Prabowo Says Garibaldi Will Be Converted Into a Helicopter and Drone Carrier

President Prabowo Subianto says Indonesia will turn the Italian aircraft carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi into a floating base for helicopters and drones, with a role in fighting forest and land fires.

The ship, identified as Giuseppe Garibaldi (551), is traveling from Italy to Indonesia and will stop in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and Colombo, Sri Lanka, before arriving in the country.

Speaking during a virtual limited meeting from Merdeka Palace in Central Jakarta on Monday, Prabowo said the vessel would undergo refurbishment. “Thank God, soon the aircraft carrier from Italy will arrive. We will refurbish it and turn it into an aircraft carrier for helicopters and drones,” he said.

Prabowo said the converted carrier would be able to accommodate 10 medium helicopters. He compared the planned aircraft to helicopters such as the Black Hawk and Mi-17, and said they could fly directly from the ship to locations needing assistance with forest and land fires.

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Thank God, soon the aircraft carrier from Italy will arrive. We will refurbish it and turn it into an aircraft carrier for helicopters and drones. Its capacity is 10 medium helicopters, helicopters similar to the Black Hawk and Mi-17.