to fund refurbishment, upgrades, and long-term maintenance to ensure the ship meets Indonesian Navy operational requirements. After modernization is completed, the carrier is expected to function primarily as a command and operational headquarters platform. Analysts suggest that beyond traditional military roles, the vessel could also support humanitarian assistance, disaster relief operations, and maritime security missions across Indonesia’s extensive archipelago.
