Indonesia’s First Aircraft Carrier Arrives Amid Cost Debate

A new deck at Tanjung Priok

The former Italian Navy carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi reached North Jakarta’s Tanjung Priok Port on Friday morning, giving Indonesia its first aircraft carrier.aljazeera +1 A military ceremony welcomed the 41-year-old vessel after its voyage from Italy.washingtonpost The navy plans to commission it next week as KRI Sriwijaya.aljazeera

The transfer makes Indonesia the second Southeast Asian country to field a carrier, after Thailand commissioned HTMS Chakri Naruebet in 1997.theguardian Italy agreed in March to donate the ship, retired from Italian service in 2024, as Rome pursues broader defense ties and potential submarine and aircraft deals with Jakarta.scmp +1

Disaster relief leads the mission list

Jakarta is presenting the 180-meter ship less as a platform for fighter jets than as a mobile base for helicopters, drones, logistics and command operations across a country of thousands of islands. The navy says it can accommodate as many as 18 helicopters and 830 personnel, while Navy chief Admiral Muhammad Ali said combat deployment would remain possible if required.aljazeera

President Prabowo Subianto has emphasized disaster response, including moving water-dropping helicopters and supplies toward forest and peatland fires.theguardian Its broad flight deck could also support transport, surveillance, search and rescue and other maritime operations, although those roles will require sustained investment in aviation skills and infrastructure.aljazeera

The gift carries a sizable bill

The hull may be donated, but operating it will not be free. Indonesia’s Finance Ministry approved $450 million in financing for the carrier program in 2025, and lawmaker TB Hasanuddin has estimated refurbishment alone could reach 16 trillion rupiah, or about $900 million.theguardian +1 Fuel, maintenance, personnel, weapons and shore facilities would add recurring costs throughout the navy’s projected 15-to-20-year service life.scmp

That burden is driving the central debate: whether a large aviation ship improves coverage of Indonesia’s dispersed territory or diverts money from submarines, frigates and other systems more directly suited to territorial defense. Thailand’s lightly used carrier offers a cautionary precedent, while the Garibaldi’s supporters see a flexible national asset for emergencies and maritime missions.theguardian +1 The vessel’s value will ultimately depend less on the prestige of owning a carrier than on how often Indonesia can afford to send it to sea.