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Photograph: Indonesian Navy/EPA     (indonesia-first-aircraft-carrier-italy-warship-its-giuseppe-garibaldi.html#img-1)   View image in fullscreen       The 41-year-old former ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi, with capacity for short takeoff and vertical landing aircraft and helicopters, arrived Friday morning at a naval base in North Jakarta’s Tanjung Priok port, where it was welcomed with a military ceremony. Photograph: Indonesian Navy/EPA       (https://www.theguardian.com/world/indonesia) Indonesia     Indonesia gets its first aircraft carrier amid debate over cost and military ambitions   The gift from Italy has sparked fierce debate among defence analysts and opposition politicians who question its true cost and purpose         Associated Press   Fri 18 Sep 2026 00.04 EDT   (mailto:?subject=Indonesia gets its first aircraft carrier amid debate over cost and military ambitions&body=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/18/indonesia-first-aircraft-carrier-italy-warship-its-giuseppe-garibaldi?CMP=share_btn_url) Share          (https://www.google.com/preferences/source?q=theguardian.com) Prefer the Guardian on Google          Indonesia has received its first aircraft carrier, a former Italian warship that the government says will strengthen the archipelagic nation’s maritime security and disaster response capabilities. The 41-year-old former ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi, with capacity for short takeoff and vertical landing aircraft and helicopters, arrived Friday morning at a naval base in North Jakarta’s Tanjung Priok port, where it was welcomed with a military ceremony.  Italy in March agreed to give the carrier, which was retired in 2024, to Indonesia in a move aimed at boosting Italy’s broader defence engagement with the south-east Asian country. Italy is seeking deals on submarines and aircraft, and gifting the carrier to Indonesia also saves it the cost of decommissioning the ship.       (Aircraft carrier escorted by Indonesia’s navy)   (indonesia-first-aircraft-carrier-italy-warship-its-giuseppe-garibaldi.html#img-2)   View image in fullscreen       Indonesia’s first aircraft carrier, the ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi (C), arrives at Tanjung Priok port in Jakarta. Photograph: Mast Irham/EPA  The transfer would make Indonesia only the second country in south-east Asia with a carrier in its fleet. The first was Thailand’s HTMS Chakri Naruebet, which was commissioned in 1997 after being procured from Spain along with carrier-capable AV-8S Matador jump-jets. The carrier will be formally commissioned into the Indonesian Navy next week as the KRI Gajah Mada, named after the famed 14th-century Majapahit-era military leader, whose campaigns and vision of a unified archipelago have made him one of Indonesia’s most celebrated historical figures. (https://www.theguardian.com/world/ng-interactive/2026/sep/16/indonesia-fires-borneo-el-nino-women-haze)  The women saving Borneo: battling fire, patriarchy and super El Niño on Indonesia’s peatland frontlines     Read more        Defence development was one of the top priorities for president Prabowo Subianto’s administration, as he has advocated an expansion of the military through the purchase of submarines, frigates, fighter jets, missiles and pushed for more defence cooperation with various countries. But the Garibaldi acquisition has sparked a fierce debate among defence analysts, economists and opposition politicians who question whether Indonesia needs an aircraft carrier at all and whether the government should be spending millions of dollars to refurbish and operate an ageing warship while facing mounting fiscal pressures at home. Indonesia’s finance ministry approved $450m in financing for the aircraft carrier program in 2025. However, some lawmakers have warned the overall bill could be far higher. TB Hasanuddin, a member of parliament’s Commission I, said the cost of retrofitting the carrier alone could reach 16tn rupiah (about $900m).       (Aircraft carrier ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi in the blue ocean)   (indonesia-first-aircraft-carrier-italy-warship-its-giuseppe-garibaldi.html#img-3)   View image in fullscreen       The aircraft carrier ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi sailing near Bangka Belitung island.  Photograph: Indonesian Navy 2nd Fleet Command Public Relations Office/AFP/Getty Images  Unlike major naval powers that use aircraft carriers to launch fighter jets far from home shores, Indonesia views the vessel as a mobile command centre and support hub for helicopters, drones and maritime operations across its thousands of islands. Speaking during a disaster management meeting early this month, Prabowo said the vessel would help authorities combat (https://www.theguardian.com/world/ng-interactive/2026/sep/16/indonesia-fires-borneo-el-nino-women-haze) forest and peatland fires that regularly blanket parts of south-east Asia with hazardous haze. Prabowo said the carrier could accommodate up to 10 medium-sized helicopters, including aircraft with capabilities comparable to the Black Hawk and Mi-17, and could carry large quantities of water and be deployed to areas with large numbers of fire hotspots. He also outlined plans to operate drones from the ship and use it as a mobile platform that could be rapidly deployed to help in the event of natural disasters, which are common in Indonesia, a nation that sits in the Pacific “Ring of Fire.”       (Small boat near aircraft carrier at a dock)   (indonesia-first-aircraft-carrier-italy-warship-its-giuseppe-garibaldi.html#img-4)   View image in fullscreen       The through-deck aviation cruiser class ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi docks in Indonesia. Photograph: Mast Irham/EPA  Operating a carrier is extremely costly, however, and experts have questioned whether Indonesia’s leadership has thought through whether one is necessary for the country’s defence or disaster-relief needs. The acquisition comes as Indonesia’s economy faces growing fiscal pressures. Prabowo’s government has been funding a free (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/03/indonesia-food-poisoning-hundreds-students-teachers-sick-government-free-meals) nutritious meals program – which has been tainted by multiple (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/nov/10/maggots-in-the-tempeh-glass-in-the-rice-indonesias-free-school-meals-tainted-by-food-poisoning) food poisoning incidents – and other costly initiatives while economists have warned about slowing growth, weaker state revenues and widening budget constraints, prompting closer scrutiny of major government spending projects.       (Sailors on deck of aircraft carrier)   (indonesia-first-aircraft-carrier-italy-warship-its-giuseppe-garibaldi.html#img-5)   View image in fullscreen       Experts have warned that operating a carrier is extremely costly. Photograph: Indonesian Navy 2nd Fleet Command Public Relations Office/AFP/Getty Images  “The plan to acquire the Garibaldi must be based on genuine operational needs and our ability to operate it, rather than being driven by pride or other considerations,” said Muhammad Fauzan Malufti, of the Center for Strategic and International Studies. (https://www.theguardian.com/world/gallery/2026/sep/06/el-nino-fuelled-wildfires-destroy-precious-indonesian-forests-in-pictures)  El Niño-fuelled wildfires destroy precious Indonesian forests – in pictures     Read more        He said policymakers must weigh not only the vessel’s acquisition and modernisation costs, but also the Navy’s ability to sustain its operations, including personnel, maintenance, fuel, weapons systems and supporting infrastructure. Fauzan said the government should be transparent about those considerations, particularly given the vessel’s age. He cited Thailand’s carrier as a cautionary example, saying it has spent much of its service life in port because of operational and budget constraints. “The bottom line is that this should not be forced. Otherwise, the benefits could be outweighed by the costs,” Fauzan said. “The money might be better spent on other priorities, such as increasing the number of frigates in the fleet.”       (Indonesian defence minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin)   (indonesia-first-aircraft-carrier-italy-warship-its-giuseppe-garibaldi.html#img-6)   View image in fullscreen       Indonesian defence minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin on the ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi. Photograph: Mast Irham/EPA  Military analyst Khairul Fahmi of the Institute for Security and Strategic Studies said aircraft carriers are not a priority for Indonesia, which is focused on preventing adversaries from operating freely in the country’s territorial waters. “Indonesia has a greater need for submarines, frigates and asymmetric weapons systems to protect its maritime sovereignty,” he said. But he added that if Indonesia is seeking to position itself as a major maritime nation, “an aircraft carrier can be both a symbol of national power and a multifunctional platform capable of supporting a wide range of military and non-military missions.”         Explore more on these topics (https://www.theguardian.com/world/indonesia) Indonesia  (https://www.theguardian.com/world/asia-pacific) Asia Pacific  (https://www.theguardian.com/news/prabowo-subianto) Prabowo Subianto  (https://www.theguardian.com/tone/news) news    (mailto:?subject=Indonesia gets its first aircraft carrier amid debate over cost and military ambitions&body=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/18/indonesia-first-aircraft-carrier-italy-warship-its-giuseppe-garibaldi?CMP=share_btn_url) Share     (https://syndication.theguardian.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fworld%2F2026%2Fsep%2F18%2Findonesia-first-aircraft-carrier-italy-warship-its-giuseppe-garibaldi&type=article&internalpagecode=world/2026/sep/18/indonesia-first-aircraft-carrier-italy-warship-its-giuseppe-garibaldi) (Reuse this content) Reuse this content                            Most viewed      Most viewed                                                               (https://www.theguardian.com/world) World  (https://www.theguardian.com/world/europe-news) Europe  (https://www.theguardian.com/us-news) US news  (https://www.theguardian.com/world/americas) Americas  (https://www.theguardian.com/world/asia) Asia  (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news) Australia  (https://www.theguardian.com/world/middleeast) Middle East  (https://www.theguardian.com/world/africa) Africa  (https://www.theguardian.com/inequality) Inequality  (https://www.theguardian.com/global-development) Global development       (https://www.theguardian.com/) News  (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree) Opinion  (https://www.theguardian.com/sport) Sport  (https://www.theguardian.com/culture) Culture  (https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle) Lifestyle    Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning (https://www.theguardian.com/info/2018/sep/17/guardian-us-morning-briefing-sign-up-to-stay-informed) Sign up for our email     (https://www.theguardian.com/info/about-guardian-us) About us  (https://manage.theguardian.com/help-centre) Help  (https://www.theguardian.com/info/complaints-and-corrections) Complaints & corrections  (https://www.theguardian.com/info/about-guardian-us/contact) Contact us  (https://www.theguardian.com/tips) Tip us off  (https://www.theguardian.com/securedrop) SecureDrop  (https://www.theguardian.com/info/privacy) Privacy policy  (https://www.theguardian.com/info/cookies) Cookie policy  (https://uploads.guim.co.uk/2026/07/22/STL_Global_Tax_Strategy_for_the_year_to_31_March_2027.pdf) Tax strategy  (https://www.theguardian.com/help/terms-of-service) Terms & conditions   (https://www.theguardian.com/index/subjects/a) All topics  (https://www.theguardian.com/index/contributors) All writers  (https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?INTCMP=DOTCOM_FOOTER_NEWSLETTER_US) Newsletters  (https://theguardian.newspapers.com) Digital newspaper archive  (https://bsky.app/profile/us.theguardian.com) Bluesky  (https://www.facebook.com/theguardian) Facebook  (https://www.instagram.com/guardian) Instagram  (https://www.linkedin.com/company/theguardian) LinkedIn  (https://www.threads.com/@guardian_us) Threads  (https://www.tiktok.com/@guardian) TikTok  (https://www.youtube.com/user/TheGuardian) YouTube   (https://usadvertising.theguardian.com) Advertise with us  (https://www.theguardian.com/guardian-labs-us) Guardian Labs  (https://jobs.theguardian.com) Search jobs  (https://workwithus.theguardian.com/) Work with us  (https://www.theguardian.com/help/accessibility-help) Accessibility settings         (indonesia-first-aircraft-carrier-italy-warship-its-giuseppe-garibaldi.html#top) Back to top      © 2026Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. 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