Indonesia Commissions First Aircraft Carrier, KRI Sriwijaya-100

The vessel, formerly known as the Italian Navy vessel Giuseppe Garibaldi, completed its transfer and was commissioned on September 24, 2026, at Tanjung Priok Port, following its arrival in Jakarta on September 18, 2026, after a journey from Italy.

The KRI Sriwijaya-100 provides Indonesia's Navy with a fundamentally different asset: a large mobile flight deck capable of supporting helicopters, unmanned aircraft, personnel, command facilities, and logistics far from established bases.

Unlike previous naval assets such as frigates, corvettes, and submarines, which formed the backbone of the fleet, this new vessel emphasizes humanitarian and logistics roles, signaling a shift from traditional combat-focused naval operations.

Admiral Muhammad Ali emphasized that while the KRI Sriwijaya-100 remains capable of combat, the vessel will function primarily as a floating logistics base to address disaster response challenges across the archipelago.

Given Indonesia's archipelagic nature, which often makes disaster response challenging due to geographical spread and damaged infrastructure, the vessel will serve as a crucial asset for relief efforts.

The ship's role as a floating logistics base is expected to bypass damaged infrastructure, providing essential support during natural disasters.

President Prabowo Subianto announced plans to refurbish the KRI Sriwijaya-100, converting it into a carrier specifically for helicopters and drones to significantly aid disaster response.

The government's focus is on utilizing the carrier to combat recurring forest and peatland fires and to reduce reliance on distant airfields during emergencies.

The KRI Sriwijaya-100, originally launched in 1983 and entering Italian service in 1985, is expected to remain useful to the Indonesian Navy for another 15 to 20 years, provided it receives appropriate refurbishment and maintenance.

The Navy plans to accommodate approximately 14 helicopters on the deck, aligning with its intended roles as a mobile command and logistics base.

Indonesia's approach to carrier operations diverges from conventional strategies, as it is not pursuing a traditional carrier strike group.

The focus is placed on helicopters, drones, logistics, and command functions, with PT PAL and Fincantieri managing the modernization of the KRI Sriwijaya-100.

The Indonesian government must now develop a specific operational doctrine tailored to its national needs, ensuring effective deployment and utilization of the vessel.

The finance ministry approved $450 million for the carrier program in 2025, but lawmaker TB Hasan estimates potential retrofitting costs could reach 16 trillion rupiah, approximately $900 million.

Critics argue that these significant funds could be better allocated to supporting existing submarines and frigates for routine patrols, questioning the strategic necessity and financial viability of the carrier.

Regional experts frequently point to the sustained funding and infrastructure struggles faced by Thailand's HTMS Chakri Narubet to illustrate the logistical hurdles of maintaining aviation-capable naval platforms.

Indonesia, however, differentiates its approach by emphasizing a multifunctional platform for disaster relief and logistics, rather than a purely strike-based system, aiming to avoid the challenges faced by Thailand.

The KRI Sriwijaya-100 is envisioned as a mobile command and logistics base, specifically designed for disaster relief in response to the unique challenges of Indonesia's vast island nation.

Indonesia is moving away from traditional carrier doctrine, seeking to adapt an established European warship to its specific realities, with success to be measured by deployment frequency and operational results during emergencies.