Indonesia has formally advanced its plan to acquire the decommissioned Italian aircraft carrier ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi by approving financing that links the carrier purchase with new helicopter acquisitions. The Ministry of National Development Planning (BAPPENAS) authorized foreign loans capped at $450 million for the carrier, $250 million for transport helicopters, and $300 million for utility helicopters.
The allocations were confirmed in an August 29, 2025, letter from Minister Rachmat Pambudy to Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, listing the three projects as priorities eligible for international funding. Loans could come from export credit agencies, bilateral partners, or private lenders. Although the letter does not directly connect the helicopters to the carrier, planning documents indicate they would likely operate from it if the transfer goes ahead.
Proposals to Indonesia in 2025 outlined adapting Garibaldi for helicopters and UAVs. At Indodefence 2025, a local firm displayed a carrier model featuring dual islands and Bayraktar TB3 UAVs, which Indonesia is pursuing through agreements with Baykar and Republikorp for local production of 60 navalized TB3 drones and nine Akinci UAVs. The TB3 has already proven ski-jump operations on Turkey’s Anadolu, suggesting compatibility with Garibaldi. In July 2025, Fincantieri sent a team—including engineers and a former commanding officer—to Jakarta to present four refit options. Details on modifications, costs, and timelines remain undisclosed, but the effort complements Indonesia’s broader naval partnership with Italy, including the acquisition of two PPA multipurpose combat ships, Brawijaya 320 and Prabu Siliwangi 321.
