Indonesia Commissions First Aircraft Carrier, KRI Sriwijaya-100
The nation's navy acquired the former Italian vessel to bolster maritime defenses and disaster response capabilities.
Indonesia's navy officially commissioned its first aircraft carrier, the KRI Sriwijaya-100, on Thursday. The vessel, formerly the Italian warship ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi, was renamed and reflagged with the Indonesian flag in a ceremony at the Tanjung Priok seaport in North Jakarta. The transfer marks a significant step in strengthening Indonesia's maritime defenses and its capacity for disaster response.
The KRI Sriwijaya-100 arrived in Indonesia last week after a 25-day voyage through the Suez Canal, the Red Sea, and the Indian Ocean. Italy retired the ship in 2024 and agreed in March to transfer it to Indonesia, a move that also benefits Italy by saving decommissioning costs and potentially fostering broader defense engagement, including future deals on submarines and aircraft.
Designed for short takeoff and vertical landing aircraft and helicopters, the KRI Sriwijaya-100 will serve as a mobile command and support hub for helicopter, drone, and maritime operations across Indonesia's vast archipelago. President Prabowo Subianto has indicated that the carrier will also aid in combating the forest and peatland fires that frequently blanket Southeast Asia in hazardous haze.
Indonesia becomes the second nation in Southeast Asia to operate an aircraft carrier, following Thailand's HTMS Chakri Naruebet, which was commissioned in 1997.