Indonesia has received its first-ever aircraft carrier after the former Italian Navy vessel Giuseppe Garibaldi arrived at Tanjung Priok port in North Jakarta on Friday, marking a new development in the Southeast Asian nation’s naval capabilities and defence modernisation programme. The 41-year-old warship, which was retired from Italian service in 2024, was welcomed with a military ceremony after completing a 25-day voyage from Italy.
The vessel has been transferred to Indonesia by Italy as part of expanding defence cooperation between the two countries. Indonesian authorities have said the carrier will primarily be used for military operations other than war, including humanitarian assistance, disaster relief and maritime support across the country’s vast archipelago. The ship is expected to be formally commissioned into the Indonesian Navy next week under the name KRI Sriwijaya, after the historic Srivijaya maritime kingdom that was based in Sumatra and exerted influence over parts of Southeast Asia for centuries.
The arrival of the vessel gives Indonesia a new platform for operating helicopters and other aircraft from the sea. The ship is capable of supporting short takeoff and vertical landing aircraft as well as helicopters. Indonesian Navy Chief of Staff Admiral Muhammad Ali said the carrier could remain in service for another 15 to 20 years and could accommodate around 14 helicopters or more, depending on their size. Other reports have said the vessel can accommodate up to 18 helicopters and about 830 personnel.
Unlike aircraft carriers operated by major naval powers, Indonesia does not initially envisage using the vessel primarily as a platform for projecting fighter aircraft far from its shores. President Prabowo Subianto has said the ship will be refurbished for disaster-management operations, including as a mobile command and support platform for helicopters and drones. The government sees potential applications in responding to forest and peatland fires, floods, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and other emergencies that frequently affect the sprawling island nation.
The Indonesian Navy has also stressed the ship’s potential role in humanitarian missions. Preparations for its induction have included joint helicopter operations involving the Indonesian Navy, Air Force and Army, with crews practising flight-deck operations. The exercises are intended to familiarise personnel with operating helicopters from the carrier and prepare the armed forces for future missions involving the vessel.
Italy agreed in March to transfer the carrier to Indonesia after the vessel had been retired. The move forms part of broader defence engagement between Rome and Jakarta, with Italy also seeking opportunities for defence-related cooperation involving submarines and aircraft. Transferring the ageing carrier also reduces Italy’s costs associated with decommissioning the ship.
However, the acquisition has generated debate within Indonesia over the financial and operational implications of maintaining an ageing aircraft carrier. The Indonesian Finance Ministry approved $450 million in financing for the carrier programme in 2025, while some lawmakers have suggested that the eventual cost could be considerably higher once refurbishment and other expenses are included. Parliament member TB Hasanuddin has estimated that retrofitting alone could cost up to 16 trillion rupiah, or roughly $900 million.
Defence analysts have also questioned whether an aircraft carrier should be a priority for Indonesia at a time when the country is seeking to strengthen several other areas of its military. Some analysts have argued that submarines, frigates and other maritime systems could provide more direct capabilities for protecting Indonesia’s extensive territorial waters. Others have pointed to the high cost of operating a carrier, including personnel, maintenance, fuel, weapons systems and supporting infrastructure.
The debate comes as President Prabowo’s administration pursues an ambitious military modernisation programme involving submarines, frigates, fighter aircraft and missiles, alongside efforts to expand defence cooperation with several countries. The government has described defence development as a major priority and has sought to strengthen Indonesia’s maritime capabilities.
Indonesia will now become the second country in Southeast Asia to operate an aircraft carrier, following Thailand, whose HTMS Chakri Naruebet entered service in 1997. The Indonesian government’s emphasis on disaster relief and humanitarian operations gives its new carrier a role that extends beyond conventional naval missions. The Giuseppe Garibaldi, therefore, is set to become not only a symbol of Indonesia’s expanding maritime ambitions but also a platform intended to support emergency operations across one of the world’s largest archipelagic nations.
