Indonesia commissions first aircraft carrier, reflagged from Italian navy
Indonesia has commissioned its first aircraft carrier, the KRI Sriwijaya-100, a former Italian vessel handed over at Tanjung Priok.
Indonesia commissioned its first aircraft carrier on Thursday, taking delivery of a former Italian navy vessel at a ceremony held at Tanjung Priok seaport in North Jakarta.
The ship, previously the ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi, was renamed the KRI Sriwijaya-100 and the Italian flag was replaced with Indonesia's red-and-white flag as part of the official transfer.
"The ship, which previously served in the Italian Navy, now bears the name KRI Sriwijaya-100, flying the red-and-white flag as a symbol of sovereignty and service to Indonesia," navy spokesperson Tunggul, who uses one name, said in a statement.
Italy retired the carrier in 2024. It reached the Indonesian port last week after a 25-day voyage that passed through the Suez Canal, the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean.
The vessel is capable of operating short takeoff and vertical landing aircraft as well as helicopters. Rather than deploying it as a strike platform in the manner of larger naval powers, Indonesia intends to use it as a mobile command and support hub for helicopters, drones and maritime operations across its archipelago.
President Prabowo Subianto has said the ship would also assist in combating forest and peatland fires, which regularly spread hazardous haze across parts of Southeast Asia.
Italy agreed in March to hand over the carrier, a move aimed at deepening its broader defence engagement with Indonesia. Rome is pursuing deals on submarines and aircraft, and the transfer also spares it the expense of decommissioning the vessel.
Indonesia becomes the second country in Southeast Asia to operate an aircraft carrier. Thailand's HTMS Chakri Naruebet was commissioned in 1997 after being procured from Spain.