Indonesia Acquires First Aircraft Carrier Amid Debate

The ship arrived at Tanjung Priok Port on September 18th and is slated for renaming to KRI Sriwijaya, with its official handover and reflagging scheduled for September 24th.

This acquisition represents a new category of capability for the Indonesian Navy, aiming to extend its reach and operational capacity within the region.

Admiral Muhammad Ali noted the ship is intended for 'military operations other than war', serving as a floating emergency response center to provide logistics and medical support to disaster-affected and hard-to-reach areas, especially crucial for a country frequently facing natural disasters.

President Prabowo Subianto emphasized the carrier's future role in disaster management, specifically through the deployment of helicopters and drones.

The carrier will support firefighting operations, particularly for peatland fires, and reduce dependence on land-based airfields for emergency responses, enhancing the nation's ability to react swiftly to crises.

It is planned to have a capacity for approximately 14 helicopters, making it a substantial platform for various aerial operations.

It will also increase search and rescue capabilities across the archipelago and lay a foundation for the future integration of advanced combat systems.

The Giuseppe Garibaldi, launched in 1983, served with the Italian Navy for decades before being retired from Italian service in 2024.

Its official transfer to Indonesia has been confirmed, marking its new chapter as the KRI Sriwijaya.

Financial concerns have emerged regarding the true cost of operating the newly acquired aircraft carrier.

Lawmaker TB Hasanuddin, a member of parliament's commission I, cautioned that retrofitting alone could reach approximately 16 trillion rupiah, roughly $900 million, while the Ministry of Defense approved $450 million in 2025 financing for the project; additional carrier upkeep costs will include fuel, crew, and port infrastructure.

Critics argue that operational requirements, rather than national prestige, should drive Indonesia's naval acquisitions.

Muhammad Waffaa Kharisma of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) emphasized focusing on practical needs, highlighting submarines and frigates as potentially higher defense priorities and referencing Thailand's HTMS Chakri Narubet as a cautionary tale for carriers with limited operational utility.

The KRI Sriwijaya is framed as a multifunctional national asset, intended for drones, helicopters, and disaster relief, aiming for a non-traditional carrier model.

However, military analyst Khairul Fahmi of Indonesia's Institute for Security and Strategic Studies suggested that smaller vessels like submarines and frigates, along with asymmetric weapons, might be more directly relevant to protecting Indonesian maritime sovereignty.

Following its formal handover on September 24th, Indonesia must complete refurbishment, train personnel, establish operating procedures, and define the specific aircraft and unmanned systems for its future aviation component.

The Navy needs to ensure the ship remains actively at sea, rather than docked, with the ultimate success depending on manageable costs and demonstrating tangible operational utility.