Indonesia’s first aircraft carrier is expected to arrive from Italy in mid-September.
Indonesia’s first aircraft carrier, the former Italian Navy vessel ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi, is expected to arrive in Indonesia in September and enter service with the Indonesian Navy (TNI AL) as KRI Gajah Mada.
The vessel departed Italy on Aug. 24 and is expected to reach Indonesia between Sept. 15 and 20, according to Indonesian Navy Chief of Staff Admiral Muhammad Ali. The voyage will take more than 20 days, with the ship passing through the Suez Canal and Red Sea under the escort of Italian frigates.
Until it reaches Indonesia, the vessel will retain the name ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi and continue to sail under the Italian flag. Upon arrival, it will first berth in Jakarta for a formal handover ceremony before proceeding to its new base in Lampung.
The Indonesian Ministry of Defense said the Jakarta handover will include the signing of a grant document and will be carried out by the Indonesian Navy. Brigadier General Sirait, chief of the Indonesian Ministry of Defense’s Public Relations and Information Bureau, said the vessel would proceed to Lampung after the Jakarta formalities.
Preparations for the Lampung base are meanwhile nearing completion. First Admiral Tunggul, head of the Indonesian Navy’s Information Service, said construction had entered its finishing phase.
“Regarding the readiness of the base infrastructure in Lampung, we have entered the finishing phase. The process is expected to be concluded by Garibaldi’s arrival in Indonesia,” First Admiral Tunggul said.
First Admiral Tunggul added that the facility was expected to be fully ready and operational by the end of September, although he did not disclose its detailed specifications.
Once the vessel arrives in Indonesia, it will be renamed KRI Gajah Mada and switch from the Italian flag to Indonesia’s red-and-white flag. The change is planned to be formally marked on Sept. 25, when Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto is expected to attend the vessel’s inauguration and flag-raising ceremony.
“Its name is still ITS Garibaldi for the time being, bearing the Italian flag. However, the vessel will switch to Indonesia’s red-and-white flag and be renamed KRI Gajah Mada once it has arrived here,” Admiral Ali said.
Following its entry into Indonesian service, KRI Gajah Mada is expected to support a range of naval and joint military activities. Admiral Ali said the vessel will eventually be capable of operating helicopters from the Indonesian Navy, Air Force and Army, while the Navy will train pilots to conduct landings on the ship.
The aircraft carrier is also planned to make its debut during the 81st anniversary of the Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI) in October. It is expected to join a sailing pass alongside Indonesian Navy vessels and serve as a VVIP platform for President Prabowo, ministers and senior TNI officials during the naval parade.
As the former Giuseppe Garibaldi prepares to begin its new chapter as KRI Gajah Mada, its arrival will mark a significant milestone for the Indonesian Navy, with the vessel set to take part in future naval activities and joint operations involving Indonesia’s armed forces.
Source: ANTARA News
