Ministry of Defence to Involve National Companies in Retrofit and Modernisation of Garibaldi Aircraft Carrier

The Ministry of Defence says the retrofit and modernisation of the aircraft carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi will be carried out domestically. The former carrier of the Italian Navy is targeted to arrive in Indonesia ahead of the TNI anniversary on 5 October.

Head of the Defence Information Bureau at the Secretariat General of the Ministry of Defence, Brigadier General Rico Ricardo Sirait, said during the retrofit and modernisation, the MoD would involve national companies and shipyards.

As part of strengthening the capacity of the national defence industry, Sirait told Tempo on Wednesday, 4 March 2026.

However, he did not detail which Indonesian companies or shipyards would be involved in the retrofit and modernisation of the 180.2-metre-long vessel.

Sirait explained that which company or yard would be entrusted with the work would be determined through a selection process. In accordance with the applicable procurement mechanisms, he said.

The acquisition of the Giuseppe Garibaldi aircraft carrier from Italy to Indonesia is being made via a grant under the government-to-government mechanism between Jakarta and Rome. Even as a grant, the government remains prepared to allocate a budget for maintenance and capability enhancement.

The budget required for maintenance and modernisation, including the installation of combat systems on the 43-year-old ship to meet the operational needs of the Indonesian Navy, is estimated at Rp 7.2 trillion.

After it is officially received and put into operation, the ship is planned to be used as a flagship in conducting operations, Sirait told Tempo on Tuesday, 3 March 2026.

The intention to acquire the Giuseppe Garibaldi carrier has been visible since President Prabowo Subianto became Defence Minister. At that time, Prabowo visited Italy to discuss the modernisation of Indonesia’s defence equipment at the end of 2022. The agenda continued when the Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Navy, General Muhammad Ali, personally inspected the carrier.

Editor’s Note: Cost of Garibaldi Carrier Modernisation Rp 7.2 Trillion