Indonesia's First Aircraft Carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi Enters Final Stage Before Sailing to RI

Indonesia is about to enter a new chapter in strengthening its maritime defence. The first aircraft carrier to be operated by the Indonesian Navy (TNI AL), the former Italian Navy vessel Giuseppe Garibaldi, is now preparing to head to the homeland after the crew training process entered a crucial stage. A number of TNI AL personnel who will man the ship are already in Italy undergoing intensive training as part of the handover process before the Giuseppe Garibaldi officially strengthens the Indonesian fleet. This phase is a critical step to ensure all personnel are ready to operate the aircraft carrier upon its arrival in Indonesia. Head of the Navy Information Service (Kadispenal) First Admiral Tunggul Waluyo explained that the crew training is part of the transition process before the ship is fully handed over to the TNI AL. ‘The Joint Crew consists of manning personnel comprising some TNI AL soldiers and some Italian Navy personnel. After arriving in Indonesia, a phased handover will be carried out until 100 percent manning by TNI AL soldiers is achieved,’ Tunggul said in an official statement on Wednesday, 15 July 2026. The training taking place in Italy aims not only to introduce the operational systems of the Giuseppe Garibaldi but also to ensure the transfer of the ship’s operation runs smoothly. In the initial stage, the ship will implement a Joint Crew scheme, a combined manning system between TNI AL and Italian Navy personnel during the voyage to Indonesia. Through this scheme, Indonesian personnel will gain direct experience operating the ship during the journey. After the ship arrives in Indonesia, the crew transfer process will be carried out gradually until all crew members are entirely from the TNI AL. This step is part of the adaptation process to ensure the operation of Indonesia’s first aircraft carrier can run optimally from the beginning of its assignment. The Giuseppe Garibaldi represents a new milestone for the TNI AL fleet. The purchase of the Giuseppe Garibaldi is one of the government’s strategic moves to strengthen national maritime defence capabilities. The helicopter-carrying aircraft carrier is expected to enhance the TNI AL’s capacity to carry out various operations, both military operations and military operations other than war.