Indonesia has approved a financing framework to support the acquisition of Italy’s retired aircraft carrier ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi, bundled with helicopter procurement. Under the plan, BAPPENAS cleared up to $450 million in foreign loans for the carrier, $250 million for transport helicopters, and $300 million for utility helicopters.
The authorization was outlined in an August 29, 2025, letter from Minister Rachmat Pambudy to Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, placing all three programs among the nation’s top priorities for external funding. Financing sources may include export credit agencies, bilateral lenders, or private institutions. While the correspondence does not explicitly link the helicopters to the carrier, supporting documents suggest they would form part of its embarked air wing.
Proposals reviewed by Jakarta in 2025 described Garibaldi’s adaptation for helicopters and UAV operations. A concept showcased at Indodefence 2025 included dual islands and Turkish Bayraktar TB3 drones, which Indonesia plans to assemble locally under agreements with Baykar and Republikorp—covering 60 navalized TB3s and nine Akinci UAVs. The TB3’s ski-jump launch trials aboard Turkey’s Anadolu point to compatibility with Garibaldi. In July 2025, Fincantieri dispatched a delegation of engineers and a former captain to Jakarta to outline four potential refit work areas. Though costs and schedules remain unspecified, the initiative reflects Indonesia’s expanding defense ties with Italy, already marked by two PPA multipurpose combat ships now named Brawijaya 320 and Prabu Siliwangi 321.
