Indonesia lacks the capability to build a modern aircraft carrier. It has therefore looked to buy one instead. As it happens, Italy has one to sell.
China’s third aircraft carrier, the Type 003 Fujian, is likely to enter service later this year, while Japan continues to convert its two multipurpose helicopter destroyers into de facto aircraft carriers operating the F-35B fifth-generation stealth fighter. India has also indicated it may seek to build a nuclear-powered flattop with increased capabilities.
Another Asian nation is seeking to join the exclusive club. Instead of converting a warship or domestically building one, however, Indonesia is looking to the path previously taken by China and India—namely, seeking to buy a refurbished carrier from Europe.
Italy Could Sell an Aircraft Carrier to Indonesia
For several months, there have been rumors and speculation that Indonesia—the fourth-largest country in the world, spanning many thousands of islands across Southeast Asia and Oceania—has sought to build up a blue-water navy to maintain its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and assert its claims to the disputed waters of the South China Sea. Even as it has signed a maritime development deal with Beijing last November, Indonesia’s claims overlap with those of China, which may prompt Jakarta to strengthen its military presence in the region.
Indonesia already has a sizable navy by hull count, with more than 245 vessels in service, but most of these are small patrol craft, while it has just four submarines, seven frigates, and 25 corvettes. An aircraft carrier would therefore significantly increase its naval capabilities.
Unlike China or India, though, Indonesia lacks the capability to build a modern aircraft carrier. It has therefore looked to buy one instead. As it happens, Italy has one to sell.
“We are in the process of acquiring an aircraft carrier that was once commissioned by the Italian Navy, namely Giuseppe Garibaldi, in a bid to strengthen our defense posture,” Indonesian Navy Chief Admiral Muhammad Ali told reporters earlier this week.
Talks of Jakarta purchasing the retired Italian warship first surfaced in February, but it now appears that a deal could actually materialize. Rome has been actively trying to sell its former carrier, named after the Italian revolutionary and republican who contributed to the unification of Italy in the 19th century. The light carrier, and former flagship of the Marina Militare (Italian Navy), was retired from service last October after nearly four decades of service.
Although it was equipped with a ski-jump ramp and operated with short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft, giving it a resemblance to many modern carriers, the Giuseppe Garibaldi was officially designated as an aircraft-carrying cruiser rather than a carrier itself. It was the first Italian warship to operate with fixed-wing aircraft. At just 591 feet in length, it is diminutive by modern carrier standards, at roughly half the length of the US Navy’s Nimitz-class nuclear-powered supercarriers.
“The Giuseppe Garibaldi is in good condition and has approximately 15 to 20 years of remaining operational life. The vessel can be transferred following a refit process tailored to the Indonesian Navy’s specific requirements,” Mauro Manzini, director of sales for the Naval Business Unit at Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri, told Naval News during the Indodefence 2025 military arms show in Jakarta in June.
How Could Indonesia Use an Aircraft Carrier?
Giuseppe Garibaldi previously operated with an air wing of up to 16 McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II vertical or short takeoff and landing (V/STOL) single-engine fighter aircraft. According to a report from Newsweek, the deal could see Rome include up to 30 Harrier IIs as part of the sale, while the flattop can also operate with helicopters. There has also been speculation that Indonesia could take the route of NATO member Turkey, which is building specialized drone carriers. Such unmanned aerial systems (UAS) could still greatly enhance Indonesia’s capabilities in the South China Sea and other contested waters in the region.
Ali suggested that the warship would primarily be deployed for “non-war military operations,” but it is unclear what exactly this means.
Some Analysts have also expressed skepticism at Jakarta’s need for such a warship. Collin Koh, a senior fellow at the Institute of Defense and Strategic Studies in Singapore, told Newsweek that Jakarta’s desire for an aircraft carrier may be a matter of national prestige rather than a need to fill an actual gap in Indonesia’s naval capabilities.
“If they want a multi-role ship to do MOOTW [military operations other than war], for example, they could just get more landing platform docks—cheaper to operate and maintain in relatively bigger numbers than a single carrier,” Koh explained.
However, after months of speculation, it does appear that Indonesia will be the next Asian operator of carriers.
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu has contributed over 3,200 published pieces to more than four dozen magazines and websites over a 30-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a contributing writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].
Image: Shutterstock / Massimo Todaro.
