JAKARTA, Indonesia | September 24, 2026 | Indonesia formally commissioned its first aircraft carrier on Thursday, renaming the former Italian Navy vessel ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi as KRI Sriwijaya-100 in a ceremony at Tanjung Priok port in North Jakarta.
The Indonesian flag was raised after the Italian ensign was lowered, formally bringing the 41-year-old warship into the ranks of the Indonesian Navy. The ceremony was led by Indonesian Armed Forces Commander Gen. Agus Subiyanto, who formally inducted the vessel into the fleet.
Indonesian Navy Chief of Staff Adm. Muhammad Ali said the ship is ready to carry out state duties. The navy plans to use it as a mobile maritime command and support platform, including for helicopter and drone operations, humanitarian missions and disaster response across Indonesia’s vast archipelago.
The ship arrived at Tanjung Priok on September 18 after sailing about 6,870 nautical miles from Taranto, Italy, through the Suez Canal, the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean. Indonesia’s Defense Ministry said an inspection found the vessel’s physical condition and systems suitable for optimization, particularly for disaster response and logistics distribution to remote areas.
The vessel was built by Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri and entered Italian Navy service in 1985. During its Italian service, the Giuseppe Garibaldi operated AV-8B Harrier II short takeoff and vertical landing aircraft as well as naval helicopters. Italy retired the ship in 2024.
Indonesia’s acquisition followed an agreement with Italy to transfer the retired carrier. The ship is expected to undergo further systems upgrades through cooperation between Indonesian state-owned shipbuilder PT PAL and Fincantieri. Indonesian officials have said the vessel will strengthen maritime defense while also supporting operations outside wartime, including disaster relief and humanitarian assistance.
The decision also gives Indonesia a new capability in Southeast Asia. Thailand became the region’s first country to operate an aircraft carrier when the HTMS Chakri Naruebet entered service in 1997. Indonesia’s new carrier, however, is expected to be used primarily as a helicopter, drone, command and support platform rather than as a conventional large carrier operated by major naval powers.
The name Sriwijaya carries particular historical significance. The Srivijaya maritime kingdom, centered in southern Sumatra, was a major regional power from roughly the 7th to 13th centuries and controlled important maritime trade routes around the Malacca Strait. Indonesia’s Navy said the name was chosen to evoke the country’s long maritime history and its identity as an archipelagic nation.
The Indonesian Defense Ministry described the commissioning as part of the country’s broader military modernization program. It said KRI Sriwijaya-100 is intended to serve not only as a maritime defense asset but also as a center for naval operations, defense diplomacy and humanitarian assistance.
For Indonesia, the commissioning marks a significant change in its naval inventory, transforming a retired Italian carrier into a new platform designed to serve the country’s defense and humanitarian requirements across thousands of islands.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
