Indonesia is about to own its first aircraft carrier, with the Italian authorities preparing to hand over an old ship by 2026 before Indonesia undertakes refurbishment or modification itself.
Channel News Asia reported on 17 Feb 2026, citing Indonesian media Antara, that Rear Admiral Riko Ricardo Siregar, head of the Public Relations and Information Bureau of the Ministry of Defense, revealed the aircraft carrier is the "Giuseppe Garibaldi," which the Italian government will transfer to Indonesia free of any repayment obligations.
"The Giuseppe Garibaldi is a gift from the Italian government. The Indonesian government will allocate a budget for refurbishing or modifying it to fit the Indonesian Navy’s operational needs," Antara quoted Rear Admiral Siregar as saying, adding that negotiations and related administrative processes regarding the ship are ongoing.
The Giuseppe Garibaldi was built by Italy's Fincantieri shipyard and commissioned in 1985, serving in the Italian Navy from 1985 until 2024.
The Giuseppe Garibaldi is a short runway and vertical landing aircraft carrier designed for both fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. The ship is 180.2 meters long, can reach a top speed of 30 knots, and has a range of 7,000 nautical miles.
This aircraft carrier is equipped with radar jamming systems and weapons including anti-aircraft missiles, surface-to-surface missiles, and torpedoes.
Antara reported that Indonesian Navy Chief of Staff Admiral Muhammad Ali said the aircraft carrier is expected to arrive in Indonesia before 5 October, the anniversary of the Indonesian National Armed Forces.
He added that negotiations between the Ministry of Defense, Fincantieri, and the Italian Navy are still ongoing.
Meanwhile, two new Indonesian Navy warships, the "KRI Brawijaya" and "KRI Prabu Siliwangi," were also built by the Fincantieri shipyard.
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Source:cna