Indonesia Acquires Its First Aircraft Carrier from Italy
Indonesia has received its first aircraft carrier, a former Italian warship set to be renamed the Gajah Mada. The acquisition aims to bolster maritime security and disaster relief, though it has sparked domestic debate over costs.
Indonesia Acquires Its First Aircraft Carrier
Indonesia has officially received its first aircraft carrier, a 41-year-old former Italian warship, marking a major milestone for the world's most populous Muslim-majority nation. The vessel, formerly known as the Giuseppe Garibaldi, arrived at the Tanjung Priok naval base in north Jakarta.
Italy agreed in March to transfer the carrier, which was decommissioned in 2024, to deepen defense ties with Jakarta. The move also spares Italy the high costs of dismantling and decommissioning the vessel. The ship will be commissioned next week as the KRI Gajah Mada, named after a revered 14th-century military leader.
"The vessel will significantly strengthen our maritime security and disaster response capabilities," government officials stated.
Strategic Debate and Financial Costs
The acquisition makes Indonesia the second country in Southeast Asia to operate an aircraft carrier, following Thailand. President Prabowo Subianto has prioritized military modernization, but the purchase has sparked intense debate among economists, security experts, and opposition politicians over the high maintenance costs of an aging warship.
The Indonesian Finance Ministry approved $450 million in 2025 for the carrier program, though lawmakers warn total expenses could escalate. Unlike global superpowers that use carriers for power projection, Jakarta intends to deploy the ship primarily as a mobile command center, helicopter platform, and disaster relief hub across its vast archipelago.
