Giuseppe Garibaldi Aircraft Carrier Modernisation Costs Reach Rp 7.2 Trillion
The Defence Ministry has estimated that the repair and modernisation (retrofit) budget for the aircraft carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi will reach Rp 7.2 trillion. The cost has been adjusted to reflect the technical condition of the vessel and the requirements for equipment installation to support Indonesian Navy operations.
Brigadier General Rico Ricardo Sirait, head of the Defence Ministry Secretariat’s Information Bureau, stated that the modernisation budget estimate remains provisional and will be adjusted based on the results of comprehensive technical inspections. “The repair and modernisation budget will be adjusted according to the technical condition of the vessel and equipment installation requirements. The estimated budget is in the range of Rp 7.2 trillion,” Rico said on Saturday, 28 February 2026.
Although the vessel was obtained through a donation scheme, the government is still preparing funds for maintenance of existing equipment and certain modernisation work. One adjustment includes the installation of a combat system to align with Indonesian Navy operational requirements.
Currently, the transfer process for Giuseppe Garibaldi remains in the administrative grant stage for each country involved. However, the ship’s arrival schedule depends on technical readiness and completion of the ownership transfer process. “The government hopes the vessel will arrive in Indonesia before the TNI’s 2026 anniversary,” he said.
The ship can in principle support both Military Operations for War (OMP) and Military Operations Other Than War (OMSP), particularly humanitarian missions, disaster relief, and other non-combat operations requiring force projection and logistical support in Indonesia’s territorial waters and surrounding regions.
Tb. Hasanuddin, a member of the DPR’s Commission I, stated that discussions regarding the Giuseppe Garibaldi aircraft carrier have never been conducted specifically, including whether it will be purchased new or through a donation scheme. “It has never been discussed specifically with Commission I,” he said when contacted on 23 February 2026.
According to Hasanuddin, for military equipment donations (alutsista), at least three requirements must be met: they must not be binding, they must align with domestic defence doctrine, and they must not place excessive burdens on the budget, particularly in maintenance costs.