Indonesia commissions ex-Italian Navy aircraft carrier

The former Italian Navy aircraft carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi docked upon its arrival from Italy at Tanjung Priok port in Jakarta on 18 September 2026, ahead of its induction into the Indonesian Navy as KRI Sriwijaya . (Satya Adhi / AFP via Getty )

Indonesia has formally commissioned the former Italian Navy vessel Giuseppe Garibaldi, into service.

The carrier entered service under the Indonesian flag as KRI Sriwijaya after a commissioning ceremony led by Indonesian Navy Chief of Staff Muhammad Ali on 24 September at Tanjung Priok in Jakarta.

It was previously slated to be commissioned as KRI Gajah Mada, but no details have been provided by Jakarta regarding the ship's re-designation.

The carrierfirst entered service with the Italian Navy in 1985, and it was decommissioned in 2024 after nearly four decades of service.

Measuring approximately 180 m in length, the ship is the largest aviation-capable platform ever acquired by Indonesia.

Indonesian officials have previously indicated that the vessel will primarily support helicopter and unmanned aviation operations, with a particular focus on humanitarian assistance and disaster-relief (HADR) missions.

In its statement issued on 24 September, the Indonesian Navy reiterated a plan for Sriwijaya to be deployed mainly for military operations other than war (MOOTW).

The service also described the vessel as part of broader efforts to strengthen and modernise Indonesia's integrated naval force structure and maritime defence capabilities.

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