Indonesia has received the former Italian Navy aircraft carrier "Giuseppe Garibaldi," which is 41 years old, and plans to commission it into the Indonesian Navy under a new name amid efforts to modernize the military. The government emphasized that the ship will primarily support helicopters, drones, and disaster relief missions. However, the purchase and refurbishment costs are being questioned in terms of value and expenses.
Indonesia welcomed the arrival today (18 Sep) of its first aircraft carrier, the former Italian Navy ship "Giuseppe Garibaldi," aged 41 years. The ship traveled from Italy via Colombo, Sri Lanka, and the Strait of Malacca before docking at a port in Jakarta.
The ship is 180 meters long, capable of carrying up to 18 helicopters and 830 personnel. It originally entered service with the Italian Navy in 1985 and was decommissioned in 2024.
Muhammad Ali, Commander of the Indonesian Navy, revealed that the ship will be renamed the warship "KRI Sriwijaya" and is expected to officially enter service next week, with its primary missions focused on non-military operations, especially disaster relief.
Ali said Indonesia frequently experiences disasters, necessitating a ship or platform capable of carrying many helicopters to quickly deliver supplies and aid to remote areas. He noted the ship is still in good condition and is expected to serve in the Indonesian Navy for another 15-20 years.
Italy agreed to transfer the Giuseppe Garibaldi to Indonesia in March as part of efforts to expand defense cooperation between the two countries, while Italy is also seeking opportunities to negotiate submarine and aircraft deals with Indonesia.
With this acquisition, Indonesia becomes the second Southeast Asian country to have an aircraft carrier in its fleet, following Thailand, which commissioned the HTMS Chakri Naruebet in 1997 after purchasing it from Spain, equipped with vertical and short takeoff and landing AV-8S Matador aircraft.
President Prabowo Subianto is pushing for modernization of Indonesia's military equipment, much of which is aging, including expanding defense cooperation with various countries.
In 2022, Indonesia signed an $8.1 billion USD agreement with France to purchase 42 Rafale fighter jets, with six delivered by May. India confirmed in July it will supply Indonesia with long-range missiles, while the U.S. announced in April it is upgrading defense cooperation with Indonesia to a "major defense partnership."
The Indonesian government does not plan to use the Giuseppe Garibaldi like major powers’ navies, which deploy aircraft carriers as bases for long-range fighter jets. Instead, it intends to use the ship as a mobile command center and support base for helicopters, drones, and maritime operations across Indonesia's many islands.
Prabowo said during a disaster management meeting earlier this month that the government will upgrade and convert the ship into a helicopter and drone carrier to enhance disaster response capabilities. He stated the ship can accommodate about 10 medium-sized helicopters capable of carrying large volumes of water for firefighting in areas affected by widespread wildfires.
The government also plans to use the ship as a drone operations base and a mobile platform that can be rapidly deployed to disaster areas, as Indonesia is one of the countries most frequently hit by natural disasters. Prabowo added the ship will help address forest fires and peatland fires, which often cause hazardous haze covering parts of Southeast Asia.
Although the government views the ship as boosting security and disaster response capabilities, the purchase and refurbishment have sparked debate in Indonesia. Defense analysts, economists, and some opposition politicians question whether the country needs an aircraft carrier and whether it is wise to allocate substantial funds to refurbish and maintain a 41-year-old warship amid fiscal pressures.
Indonesia's Ministry of Finance approved $450 million USD in funding for the aircraft carrier project in 2025, but some members of parliament warn that total costs could be much higher. TB Hasanuddin, a member of Parliament Commission 1, estimated refurbishment expenses alone could reach 16 trillion rupiah, or about $900 million USD.
Muhammad Fauzan Malufi from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) said acquiring this ship should be based on operational necessity and Indonesia's capacity to maintain continuous use, not on image or other factors.
He emphasized that the government must consider not only acquisition and refurbishment costs but also long-term expenses for personnel, maintenance, fuel, weapons systems, and supporting infrastructure, calling for transparent disclosure of such information, especially given the ship’s advanced age.
Fauzan cited Thailand's HTMS Chakri Naruebet as an example, noting operational and budget challenges, pointing out that the ship spends most of its time docked due to operational limitations and budget constraints.
/sourceAssociated Press/ AFP