Indonesia officially welcomed its first aircraft carrier this Friday in a military ceremony at the Tanjung Priok naval base in North Jakarta. The vessel, formerly the Italian Navy’s Giuseppe Garibaldi, arrived after a voyage from Italy that included stops in Colombo and the Malacca Strait.
Indonesian Navy Chief of Staff Muhammad Ali confirmed the delivery to reporters, highlighting the strategic importance of the acquisition. The 180-meter ship is capable of carrying up to 18 helicopters and accommodating approximately 830 personnel. It will be renamed KRI Sriwijaya, honoring the powerful maritime kingdom that dominated Southeast Asia between the seventh and 13th centuries.
While the carrier marks a significant milestone in Indonesia’s naval capabilities, its primary initial role is expected to be humanitarian and disaster relief. President Prabowo Subianto emphasized the vessel’s utility in managing frequent natural disasters across the archipelago. “There are many disasters in this country. So we really need a vessel or platform that could carry many helicopters, because the helicopters can drop logistics quickly to remote areas,” Ali said. However, he acknowledged that the ship remains viable for combat missions if necessary.
The arrival of the former Italian vessel, commissioned in 1985 and retired in 2014, aligns with President Prabowo’s broader agenda to modernize Indonesia’s armed forces. The gift was agreed upon in March as part of efforts to strengthen bilateral defense ties. For Italy, the transfer offers a cost-effective alternative to decommissioning the ship while opening doors for potential future sales of submarines and aircraft.
Naval officials expressed confidence in the vessel’s longevity, with Ali stating that the ship’s condition is excellent and could serve the Indonesian Navy for another 15 to 20 years. The Indonesian Finance Ministry approved $450 million in financing for the program in 2025, though opposition politicians have raised concerns that total costs may exceed initial estimates.
This acquisition is part of a wider series of defense enhancements under Prabowo, who previously served as a general during the Suharto era. In 2022, as defense minister, Jakarta finalized an $8.1 billion deal for 42 French Rafale fighter jets. More recently, Indonesia has secured long-range missiles from India, established a Major Defence Cooperation Partnership with the United States under the Trump administration, and signed a security treaty with Australia.
Four-fifty million dollars for financing, but opposition fears costs will skyrocket. Hope they stick to the humanitarian mandate.
Wait, so this is actually a gift from Italy? That’s surprisingly generous for a forty-year-old warship!
Disaster relief is a smart pivot for an old carrier, but can it really handle modern air threats effectively?