Jakarta Considers Transforming Italy’s Retired Aircraft Carrier into UAV-Helo Flagship ??

Indonesia is on the brink of a transformational naval breakthrough, as Jakarta evaluates a bold proposal to acquire and convert Italy’s retired aircraft carrier, the ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi (C-551), into a dedicated drone and helicopter operations warship—a move that could dramatically shift the balance of maritime power in the South China Sea.

In mid-July 2025, a senior delegation from Italy’s Fincantieri shipbuilding group visited Jakarta for high-level talks, presenting a formal proposal to the Indonesian Ministry of Defence for the conversion of the 13,850-ton warship into a multi-role naval platform optimized for unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and rotary-wing operations,  according to a report by a reputable international defence website.

 

 

This visit followed earlier signals at the Indodefence 2025 exhibition in Jakarta, where a conceptual model of a reconfigured Giuseppe Garibaldi was unveiled—complete with a unique twin-island flight deck layout designed to optimize deck management and command separation for drone and helicopter sorties.

The prospect of Indonesia operating its own dedicated drone-helicopter carrier comes as part of a broader naval modernization push under the TNI-AL’s “Minimum Essential Force” (MEF) plan, which envisions the acquisition of at least four helicopter-capable vessels alongside modern frigates and patrol ships to secure the archipelago’s vast maritime domain.

Originally commissioned in 1985, the Giuseppe Garibaldi served for nearly four decades as Italy’s flagship STOVL aircraft carrier, supporting AV-8B Harrier II strike fighters and helicopters during NATO operations in the Balkans, humanitarian deployments, and Mediterranean task forces before being officially retired in October 2024.

Now in reserve status and docked at Taranto, the Garibaldi remains structurally intact, making it a prime candidate for conversion at significantly lower cost compared to building a new vessel from scratch—an attractive proposition for Jakarta in its pursuit of rapid naval capability expansion.

Jakarta’s interest in the platform is intrinsically tied to its growing partnership with Türkiye in the domain of unmanned aerial systems, particularly the Bayraktar TB3—a navalized, foldable-wing drone capable of operating from short decks and ski-jumps, precisely the configuration found on former Harrier carriers like the Garibaldi.

The TB3 successfully completed deck landing and take-off trials from Türkiye’s TCG Anadolu in November 2024, proving its operational viability for STOVL platforms and setting the stage for potential integration aboard a converted Garibaldi-class vessel under Indonesian flag.

Indonesia has already committed to acquiring 60 navalized TB3 drones, which are currently being locally manufactured in collaboration with Turkish drone-maker Baykar and the Indonesian defence tech firm Republikorp—indicating that UAV-centric carrier operations are already embedded into Jakarta’s procurement strategy.

 

 

By integrating these platforms into a floating launch and control center, the Indonesian Navy could achieve persistent surveillance, rapid-response capabilities, and increased maritime domain awareness across contested waters—most notably in the Natuna Sea, part of its EEZ repeatedly challenged by Chinese fishing fleets and maritime militia.

In a press briefing earlier this year, TNI-AL Chief of Staff Admiral Muhammad Ali highlighted the urgent operational need for such a vessel, stating, “It appears that we need an aircraft carrier for non-combat military operations,” as quoted by state-run news agency ANTARA.

This declaration was further reinforced by Indonesia’s Ministry of Defence spokesperson Frega Wenas, who explained that the platform would primarily be used to support humanitarian logistics, aerial reconnaissance, and maritime disaster response.

“As an archipelagic nation frequently affected by natural disasters, such a carrier would serve as a platform to accelerate the delivery of aid more effectively,” Frega said, while emphasizing that the ship would not be a conventional strike carrier but a multi-role support asset tailored for STOVL and rotary-wing operations.

The concept mirrors Turkey’s evolving maritime doctrine with the TCG Anadolu and aligns with global trends in leveraging light carriers for drone-centric missions, especially in areas where conventional aircraft carriers are either cost-prohibitive or politically sensitive.

According to defence publication Jane’s, Italian naval sources have also indicated that the Garibaldi package could include the possible transfer of up to 30 AV-8B Harrier II jets—still operational in some navies and capable of launching from the carrier’s ski-jump—though this aspect remains speculative and subject to feasibility analysis.

Such a deal, if realized, would significantly elevate Indonesia’s fixed-wing naval strike potential and provide an interim airpower solution until more advanced unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs), such as Türkiye’s KIZILELMA or MIUS, become available for export.

At 180.2 meters in length and a full load displacement nearing 14,000 tons, the Garibaldi was originally equipped with air defense systems including Albatros (Aspide) surface-to-air missiles and dual 40mm Oto Melara guns, though a refit would likely strip these legacy systems in favor of newer sensors and command modules optimized for drone operations.

The vessel could comfortably support a mixed air wing of TB3 drones, NH90 or AW101 helicopters, and potentially tilt-rotor or vertical lift platforms for rapid logistics, medical evacuation, and ISR missions across the Indonesian archipelago and beyond.

The strategic ramifications of such a platform in the South China Sea cannot be overstated.

As regional powers like China continue to militarize artificial islands and project naval airpower via aircraft carriers like the Liaoning and Shandong, Indonesia’s introduction of a UAV-helo carrier would mark a critical step toward asserting sovereignty and conducting continuous maritime patrols in contested EEZ waters.

Unlike conventional carriers, a drone-helicopter platform offers Indonesia the ability to operate persistently in grey-zone conflict zones without triggering escalation, while maintaining ISR coverage and sea control in shallow waters and littoral environments.

Should the project proceed, it would also reflect a broader pattern of defence diversification by Jakarta, which has already invested €1.18 billion (USD1.28 billion or RM5.44 billion) in acquiring two Thaon di Revel-class (PPA-class) multi-purpose warships from Italy—now renamed KRI BRAWIJAYA-320 and KRI PRABU SILIWANGI-321.

These Italian-built surface combatants, delivered in 2024, are now the largest warships in Indonesia’s arsenal and serve as clear indicators of Jakarta’s increasing trust in Italian naval platforms and broader defence-industrial cooperation with European partners.

The potential conversion of the Garibaldi, if executed within the next two to three years, would mark the first time a Southeast Asian nation operates a drone-capable carrier, positioning Indonesia as a pioneer in future naval warfare within the region.

It also fits neatly into a rising Indo-Pacific trend where mid-tier navies such as South Korea, Türkiye, and potentially the Philippines explore light aircraft carriers or drone-centric amphibious assault ships to counterbalance the exponential growth of China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN).

From a strategic, technological, and geopolitical perspective, Indonesia’s adoption of a drone-helicopter carrier would be nothing short of a maritime doctrinal leap—a bold statement that Jakarta is ready to play a more assertive role in regional security, humanitarian outreach, and joint maritime operations with trusted allies.

Whether the Giuseppe Garibaldi ultimately sails under the red-and-white ensign remains to be seen, but if the plan materializes, it will not just be the rebirth of a venerable Italian warship—it will mark the rise of a new kind of Southeast Asian maritime power.