Italy donates Giuseppe Garibaldi aircraft carrier to Indonesia as bonus for major arms deal
February 27, 2026
Indonesia is expected to receive the ex-Italian Giuseppe Garibaldi aircraft carrier as a bonus for signing a larger assortment of arms deals with Italy. That assortment appears to include M-346 Masters, ATR-72 Maritime Patrol Aircraft, and more.
Indonesia to receive Italian aircraft carrier by October
Plans are reportedly moving forward for Indonesia to acquire the ex-Italian Giuseppe Garibaldi aircraft carrier. The aim is for the nation to receive the carrier before the Indonesian National Armed Forces Anniversary on the 5th of October, 2026.
According to reports, Indonesia is not purchasing the Giuseppe Garibaldi as such, with the carrier ostensibly being supplied free of charge by Italy. Italy is even covering the estimated €54 million ($64m) cost of transferring the carrier.
Rather, the ship is a sort of bonus to complement other Italian military acquisitions Indonesia is making.
The Indonesian news outlet, Antara, reported today that Indonesia is sending 100 of its naval personnel to Italy for training on the Giuseppe Garibaldi. Ultimately, the Indonesian Navy will need to train some 500 sailors to crew the carrier.
🔴#LDO_PR At the @SGAirshow, #Leonardo announced the signing of a Letter of Intent (#LOI) with PT ESystem Solutions Indonesia and the Ministry of Defence (MoD) of the Republic of #Indonesia (@Kemhan_RI) aimed at cooperating for the supply and support of the Leonardo #M346F… pic.twitter.com/U4QgY77HNn
— Leonardo Aeronautics (@LDO_Aeronautics) February 4, 2026
There is speculation that Indonesia could acquire up to 30 (or perhaps a single squadron) of AV-8B Harrier jets along with the aircraft carrier. However, these are expensive to operate, and some analysts consider it more likely that Indonesia will restrict the carrier to helicopters and drones.
Indonesia is purchasing Italian M-346 fighters
In early February, Leonardo announced it had signed a letter of intent with Indonesia to supply M-346 F “Block 20” aircraft for the country’s air force. Leonardo doesn’t say how many are being purchased, but some outlets have claimed it’s 24 and that the deal is worth €600 million ($700m).
🇮🇹🇮🇩
— A-129 Mangusta (@NichoConcu) February 26, 2026
Italy will transfer the Giuseppe Garibaldi aircraft carrier to Indonesia. On paper this will not cost anything, you could view this as a bonus to compliment other acquisitions Indonesia will make which includes:
x6 DRASS Submarines
x3 MPA (ATR-72?)
x24 M-346 FA’s pic.twitter.com/yplUS5UiHL
Leonardo stated that the M-346s will be equipped with cockpits featuring a Large Area Display (LAD), active electronically scanned radar, a Link 16 data-link, electronic countermeasures, and new weapons systems.
There are also reports that Indonesia is negotiating to purchase up to three Leonardo ATR-72 Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) worth €350 million. These modified ATR-72s are designed for anti-submarine warfare, search and rescue, and maritime security.
There are also unconfirmed reports by Ares Difesa that Indonesia is considering purchasing six small Italian submarines, although Indonesia previously ordered two French Scorpène-class submarines in 2024.
Some news outlets suggest Indonesia will also purchase Italian helicopters.
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Indonesia’s bizarre collection of fighter jets from around the world
Non-aligned countries, like India, attempt to diversify their weapons suppliers to prevent any one country or alliance from having too much influence. Notwithstanding, India found itself heavily reliant on Russian weapons.
This is part of the reason why India has moved to purchasing French Rafales and various American aircraft in recent years, while also developing its own industry.
However, Indonesia has taken this logic to an extreme. The country is seemingly prioritising diversity over logistical and cost concerns, and it’s either purchasing or has seriously considered purchasing almost every fighter jet on the market.
Its combat fleet currently consists of French Rafales, American F-16s, Russian Su-27/30s, British BAE Hawk 200s, South Korean KAI T-50 Golden Eagles, and Brazilian Embraer EMB 314s.
Combat aircraft on order, with letters of intent, or reported to be in serious negotiation include more French Rafales, South Korean/Indonesian KF-21s, Turkish KAANs, Sino-Pakistani JF-17s, Chinese J-20Cs, and Italian M-346 Masters.
Cancelled orders include Russian Su-35s (cancelled from CAATSA pressure) and American F-15EXs. The US also refused to supply Indonesia with F-35s.
Indonesia’s drone fleet is also to consist of a collection of Turkish (including the Bayraktar Akinci), Chinese, and small Israeli drones.
Featured Image: Leonardo
