Jakarta just got a massive new toy. Indonesia officially welcomed its first aircraft carrier, snapping up a 41-year-old former Italian Navy vessel to bolster its maritime power. The ship, formerly known as the ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi, arrived at North Jakarta's Tanjung Priok port after a long voyage from Italy through the Suez Canal and the Malacca Strait.
It is a bold move. It also raises immediate questions about whether a developing archipelagic state should spend hundreds of millions of dollars on a secondhand warship.
What You Need to Know About Indonesia's New Carrier
Let's look at the facts. The vessel was retired by the Italian Navy in 2024 and transferred to Indonesia as part of an expanding defense relationship between Rome and Jakarta. Italy saves millions in decommissioning costs. Indonesia gets a 180-meter floating platform capable of carrying helicopters and vertical-landing aircraft.
It will be renamed KRI Sriwijaya. The Indonesian Finance Ministry already approved $450 million in funding for the program in 2025. However, local lawmakers and defense analysts warn that retrofitting and operationalizing the vessel could balloon past 16 trillion rupiah, roughly $900 million.
Why Indonesia Wants a Floating Command Center
Most nations buy aircraft carriers to project power thousands of miles away from home. Think of American supercarriers dominating global waters or China expanding its reach.
Indonesia has an entirely different problem set. The country spans thousands of islands across the Pacific Ring of Fire. Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and massive forest fires strike regularly.
President Prabowo Subianto isn't planning to load the deck with strike fighter jets. Instead, the administration intends to convert the vessel into a mobile hub for helicopters and drones. When disaster hits a remote island, this ship serves as a floating command center that can drop supplies and coordinate relief efforts within hours.
Naval planners also argue it acts as a strong deterrent in regional waters. It makes Indonesia only the second Southeast Asian nation to operate an aircraft carrier, following Thailand's acquisition of a Spanish-built ship back in 1997.
The Real Debate Behind the Headlines
Not everyone is cheering. Critics point out the staggering price tag. Upgrading an aging hull requires deep pockets. Maintaining gas turbine propulsion systems and specialized flight decks is an ongoing financial drain.
Defense experts caution against prestige projects. If the logistics train fails, the ship becomes an expensive liability rather than a strategic asset. The government insists the budget is manageable and the utility outweighs the risk.
Only time will tell if KRI Sriwijaya proves its worth in the tropical waters of Southeast Asia.
Review the Indonesia Gets Its First Aircraft Carrier to see details about the ship's arrival and mission scope.
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