The strategic naval project is on a tight timeline, with the Italian-made aircraft carrier scheduled to arrive in Indonesian waters on September 20, 2026, according to the ministry’s Director General of Defense Forces Air Marshal Hendrikus Haris Haryanto.
“We are actively preparing the port facilities in Ratai Bay, Lampung, where construction has now advanced to 76 percent,” Hendrikus told lawmakers during a joint working meeting with Commission I of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) in Jakarta on Monday.
The Indonesian Navy (TNI AL) is currently accelerating infrastructure deployment to guarantee that all support systems are fully functional ahead of the ship's docking date.
He explained that the naval base will be equipped with various specialized facilities to support the massive ship's operations.
According to Head of the Indonesian Navy’s Information Service First Admiral I Gede Putu Wijamardi, the ongoing upgrade at the Lampung Naval Base includes several major engineering tasks.
These tasks encompass dredging and deepening the shipping channels, constructing heavy-duty mooring facilities, and increasing the local electricity supply capacity to adequately support the aircraft carrier's operational demands.
The procurement process of the Garibaldi is currently being managed by the Defense Ministry, which is coordinating directly with the renowned Italian shipbuilder, Fincantieri.
The acquisition marks a significant leap in Indonesia's blue-water navy capabilities, aligning the Giuseppe Garibaldi with the Navy's two newest Italian-built warships, the KRI Brawijaya 320 and KRI Prabu Siliwangi 321.
The 180.2-meter-long aircraft carrier features high-powered propulsion engines capable of reaching maximum speeds of 30 knots, or approximately 56 kilometers per hour.
Designed for combat and fleet defense, the carrier is equipped with advanced radar jammers and a robust weapons system.
Its armament includes an Octuple Mk.29 launcher for Sea Sparrow/Selenia Aspide anti-aircraft missiles, Twin Oto Melara 40L70 DARDO close-in weapon systems, 324-millimeter triple torpedo tubes, and Otomat Mk.2 surface-to-surface missiles (SSM).
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Translator: Walda Marison, Yashinta Difa
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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