Indonesian Navy to Dispatch 100 Prospective Aircraft Carrier Crew to Italy on 10 July

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Navy (TNI AL) will dispatch 100 prospective crew members for the aircraft carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi to Italy in July 2026 to undergo training. “The plan is, God willing, they will depart for Italy on 10 July,” said Chief of Naval Staff (KSAL) Admiral TNI Muhammad Ali during a press conference at the Naval Staff and Command School (Seskoal) building in Cipulir, South Jakarta, on Thursday. Ali explained that the 100 Navy personnel selected for the training were chosen based on their experience and backgrounds related to ship assignments. He said they will form a task force (satgas) comprising the initial crewing team. While in Italy, the Navy personnel will undergo theoretical training as well as practical exercises directly aboard the aircraft carrier. After completing their education in Italy, Ali expressed hope that these personnel will be capable of bringing the aircraft carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi from Italy to Indonesia. “Our hope is that the aircraft carrier and its crew can be present before 5 October 2026. That is our hope, but we will see how the situation develops and follow accordingly,” Ali clarified. Separately, the Head of the Navy Information Service (Kadispenal), First Admiral TNI Yayan Sofyan, stated that the Navy requires a significant number of personnel to operate the carrier. “The personnel needed are around 500 sailors who must crew it. From now on, up to the officer level, they must possess specific competencies as aircraft carrier crew,” Yayan said in an online discussion titled ‘Indonesia’s Blue Water Transition: Why High-Value ASW/AAW Assets Will Decide Its Credibility’ on Wednesday (25/2). Yayan noted that the number of crew could even exceed 500 as it does not yet include non-core crew beyond navigation and aviation personnel. Beyond the crew, his team must also prepare supporting infrastructure for the aircraft carrier, such as berthing facilities and other technical requirements the ship must have, as well as logistical needs for the crew who will serve aboard for extended periods. “We can imagine docking somewhere requires logistical support for a crew of 500. That is just the core crew. There are also aviation crew, aviation systems, and so on,” Yayan said. Despite the extensive preparations required, Yayan is confident the Navy is ready to meet these needs for the maximum operation of the aircraft carrier. To date, the Navy is still awaiting the acquisition process underway at the Ministry of Defence level with the Italian side and Fincantieri as the shipbuilder.