Monday 21 / September / 2026
Jakarta: Indonesia has taken delivery of its first aircraft carrier, the former Italian Navy vessel Giuseppe Garibaldi, which arrived at Tanjung Priok Port in Jakarta on September 18, marking a new development in the country’s naval capabilities.
The 41-year-old vessel, which was commissioned by Italy in 1985 and retired from Italian service in 2024, was transferred to Indonesia by the Italian government. It sailed about 6,870 nautical miles from Taranto, Italy, beginning its voyage on August 24, and was escorted into Indonesian waters by Indonesian Navy frigates KRI Brawijaya-320 and KRI Prabu Siliwangi-321.
The carrier is scheduled to be formally handed over to the Indonesian Navy and renamed KRI Sriwijaya on September 24. The process will also include the replacement of the Italian flag with the Indonesian flag.
Built by Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri, the 180-metre-long vessel has a displacement of about 13,370 tonnes. Rather than being operated primarily as a conventional fixed-wing strike carrier, Indonesia plans to adapt it into a mobile aviation and sea-based support platform for helicopters and unmanned systems.
Indonesia's Defence Ministry said the ship is capable of carrying more than a dozen helicopters and can facilitate the simultaneous take-off of four helicopters using its ski-jump-equipped flight deck. Officials have identified disaster response, logistics distribution and other operations beyond war as important missions for the vessel.
The platform is expected to support humanitarian and disaster-relief operations across Indonesia's vast archipelago, including responses to floods, forest fires and other natural disasters. It could also serve as a mobile command and aviation base, allowing helicopters and drones to be deployed to areas that are difficult to reach from land.
The acquisition is being accompanied by a substantial modernisation programme. Indonesia has authorised foreign financing of up to $450 million for the vessel and associated operational equipment, while separate reports have put the eventual cost of extensive refurbishment at potentially higher levels. The refit is being developed with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri and Indonesian defence and shipbuilding interests.
The Indonesian Navy has said the vessel's condition is suitable for optimisation for military and humanitarian missions. Its large flight deck and hangar provide Indonesia with a platform capable of supporting helicopters from different branches of its armed forces, while the planned integration of drones is expected to expand its surveillance and operational capabilities.
The arrival of the Garibaldi represents a significant expansion of Indonesia's naval aviation infrastructure. Jakarta has stressed the vessel's potential role not only in maritime defence but also in responding to the frequent natural disasters and logistical challenges associated with operating across thousands of islands.
Once formally commissioned as KRI Sriwijaya, the vessel will become the first aircraft carrier in the Indonesian Navy's fleet.
