Indonesia evaluates Italian proposal to repurpose Giuseppe Garibaldi aircraft carrier for naval drones.

According to Zona Militar on July 27, 2025, a Fincantieri delegation visited Jakarta on July 15 and 16, 2025, to present a proposal for converting the decommissioned aircraft carrier ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi (C-551) into a naval platform designed for drone and helicopter operations.
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With a length of 180.2 meters and a full-load displacement of 14,150 tons, the Giuseppe Garibaldi can host up to 18 aircraft, including AV-8B Harrier II short take-off and vertical landing (SVTOL) jets and SH-3D or AW101 helicopters. (Picture source: Norwegian MoD)

This presentation followed earlier indications at the Indodefence 2025 exhibition in June, where a conceptual model of a modified Garibaldi was displayed, featuring two islands instead of the original single island layout. The discussions reinforced prior reports, including those from March 2025, suggesting that Indonesia was evaluating the acquisition of the Garibaldi to integrate it into its naval fleet as part of an expanded cooperation agreement with Turkey involving unmanned aerial vehicles. The Italian vessel had been placed in reserve on October 1, 2024, after being replaced by the LHD ITS Trieste. The Jakarta visit by Fincantieri included former commanding officer Marco Guerriero, former engineering chief Nicola Tria, and seven senior company representatives, among them Corrado Canepa, Fincantieri's Head of Refit Projects.

According to Janes, the Italian company outlined four principal areas for the vessel's conversion. However, the specifics of the proposal, including the duration of the refit, financial costs for Indonesia, and the precise nature of the structural changes, were not disclosed. During Indodefence, a model bearing the Garibaldi’s name was presented next to scale models of the Bayraktar TB3 unmanned aerial vehicle, produced by Turkey’s Baykar Technologies. The Indonesian Navy is reported to be pursuing the acquisition of 60 unmanned aerial systems, including navalized TB3s, which are being locally manufactured in partnership with Baykar and the Indonesian firm Republikorp. The TB3, which completed takeoff and landing trials aboard the TCG Anadolu in November 2024, has folding wings, reinforced landing gear, and the ability to launch from a ski-jump ramp. The concept of integrating TB3 UAVs onto a former STOVL carrier is consistent with ongoing Turkish Navy evaluations.

The Garibaldi was designed by Fincantieri and commissioned in 1985 as an anti-submarine warfare platform. Initially designated an aircraft-carrying cruiser, it became Italy’s first ship with a full-length flight deck. The 1989 legislative reform that permitted fixed-wing aircraft in Italian naval service enabled the Garibaldi to embark AV-8B Harrier II STOVL jets in addition to its helicopter complement. Over its nearly 40 years of service, the ship received several upgrades, including the 2003 removal of its Otomat Mk 2 missiles to enlarge flight operations space and improve communications, and a 2013 overhaul of propulsion, flight support, and C4I systems. The 2013 work was completed at Taranto's naval arsenal with over 30,000 kg of steel replaced, 29,348 m³ of tanks cleaned, 4,880 meters of piping changed, and 5,200 m² of hull and 4,400 m² of flight deck repainted with coatings intended to reduce fuel consumption by up to 13 percent.

Technically, the ship has a full-load displacement of 14,150 tons, a length of 180.2 meters, a beam of 33.4 meters, and a draught of 8.2 meters. Its COGAG propulsion system is composed of four General Electric/Avio LM2500 gas turbines delivering 60,400 kW, with a top speed exceeding 30 knots and a cruising range of 7,000 nautical miles at 20 knots. The crew complement includes 550 ship personnel, up to 180 aviation crew, and 100 command and control staff, totaling 830. The flight deck, 174 meters long and equipped with a 4-degree ski-jump ramp, supports STOVL aircraft. Hangar space accommodates up to 12 aircraft, with six more staged on deck. The ship's electronic suite includes long-range air and surface search radars (MM/SPS-768, AN/SPS-52C, SPS-702 CORA), electronic countermeasures (SLQ-732), and tactical data systems (Link 11, 14, 16, SATCOM). Armaments include two Mk.29 launchers for Aspide surface-to-air missiles, three twin-barreled Oto Melara 40mm DARDO CIWS, and two triple 324mm torpedo tubes. Otomat Mk 2 anti-ship missiles were removed in 2003.

Operationally, the Garibaldi participated in NATO’s Operation Allied Force over Kosovo in 1999, conducting 30 sorties in support of air strikes. In 2001, it led Italy’s naval contribution to Operation Enduring Freedom, launching 288 AV-8B sorties from the Indian Ocean. During Operation Unified Protector in 2011, the ship deployed eight Harriers that flew 1,221 hours and launched 160 precision-guided munitions over Libya. The vessel also took part in Operation Sophia in the Mediterranean and served as flagship for the EU’s Operation EUNAVFOR Med in 2016. On August 22, 2016, it hosted a trilateral meeting between the leaders of Italy, France, and Germany near Ventotene. The ship set a speed record on July 13, 2024, when a Ferrari SF90 reached 152 km/h on its flight deck, surpassing a 145 km/h record set aboard the USS Hornet. Prior to being placed in reserve, the Garibaldi held the NATO Response Force flagship role and formally participated in the commissioning of the Trieste in Livorno on December 7, 2024.

Indonesia’s exploration of this acquisition corresponds with broader goals under the Minimum Essential Force (MEF) program, which includes expanding naval aviation and acquiring helicopter-capable platforms. Admiral Muhammad Ali has expressed intent to obtain a carrier for non-combat operations. Other acquisitions include two ex-Italian Navy PPA multipurpose combat ships, renamed Brawijaya 320 and Prabu Siliwangi 321, with delivery scheduled in 2025 following a renaming ceremony in January at Fincantieri’s Muggiano yard. Additional naval cooperation with Türkiye includes the procurement of fast patrol missile boats. A separate Japanese grant of two patrol vessels, destined for Balikpapan Naval Base, aims to secure sea lines near the future capital, Nusantara. These steps reflect a multi-layered approach to strengthening naval capabilities across Indonesia’s extensive maritime domain, including the Natuna Islands.

Despite interest in the Garibaldi, alternative proposals remain under discussion. State-owned shipbuilder PT PAL Indonesia has offered to develop a helicopter carrier or amphibious assault vessel domestically, potentially in partnership with Fincantieri or Hyundai Heavy Industries. Decision-making will weigh cost, industrial participation, operational requirements, and logistical sustainability. Analysts note the precedent of Thailand’s HTMS Chakri Naruebet, a light carrier with limited utility due to budget constraints, as a case study. Some experts suggest that additional LHDs or multirole support ships could provide more operational flexibility. Indonesia’s stated long-term plan includes operating at least four amphibious helicopter carriers, and the choice between acquiring a foreign-built vessel or constructing one domestically is expected to reflect a combination of strategic, financial, and capability-driven priorities.