The Indonesian Navy has commissioned the former Italian Navy aircraft carrier ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi as KRI Sriwijaya-100, following a reflagging and renaming ceremony in Jakarta on September 24.
The ceremony took place at Pier 107 at Tanjung Priok Port. It was attended by the Indonesian Navy's Commander General Agus Subiyanto, the Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Ali, the Chief of Army Staff General Maruli Simanjuntak, and the Chief of Air Force Staff Marshal Mohamad Tonny Harjono.
The flag-changing ceremony was jointly led by Bergotto and Muhammad Ali, transferring the ship from the Italian flag to the Indonesian flag. The ceremony was followed by the renaming ceremony and the appointment of the KRI Sriwijaya-100 commanding officer.
The ship sailed approximately 6,870 nautical miles from Italy to Indonesia over 25 days, transiting the Suez Canal, Red Sea, and Indian Ocean. During the voyage, it made port calls in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Sri Lanka for logistics, refueling, and technical support.
According to the Indonesian Navy, the KRI Sriwijaya-100 will strengthen the navy and support military operations other than war, particularly disaster response and humanitarian assistance.
The ship, formerly known as ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi, spent more than 40 years in Italian Navy service before being retired in 2024. The vessel reached Tanjung Priok on September 18, several days before its formal entry into Indonesian Navy service.
The ship measures 180.2 meters in length and has a displacement of approximately 13,850 tonnes. Its flight deck is configured to operate helicopters as well as short-takeoff and vertical-landing (STOVL) aircraft.
The vessel was transferred to Indonesia as part of the country's naval modernization efforts. The ship's arrival adds a new capability to the Indonesian Navy's fleet as Jakarta expands its maritime capabilities.
Although the ship has formally entered Indonesian Navy service, some of its systems will still need to be modified to meet Indonesia's operational requirements.
Indonesian Navy Chief of Staff said certain communications systems aboard the carrier were based on NATO standards and would not be retained. The navy has therefore prepared replacement communications equipment for the vessel.
The planned modifications are expected to take approximately four to five months. The navy has not yet determined whether the ship will begin operational duties before undergoing the retrofit or enter the modification process immediately.
Ali said the vessel was otherwise in good condition and ready for operations.