Brig. Gen. Rico Ricardo Sirait, head of the ministry’s public relations and defense information bureau, said the ministry and the Indonesian Military have readied prospective crew members.
“The ministry and the TNI have prepared candidate crew members to operate the ship, including necessary development and training,” Rico told ANTARA by phone from Jakarta on Friday.
He did not disclose how many sailors have been assigned or where the training is taking place, but said they are experienced naval personnel.
Rico said discussions are ongoing regarding the transfer of the carrier as a grant from the Italian government.
He stressed that receiving the vessel as a grant does not mean Indonesia will avoid spending money on the acquisition.
The government must still allocate funds to modify the former Italian Navy ship’s engines and onboard technology to meet operational requirements.
“Giuseppe Garibaldi is a grant from the Italian government. The Indonesian budget is allocated for retrofit or adjustments to suit Indonesian Navy operational needs,” Rico said.
He declined to specify how much funding has been prepared for the refitting process.
Navy Chief of Staff Adm. Muhammad Ali said Indonesia expects the Italian-built carrier to arrive before the Armed Forces anniversary on Oct. 5, 2026.
“For Garibaldi, the process is ongoing. We hope it can arrive in Indonesia before the TNI anniversary,” Ali said at Naval Military Police headquarters in Central Jakarta on Feb. 12.
He said the Defense Ministry is negotiating with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri, which built the vessel, and with the Italian Navy, its previous operator.
The carrier was built by Fincantieri, which also produced Indonesia’s KRI Brawijaya 320 and KRI Prabu Siliwangi 321.
The 180.2-meter ship can reach 30 knots, or about 56 kph, and is equipped with radar jamming systems and weapons including Mk.29 Sea Sparrow or Selenia Aspide launchers, twin 40L70 DARDO guns, triple 324 mm torpedo tubes and Otomat Mk 2 anti-ship missiles.
Related news: Indonesia's first aircraft carrier expected to arrive in 2026
Translator: Walda M, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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