Indonesia has moved closer to acquiring the retired Italian aircraft carrier ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi by approving a financing scheme that links the carrier’s purchase with new helicopter programs. The Ministry of National Development Planning (BAPPENAS) authorized foreign borrowing of up to $450 million for the carrier itself, supported by additional credit ceilings of $250 million for transport helicopters and $300 million for utility helicopters. This structure ensures that carrier procurement is paired with aviation assets essential to its future operations.
The authorization was confirmed in an August 29, 2025, letter from Minister Rachmat Pambudy to Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin. The correspondence listed all three projects as priorities eligible for foreign financing, potentially sourced from export credit agencies, bilateral lenders, or private institutions. Although the letter stopped short of explicitly tying the helicopters to carrier deployment, planning records suggest they are intended to operate from the ship once its transfer and modernization are completed.
Concepts for adapting the Garibaldi were unveiled during 2025, with designs focusing on helicopter and unmanned aerial vehicle operations. At the Indodefence 2025 show, an Indonesian company presented a scale model featuring two islands and Turkish Bayraktar TB3 UAVs, reflecting Jakarta’s intent to integrate drones into naval aviation. This aligns with Indonesia’s existing partnerships with Baykar and Republikorp, which include agreements to produce 60 TB3 navalized drones and nine Akinci UAVs domestically. The TB3’s demonstrated ski-jump takeoff from Turkey’s Anadolu carrier further supports its compatibility with the Garibaldi’s deck.
In July 2025, a Fincantieri delegation visited Jakarta to brief defense officials on possible refit options. The group, which included engineers and a former commander of the Garibaldi, outlined four areas of potential modification. Details on costs and timelines have yet to be made public. Nonetheless, the effort ties into Indonesia’s broader defense partnership with Italy, which already includes the transfer of two PPA multipurpose combat vessels, now renamed Brawijaya 320 and Prabu Siliwangi 321.
