The Italian Government has formalized a plan to transfer the decommissioned Garibaldi aircraft carrier to Indonesia. The handover, subjected to parliamentary approval, would strengthen Jakarta’s naval capabilities and deepens the cooperation between the two countries together with other defence programs, in a move to enlarge Rome’s strategic footprint in the Indo-Pacific.
With the submission on 26 February to Parliament for approval by the two Defence Committees of the draft ministerial decree concerning the free transfer of the Garibaldi aircraft carrier to the Indonesian Navy, the Italian Government has formalized the program under which the Ministry of Defence (MoD) intends to transfer the Italian Navy vessel, which was placed in reserve status effective 31 December 2024.
The transfer must be seen within the broader context of military cooperation between the two countries, aimed at enhancing dialogue and mutual understanding with a strategic partner in the Indo-Pacific region, an area of growing geopolitical and maritime importance. The initiative promotes selective capacity building, particularly in the maritime, training, and doctrinal domains, as well as operational cooperation within multilateral initiatives, while also supporting the penetration of Italian defence industry exports.
The operation will be carried out free of charge, with an overall cost of €54,02 million, understood being largely tied to preparing the ship for delivery. As part of the strengthened military cooperation, the Italian and Indonesian MoDs signed a Letter of Intent on 1st October 2025 concerning maritime defence cooperation, followed by a Joint Statement establishing an Italy–Indonesia Coordination Committee (CC) to define the detailed aspects of the vessel’s transfer.
According to the dossier, the Garibaldi will be transferred in a configuration devoid of offensive operational capabilities, with non-functioning weapon systems, while retaining only the systems essential for safety, onboard habitability, and propulsion, solely to enable navigation for transfer to Indonesia. To date, the vessel has been maintained in a condition suitable for selling or transferring at the expense of the Italian MoD, with 2025 costs estimated at approximately €5 million. In case the ship won’t be transferred or sold, according to the dossier, the decommissioning process could take 24 months with costs evaluated in €18.7 million, with the possibility that no economic operator would submit valid offers for the acquisition of the hull intended for demolition, as already happened.
The vessel accumulated almost forty years of operational service since its delivery in September 1985, serving as a key platform for the Navy’s naval aviation projection capabilities as well as amphibious operations in the latest stage of her life. The ship has been replaced in the Italian Navy fleet by the Trieste LHD, while the primary aircraft carrier role was taken by the Cavour capable to operate the F-35B aircraft. The ship’s conditions and robust construction have been surveyed by representatives of the Indonesian Navy.
According to the Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Navy (TNI AL), it is expected that the vessel will arrive before next 5th October, marking the 81st anniversary of the establishment of the Indonesian Armed Forces.
The aircraft carrier Garibaldi is expected to continue providing its capabilities as the future flagship of the Indonesian Navy, operating as helicopters and unmanned systems aircraft carrier, in addition to a command-and-control unit for naval operations above and below the surface, with capabilities for intervention and civilian disaster relief in emergencies.
In order to perform the described missions, modernization will be required both to the platform and to its combat system. Although the dossier do not elaborate this topic, based on the information collected by Naval News, Italian industry and in particular Leonardo will be responsible for upgrading the combat system, with potential spillover effects for other companies. The combat system will also be enhanced to include control and management of underwater operations by Drass company, which has extensive experience in both civilian and military underwater systems and vehicles. Platform modernization will instead be carried out by Indonesian shipbuilding and naval industry, following delivery, alongside the combat system upgrades, with potential additional involvement of Italian industry.
A mutually beneficial operation, where Indonesia gains unprecedented capabilities within a limited timeframe while engaging its own industrial base, whereas Italy eliminates the costs associated with decommissioning the vessel and further expands its export potential, paving the way for future collaborations.
