Indonesia commissioned its first aircraft carrier on Thursday, inducting the former Italian Navy vessel Giuseppe Garibaldi as KRI Sriwijaya-100.
Indonesian Armed Forces Commander General Agus Subiyanto formally brought the ship into the navy at Tanjung Priok Port in North Jakarta, where the Italian naval ensign was lowered, and Indonesia’s red-and-white flag was raised.
“Today, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, I, Gen. Agus Subiyanto, commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces, hereby declare KRI Sriwijaya-100 officially inducted into the Indonesian Navy,” he said.
Colonel Mochamad Fuad Hasan was installed as the ship’s first Indonesian commander during the same ceremony at Pier 107.
The 180.2-meter vessel, built by Italy’s Fincantieri and commissioned into the Italian Navy in 1985, served for nearly four decades before being retired in 2024. Italy later transferred the ship to Indonesia under a government-to-government grant.
The carrier arrived in Jakarta on Sept. 18 after leaving Taranto on Aug. 24 and sailing for about 25 days through the Suez Canal, the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean.
Navy spokesman Tunggul said the ship now “bears the name KRI Sriwijaya-100, flying the red-and-white flag as a symbol of sovereignty and service to Indonesia.”
Srivijaya was a historic maritime kingdom based in present-day Sumatra. Navy Chief of Staff Admiral Muhammad Ali said the name was selected because Srivijaya was “one of the oldest maritime kingdoms in the history of the Nusantara.”
The ship has a displacement of about 13,850 tonnes and can reach 30 knots. Its flight deck was designed to operate helicopters and short take-off and vertical landing aircraft. Officials say it can carry an air group of about 18 to 20 aircraft, depending on the mission.
Jakarta said the carrier will support both maritime defense and non-war military operations, especially humanitarian assistance and disaster relief across the vast Indonesian archipelago. President Prabowo Subianto has previously said the ship could help fight forest and peatland fires by serving as a mobile base for helicopters.
After Thursday’s ceremony, the vessel was ready for duty.
“We are waiting for orders. The point is, this ship is ready,” he told reporters. He added that a retrofit with state shipbuilder PT PAL and Fincantieri remained possible, but any immediate mission would take priority.
Italian Navy Chief Admiral Giuseppe Berutti Bergotto attended the handover and called it the start of a new chapter in naval cooperation. “Italian memories will remain within her steel, but from today Indonesian sailors will give her a new life, a new mission and a new future,” he said.
The acquisition makes Indonesia only the second country in Southeast Asia to operate an aircraft carrier, after Thailand. It’s the fifth in Asia after India, China, Japan and Thailand.
Giuseppe Garibaldi
Giuseppe Garibaldi (C 551) holds a distinguished place in naval history, having served as one of the most iconic vessels in Italy’s fleet.
The warship was officially retired after four decades of illustrious service. Commissioned in 1985, the Giuseppe Garibaldi was Italy’s first aircraft carrier capable of deploying fixed-wing aircraft, the Harrier AV-8B+ jump jets.
It was designed to operate Harrier aircraft and various helicopters, boosting Italy’s naval aviation capabilities.
Depending on operational requirements, the carrier could accommodate up to 18 helicopters, such as the Agusta Sikorsky SH-3D Sea King and the Agusta Bell AB212, or alternatively, a fleet of 16 AV-8B Harrier II aircraft.
The deck was later upgraded to support operations involving the advanced EH101 helicopters currently in service with the Italian Navy. Throughout its long career, the Garibaldi contributed to numerous international military and humanitarian operations.
The ship’s propulsion system used a Combined Gas and Gas (COGAG) configuration, with four LM2500 gas turbines developed by FiatAvio under license from General Electric (GE).
This powerful system generated a sustained output of 81,000 horsepower, enabling the carrier to achieve a maximum speed of 30 knots. At a more economical cruising speed of 20 knots, the vessel boasted an impressive operational range of over 7,000 nautical miles, allowing it to conduct long-range missions with extended endurance.
It was actively engaged in Operation Restore Hope in Somalia, DINAK operations during the Yugoslav conflict, and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.
Additionally, it participated in Operation Mimosa and Operation Leonte in Lebanon, as well as Operation Odyssey Dawn and Operation Unified Protector in Libya. Later, it was a key asset in Operation SOPHIA, an initiative aimed at dismantling human trafficking networks and preventing tragic loss of life in the Central Mediterranean Sea.
In 2023, the Garibaldi proudly celebrated its fortieth anniversary. On February 23, 2024, Rear Admiral Enrico Credendino, the Chief of Staff of the Italian Navy, authorized the official commencement of the vessel’s decommissioning process. In October 2024, the ship entered the Ridotta Tabella di Disponibilità (RTD Tre), or Reduced Availability Table, phase.
During this interim period, a minimal crew remains on board to manage port custody and carry out initial disarmament procedures.
This phase is the final step before the ship is officially struck from the Italian Navy’s active fleet roster, ending its distinguished service in national defense and international operations.
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