Full Breakdown
Indonesia Commission s First Aircraft Carrier, Former Italian Warship Re-flagged as KRI Sriwijaya-100
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
Indonesia’s navy formally commissioned its first aircraft carrier on Thursday, receiving the former Italian Navy vessel ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi. The ship was renamed KRI Sriwijaya-100 and the Indonesian red-and-white flag was hoisted during a transfer ceremony at the Tanjung Priok seaport in North Jakarta. The carrier arrived in Indonesia after a 25-day voyage that passed through the Suez Canal, the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean.
Background and Regional Context
Italy retired the Giuseppe Garibaldi in 2024 and agreed in March to transfer the vessel to Indonesia as part of a broader defense-engagement effort that includes prospective deals on submarines and aircraft. The hand-over saves Italy the cost of decommissioning the ship. Indonesia becomes the second Southeast Asian nation to operate an aircraft carrier; Thailand commissioned its carrier HTMS Chakri Naruebet in 1997 after purchasing it from Spain.
Capabilities and Intended Roles
KRI Sriwijaya-100 can host short-takeoff and vertical-landing aircraft as well as helicopters, making it suitable for a mobile command and support hub. Indonesian officials emphasize that the carrier will augment maritime defence operations across the archipelago and serve disaster-response missions, including the deployment of helicopters and drones for firefighting and humanitarian assistance during forest and peat-land fires that generate regional haze.
Official Statements
President Prabowo Subianto added that the carrier will help combat the frequent forest and peat-land fires that affect Southeast Asia, underscoring its dual utility for security and disaster mitigation.
Implications for Maritime Security
The addition of KRI Sriwijaya-100 expands Indonesia’s naval reach and provides a platform for coordinated operations in the strategically vital waters surrounding the nation’s thousands of islands. By integrating the carrier into its fleet, Indonesia signals a commitment to bolstering regional maritime stability while enhancing its capacity to respond swiftly to natural disasters and humanitarian crises.