Indonesia considers buying used aircraft carrier from Italy
Indonesia is moving to expand its naval forces as it is eyeing the acquisition of the light aircraft carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi, which was once the flagship of the Italian Navy.
Báo Khoa học và Đời sống•26/06/2025
On the sidelines of the Indodefence exhibition held in Jakarta in mid-June, the Indonesian Navy clearly expressed its intention to equip its fleet with an aircraft carrier. Photo: @ Seaforces Online. The Indonesian Navy is currently evaluating the acquisition of the former Italian Navy aircraft carrier ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi (C-551), which was forced to be decommissioned in 2024, just months after the amphibious assault ship ITS Trieste (L9890) was commissioned to replace it. Photo: @ Seaforces Online.
Giuseppe Garibaldi is an Italian aircraft carrier equipped with short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft and helicopters. Photo: @ Seaforces Online. Giuseppe Garibaldi has participated in combat air operations off the coasts of Somalia, Kosovo, Afghanistan and Libya. However, the aircraft carrier is due to be retired in 2024 and replaced by the amphibious assault ship ITS Trieste (L9890). Photo: @ItaMilRadar. Designed by the Fincantieri shipyard at the Monfalcone shipyard in the Gulf of Trieste, the aircraft carrier was launched on June 11, 1983, and commissioned on September 30, 1985. The Giuseppe Garibaldi is classified as an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) aircraft carrier. Photo: @ ItaMilRadar. The aircraft carrier is powered by four Fiat COGAG gas turbines built under license from GE, providing a continuous output of 81,000 horsepower. Driven by two shafts, the ship has a top speed of 56 km/h. Photo: @itoldya test1 - GetArchive.
The ship is equipped with four Otomat Mk2 short-range surface-to-surface missile systems mounted on the stern (removed in 2003 to improve the flight deck and satellite communications) and two three-tube ILAS torpedo launchers. Photo: @Naval Technology. The defense system is provided by two SAM launchers containing eight SARH Aspide missile cells and three Oto Melara Twin 40L70 DARDO CIWS close-in artillery cells. Photo: @Naval Technology. The carrier also has a number of countermeasures, including two 20-barrel SCLAR launchers for jamming, decoys, flares or jammers, SLQ-25 Nixie and SLAT anti-torpedo systems, and an ECM system. Photo: @ItaMilRadar. The aircraft carrier underwent a modernization in 2003 and a major reconstruction in 2013. Photo: @itoldya test1 - GetArchive.
The Director of Naval Business Unit of shipbuilder Fincantieri, Mauro Manzini, confirmed that the Indonesian Navy has expressed interest in acquiring the aircraft carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi. Photo: @Naval Technology. “Giuseppe Garibaldi is in good condition and can operate for another 15 to 20 years. The ship can be transferred after a refurbishment according to the specific requirements of the Indonesian Navy,” Mauro Manzini added. Photo: @itoldya test1 - GetArchive. Mauro Manzini also noted that the issue is currently being discussed at the "state level" between the two governments and no official decision has been made to proceed with the purchase. Photo: @Naval Technology.
Similarly, the international defense news portal Janes, citing sources in the Italian Navy, reported that any potential deal to purchase the Giuseppe Garibaldi may not be a stand-alone deal, but could include the purchase of 30 STOVL AV-8B Harrier II fighter jets, further enhancing Indonesia’s air strike capabilities. Photo: @ItaMilRadar.
Báo Khoa học và Đời sống•26/06/2025
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