Jakarta, Indonesia: Indonesia has received its first aircraft carrier after the former Italian Navy vessel ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi arrived at Tanjung Priok Port in North Jakarta on 18 September 2026 marking the country’s entry into aircraft-carrier operations. The 41-year-old carrier, which was retired by Italy in 2024, entered Indonesian waters on 17 September 2026 and reached Pier 107 at about 07:58 local time. It will operate under the Indonesian Navy as KRI Sriwijaya.
The carrier was transferred by Italy to Indonesia as a grant. Italy’s decision was linked to wider defence engagement with Indonesia, including its interest in defence deals involving submarines and aircraft, while the transfer also avoids the cost of decommissioning the retired ship. Indonesia’s Defence Ministry has described the acquisition as part of efforts to strengthen maritime defence capabilities and modernise the country’s armed forces.
The ship sailed from Italy on 24 August 2026 and was escorted by Italian Navy vessels during its international voyage. After a stop in Sri Lanka, it entered Indonesian waters through the Indonesian Archipelagic Sea Lane I, or ALKI I, near Bangka. The Indonesian Navy then took over the escort operation with KRI Brawijaya-320 and KRI Prabu Siliwangi-321. Indonesian naval aviation assets also participated in the arrival operation.
The Indonesian Navy said the carrier’s arrival is intended to strengthen its capability for Military Operations Other Than War, particularly disaster response and humanitarian missions. Its 17 September, 2026 statement said the arrival was an important part of strengthening the Navy’s capabilities for disaster mitigation and humanitarian operations, which have been prioritised by President Prabowo Subianto.
Indonesia also plans to use the carrier as a mobile aviation and disaster-response platform. President Prabowo has said, “We will refurbish it and convert it into a carrier for helicopters and drones.” He said the platform would improve disaster response and allow aircraft to be deployed rapidly to affected areas.
Forest and land fires are among the first missions being considered. The carrier is expected to support helicopters and unmanned aircraft operating near affected areas, giving Indonesia a mobile platform from which aircraft can be deployed without depending entirely on infrastructure at remote land bases. The government also sees the ship as useful for wider disaster operations across the country’s thousands of islands.
Indonesian Navy chief Adm. Muhammad Ali said the vessel’s primary purpose would be non-war operations, while retaining the ability to support combat missions if required. “We intend to use the ship primarily for military operations other than war,” Ali told reporters after the arrival ceremony. He said the carrier could remain in Indonesian service for another 15 to 20 years and accommodate 14 helicopters or more, depending on their size.
The Navy has been preparing personnel for the new capability. According to a 17 September statement from the Indonesian Fleet Command, 310 personnel are undergoing training to become prospective crew members of KRI Sriwijaya. Colonel Wishnu Ardiansyah, head of the Fleet Command’s Information Service, said the training is focused on the knowledge, skills and professionalism required before personnel serve aboard the carrier. “We are preparing prospective crew members through well-directed and disciplined training focused on operational readiness,” he said.
The ship’s arrival also represents a change from the name previously reported for Indonesia’s carrier. Earlier plans had identified it as KRI Gajah Mada, but the Indonesian Navy confirmed on 17 September that it would instead be named KRI Sriwijaya, after the historic maritime kingdom centred in Sumatra. The official Fleet Command statement described it as Indonesia’s first aircraft carrier and identified its previous name as ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi (C551).
The carrier’s arrival was formally observed by Indonesian defence and military officials. Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin boarded the ship at Tanjung Priok accompanied by Navy Chief of Staff Adm. Muhammad Ali and senior military officials, with Italian commanding officer Capt. Marco Guerriero was also present. Indonesian authorities did not allow the media delegation to accompany the officials inside the ship during the inspection.
The programme comes with substantial financial commitments. Indonesia’s Finance Ministry approved US$450 million in financing for the aircraft-carrier programme in 2025. Indonesian lawmaker TB Hasanuddin told Associated Press, that the cost of retrofitting the carrier alone could reach 16 trillion rupiah, or about US$900 million. The vessel’s age and the cost of maintaining, modernising and operating it have therefore become part of the public debate surrounding the acquisition.
With KRI Sriwijaya, Indonesia becomes the second Southeast Asian country to operate an aircraft carrier, after Thailand. However, Indonesian officials have emphasised that the vessel’s immediate value will extend beyond conventional naval aviation, with disaster response, humanitarian assistance, maritime operations, helicopters and drones forming central elements of its planned role.
