Italy offers Indonesia to convert an aircraft carrier into a drone platform

 

ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi

The Italian shipbuilding company Fincantieri came to Jakarta for a reason — it is seriously applying for a deal with Indonesia. At a two-day meeting on July 15-16, the Italians revealed in detail a plan: how to convert their old aircraft carrier ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi to the needs of the Indonesian Navy. Only now it will not be a classic aircraft carrier, but almost like a "drone home" — a helicopter carrier with a focus on drones.

The proposal covers four key areas: deck upgrades, control system upgrades, helicopter adaptations, and, most interestingly, preparing the ship for UAV launch and reception. That is, in fact, they want to turn the old Italian "veteran aircraft carrier" into a modern floating base for drones and helicopters.

For Indonesia, this is an attractive option: not to build from scratch, but to take an already proven building and update it to suit your needs. This is especially true if a country wants to strengthen control over its islands and sea lanes at no huge cost.

So far, this is just a suggestion, but it looks serious. If it works, Indonesia may get its first helicopter drone ship, and Fincantieri may get a new major contract in Asia.