Dani Aswara, Jakarta – Indonesia's Ministry of Defense estimates the budget for the repair and modernization (retrofitting) of the aircraft carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi will reach Rp7.2 trillion. This cost is adjusted based on the ship's technical condition and the need for equipment installations to support the Indonesian Navy's operations.
Head of the Defense Information Bureau of the Ministry of Defense Secretariat, Brigadier General Rico Ricardo Sirait, stated that the modernization budget ceiling is still an estimate and will be adjusted based on the results of a comprehensive technical inspection.
"The repair and modernization budget will be adjusted based on the ship's technical condition and equipment installation needs. The estimated ceiling is around Rp7.2 trillion," Rico said on Saturday, February 28, 2026.
Although the ship was acquired through a grant scheme, the government has allocated funds for the maintenance of existing equipment and certain modernizations. One adjustment includes the installation of combat systems to align with the operational needs of the Indonesian Navy.
Currently, the transfer process for Giuseppe Garibaldi is still in the internal grant administration stages of each country. However, the arrival schedule remains dependent on technical readiness and the completion of the transfer of ownership process. "The government hopes the ship will arrive in Indonesia before the 2026 Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) Anniversary," he said.
The ship can essentially support Military Operations for War (OMP) and Military Operations Other Than War (OMSP), particularly humanitarian missions, disaster relief, and other non-combat operations requiring power projection and logistical support in national waters and the surrounding area.
Tb. Hasanuddin, a member of Commission I of the House of Representatives (DPR), stated that discussions regarding the Giuseppe Garibaldi aircraft carrier had never been specifically held, whether it would be purchased new or through a grant. "There has never been a specific discussion with Commission I," he said when contacted by phone on February 23, 2026.
According to Hasanuddin, the grant of primary weapons systems, or alutsista, requires at least three things: it is non-binding, aligned with domestic defense doctrine, and does not burden the budget excessively, especially for maintenance.