Indonesia’s $900m Gamble: First Aircraft Carrier
Jakarta takes delivery of Italy’s 41-year-old Giuseppe Garibaldi, renamed KRI Sriwijaya.
Indonesia has taken delivery of its first aircraft carrier, a former Italian warship now renamed KRI Sriwijaya, which arrived in Jakarta on Friday after a voyage from Europe. The vessel departed Italy’s Taranto naval base on 24 August and transited the Suez Canal before making stops at Egypt’s Safaga and Sri Lanka’s Colombo ports. Italian warships escorted the carrier through the Red Sea, where Houthi attacks have targeted commercial shipping in recent months.
Upon entering Indonesian waters via the Malacca Strait, the KRI Sriwijaya was met by two Navy patrol boats—KRI Brawijaya (320) and KRI Prabu Siliwangi (321)—along with a maritime patrol aircraft. The carrier will dock at Tanjung Priok Port in North Jakarta, where it will serve as a centerpiece for the Indonesian National Armed Forces’ anniversary celebrations on 5 October.
Capabilities and Controversies: Aircraft Carrier
The 41-year-old vessel, originally named Giuseppe Garibaldi, was decommissioned by Italy earlier this year. Indonesia’s acquisition saves Italy the cost of dismantling the ship while strengthening defence ties between the two nations. The carrier is designed to operate short takeoff and vertical landing aircraft, as well as helicopters, though its primary role has been framed as supporting humanitarian and disaster relief operations rather than combat.
The Indonesian Navy has emphasized the ship’s potential for military operations other than war, including search-and-rescue missions and logistical support. To prepare for its integration, the military conducted joint helicopter drills involving the Navy’s AS565 Panther, the Air Force’s NAS332 Super Puma, and the Army’s Bell 412. The exercises, held aboard the landing platform dock KRI Makassar, included deck takeoffs, landings, and live flight operations to familiarize crews with shipboard procedures.
The carrier’s name honors the ancient Sriwijaya thalassocracy, a maritime empire based in Sumatra that dominated regional trade routes from the 7th to the 14th centuries. However, the acquisition has sparked debate among defence analysts and opposition politicians, who question the vessel’s cost-effectiveness and strategic value. With Indonesia’s defence budget already stretched, critics argue the carrier could divert resources from other priorities, such as modernizing the submarine fleet.
Regional Significance
The KRI Sriwijaya makes Indonesia only the second country in Southeast Asia to operate an aircraft carrier, following Thailand’s HTMS Chakri Naruebet, which was commissioned in 1997. While the Indonesian government presents the carrier as a tool for maritime security and disaster response, its arrival has reignited discussions about the country’s naval ambitions amid rising regional tensions.
The vessel will be formally commissioned into the Indonesian Navy in the coming weeks. Defence analysts note that its long-term success will depend on how effectively Indonesia can integrate it into its broader military strategy, ensuring it delivers practical benefits beyond symbolic prestige.
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