Indonesia's First Aircraft Carrier, Ex-Italian Giuseppe Garibaldi, Soon to Arrive

Indonesia is one step closer to having its first aircraft carrier. Indonesian Navy (TNI AL) personnel who will crew the former Italian Navy vessel Giuseppe Garibaldi are now in Italy for intensive training before the ship is brought home.

Head of the Navy Information Service (Kadispenal), First Admiral Tunggul Waluyo, stated that the training process is part of the handover procedure before the Garibaldi officially joins the TNI AL fleet. Once the training is complete, the Giuseppe Garibaldi will sail to Indonesia under a Joint Crew scheme, involving both TNI AL and Italian Navy personnel.

“The Joint Crew consists of some TNI AL personnel and some Italian Navy personnel. After arriving in Indonesia, a phased handover will be conducted until 100% of the crewing is undertaken by TNI AL personnel,” Tunggul said in an official statement on Wednesday (15/7/2026).

The purchase of the Giuseppe Garibaldi is a strategic move by the government to strengthen Indonesia’s maritime defence capabilities. The helicopter carrier is expected to enhance the ability to conduct military operations other than war, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, and to bolster Indonesia’s naval power projection in the region.

To support the vessel’s operations, the Ministry of Defence is also preparing supporting infrastructure in Lampung, which will serve as one of the main bases for the Garibaldi. According to Tunggul, construction of berthing and docking facilities at the base is ongoing to ensure all logistical and technical requirements are ready when the ship arrives in Indonesia.

“Regarding the berthing and docking facilities for the Garibaldi, Lampung is one of the bases being prepared to accommodate the ship. Construction of the facilities is currently underway, and it is hoped that everything will be ready to support the ship’s operations before the Garibaldi arrives,” he said.

The arrival of the Giuseppe Garibaldi will mark a new milestone in the modernisation of Indonesia’s primary weapon systems (alutsista). This vessel will be the first aircraft carrier operated by the TNI AL, strengthening Indonesia’s ability to safeguard its territorial waters while enhancing deterrence in the Indo-Pacific region.