The Indonesian Navy (TNI AL) is aiming to bring its first aircraft carrier, the Italian-built Giuseppe Garibaldi, into Indonesian waters before the military’s 81st anniversary on October 5, 2026, with Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Ali confirming that the acquisition process is currently underway.
Indonesia’s Ministry of Defense is leading negotiations with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri and coordinating with the Italian Navy, which previously operated the vessel as its flagship, though Admiral Ali stated that details regarding contract value and acquisition stages remain confidential due to the strategic sensitivity of the deal.
According to Head of Navy Information Service Admiral First Class Tunggul, the carrier will primarily support Military Operations Other Than War (MOOTW), serving as a mobile base for humanitarian missions such as disaster relief and mass evacuations across Indonesia’s disaster-prone archipelago.
The vessel’s flight deck, long-range endurance, and extensive logistical capacity will enable rapid deployment of troops and equipment for maritime emergencies and international peacekeeping missions, while the Navy emphasized that the ship can also transition to full combat operations if national security conditions require it.
The planned arrival of the Giuseppe Garibaldi signals Indonesia’s ambition to strengthen its blue-water naval capability, enhance oversight of strategic sea lanes within ASEAN waters, and reinforce its role as a leading maritime power in Southeast Asia.
