Indonesia’s first aircraft carrier arrived at Tanjung Priok Port in North Jakarta on September 18, one day after the former Italian Navy vessel entered Indonesian waters through the Malacca Strait.
The 180-metre ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi docked at Pier 107 after being met by Indonesian Navy frigates KRI Brawijaya (320) and KRI Prabu Siliwangi (321). A CN-235 maritime patrol aircraft also participated in the welcoming operation.
The carrier left Taranto, Italy, on August 24 with a mixed Italian and Indonesian crew under Italian commanding officer Captain Marco Guerriero.
Its voyage included passage through the Suez Canal and calls at Safaga, Egypt, and Colombo, Sri Lanka. Italian warships reportedly provided an escort during part of the Red Sea transit.
The vessel will be renamed KRI Sriwijaya, replacing an earlier plan to call it KRI Gadjah Mada. Sriwijaya was a maritime kingdom based in Sumatra that held sway over major trade routes for centuries.
The carrier remains under Italian Navy ownership pending its scheduled handover and reflagging on September 24. A previously reported inauguration was set for September 25, while the ship is also expected to participate in Indonesian National Armed Forces anniversary events on October 5.
Italy agreed in March to provide the retired carrier to Indonesia. Giuseppe Garibaldi entered Italian Navy service in 1985. In 2025, Indonesia’s Finance Ministry approved $450 million to finance the aircraft carrier programme, Al Jazeera reported.
The Indonesian Navy plans to use KRI Sriwijaya primarily for military operations other than war, including aid for people and disaster response. President Prabowo Subianto directed that it be adapted to operate helicopters and drones during forest and land fires.
“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,” Indonesian Navy Chief of Staff Admiral Muhammad Ali told Al Jazeera.
Navy capacity figures range from at least 14 to as many as 18 helicopters, depending on aircraft type and operating configuration. The ship is 180.2 metres long, has a beam of 33.4 metres and draws about 8.5 metres. It can accommodate up to 830 personnel.
Admiral Ali said the carrier could also be deployed for combat missions if required. Earlier transfer documents indicated that it would arrive lacking offensive operational capabilities and would require a substantial modernization and refit programme.
Indonesia has conducted shipboard helicopter training for crews from all three military services ahead of the transfer. Exercises included operations from the landing platform dock KRI Makassar (590), while a flight-deck outline was prepared at Juanda Naval Air Station in East Java.
The navy is preparing Teluk Ratai in Lampung Province as the carrier’s planned homeport. The site has sufficient depth for the ship’s draught and sheltered navigation routes, according to Admiral Ali.
