Indonesia is set to receive the Italian aircraft carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi as a grant on October 5th, the 81st anniversary of the Indonesian Navy. The ship, built in 1978, will be repurposed as a headquarters ship for operations following its official acceptance and operationalization.
Acquisition Through Grant, Maintenance Costs Remain
The acquisition of the Giuseppe Garibaldi from Italy is being conducted through a government-to-government grant. Despite the grant, the Indonesian government has allocated an estimated Rp7.2 trillion (approximately $468 million USD) for the ship’s maintenance and modernization, including the installation of necessary combat systems.
Long-Term Interest from President Subianto
Interest in acquiring the Giuseppe Garibaldi dates back to when Prabowo Subianto served as Indonesia’s Minister of Defense from 2019 to 2024. Subianto visited Italy in late 2022 to discuss modernization efforts for Indonesia’s defense equipment, and the Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Navy, General Muhammad Ali, later personally inspected the carrier.
National Defense Industry Involvement Planned
The Ministry of Defense plans to involve Indonesian companies and shipyards in the retrofit and modernization process. Brigadier General Rico Ricardo Sirait stated this is part of an effort to strengthen the national defense industry.
A selection process will determine which Indonesian companies or shipyards will be entrusted with the work, in accordance with applicable procurement mechanisms. The Ministry of Defense is also open to involving other parties or countries for specific equipment or components not available domestically, and technical support from the original manufacturer remains a possibility.
Giuseppe Garibaldi Specifications
The Giuseppe Garibaldi has a displacement of 13,850 tons and a maximum speed of 30 knots. The ship first entered service with the Italian Navy on June 4, 1983. It measures 180.2 meters in length, produces 60,400 watts of power, and has hull number 551, with a logged distance of 7,000 nautical miles.
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